Residents and business are being encouraged to have their say on plans for an anaerobic digester to provide renewable power on the edge of Malton.

Circular Malton & Norton (CMN) Community Interest Company (CIC) are to apply for planning permission for the Eden Circular Hub Project which will also include, an Innovation & Education building, with workspace units and a meeting room.

Sue Jefferson, Director of CMN CIC said research had indicated residents and businesses in Malton, Norton and surrounding villages were keen to become the UK’s first circular economy market town – keeping products in circulation rather than Take-Make-Dispose and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

She said: “As a not for profit organisation run by local people, Circular Malton & Norton CIC, explores town wide projects to do this, enabling everyone to get involved whatever the scale and with a focus on creating local economic and social benefits as well as environmental ones.

“The first of these project ideas was strongly supported when shared in 2020; to collect the inedible food waste from local cafes, shops and producers, take to a purpose built, small community anaerobic digester on the edge of town, and turn it into biogas, a renewable heat and power that nearby buildings can use in place of fossil fuel energy.

“Also the biodigestate produced can be sold to farms as an advantageous natural fertiliser.”

Sue added: “Following encouraging local community feedback, business interest and a feasibility study on sites, traffic and feedstock supply available, we are now progressing this project to planning permission. It’s important as before, we hear as many local views as possible on our detailed plans.”

The location for optimising the local benefits is Eden Business Park, near Old Malton, and a site has been identified at the far end, next to the new Highways depot buildings.

Sue said: “Based on community feedback, the plan will also now propose, as well as the anaerobic digester, an Innovation & Education building, with workspace units and a meeting room, for visitors to learn more about creating value from waste, for people wanting to start up a business with environmental products or services, as well as to host training for anyone who would like to develop ideas and values extra support such as business planning, testing and proving concepts, accessing finance and meeting investors and customers.

“The facility will be known as the Eden Circular Hub. There will also be the opportunity for people in the community to own shares and have a financial stake in the project.”

Have your say to inform the proposal before the application for planning permission. Circular Malton & Norton is keen to hear what people think about the plan detail. Complete the survey at https://online1.snapsurveys.com/Eden where you will also find more information and answers to questions you may have.

It would also like to hear from any businesses or individuals interested in using the resulting renewable heat and power, the innovation workspace or specialist business support.

You can register your interest by emailing circularmaltonnorton@gmail.com