Grundon Waste Management is to return with new proposals for an energy-from-waste plant on Shore Road, Perth, by May, it has been confirmed.
While the details have yet to be confirmed, Grundon is “assessing alternative technologies and plant designs” for the site.
A range of options for treating unrecyclable waste are being considered, including different types of physical, chemical, biological and thermal processes.
Future plans could potentially include technology such as gasification-proposed for Binn Farm near Glenfarg-rather than “incineration” but it is understood that the plans could be similar in scale and design to those rejected last year.
Responding to questions over whether the firm intended to submit a revised proposal for an incinerator, Grundon’s estates manager Bob Nicholson told The Courier, “When the (Scottish Government) reporter dismissed our appeal for approval of reserved matters in November last year, he approved the principle of using the Shore Road site for an energy from waste plant and made many other positive points.
“At the time, Grundon stated that it would evaluate the detail in the full report and review its options, which could include other waste activities on the site.
“In line with that statement, we can confirm that we are now actively assessing alternative technologies and plant designs.
“Whatever the selected options, the objective remains to provide a sustainable solution for the long-term management of household and commercial waste that cannot be recycled.
“Grundon has until the middle of May to submit another application.”
The news was met with dismay by Brian Raine, chairman of Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council, which took a lead role in the well-supported and successful campaign to block Grundon’s incinerator plan.
Thousands objected to the proposal after it was revealed council officials had granted outline planning consent for the Shore Road development in 2006.
Full planning permission was eventually refused by Perth and Kinross Council, only for Grundon to appeal the decision after councillors stopped short of revoking the outline consent.
Mr Raine said, “This news reinforces the value of the campaign that we had to persuade the council to revoke outline planning permission. Had they done so then Grundon could not have come back with another plan.
“We were very clear that revocation was the way forward, but the council were not convinced.
“Whether they did not wish to admit their mistake or simply didn’t want to have to pay compensation, I don’t know.”
“Any fresh application by Grundon would need to go through the normal planning process, although the robust way we were able to refuse the last application, despite the presence of the outline consent on the site, gave confidence in our ability to deal appropriately with any future applications of this nature,” the council’s deputy chief executive Jim Irons said last month.