Controversial plans to build a giant waste-to-energy plant in the heart of Perth have re-emerged after the developer behind them lodged an appeal.
Grundon Waste Management confirmed it will fight for permission to proceed with the development.
The Oxfordshire firm’s senior planner Veronique Bensadou believes there is no good reason to reject the revised proposal submitted by the company in May 2011.
She said the firm had demonstrated that its plans ”would not result in any adverse effects on the local environmental quality or amenity of the surrounding area”.
She now wants the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) to overturn the decision of Perth and Kinross councillors, who rejected those revised plans in March.
They did so following a major campaign by residents, community councils and politicians concerned it would destroy the character of the city and harm the health of its residents.
At the time protestors also warned that the fact the Shore Road site already had outline planning permission left the door open to repeated applications.
The original proposal was rejected by the council in November 2009 and a subsequent appeal was also turned down by a Scottish Government reporter in May 2010.
Revised plans, which outlined a reduced chimney of 34 metres and modifications to its gasification process, were then submitted but were once again refused on the basis of concerns about odour, noise and the over-development of the site.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Ms Bensadou said she believes that the proposal addresses the specific issues raised by Perth and Kinross Council, takes into consideration the DPEA reporter’s conclusions on the previous appeal and reflects the most up-to-date advice and guidance from Sepa and the Scottish Government.
”The proposed change in technology to a gasification process would reduce the overall scale of the proposed development,” she said. ”This would significantly reduce the potential visual impact of the facility on the landscape and visual amenity of the area.
”The proposed buildings are now similar in height to other existing buildings on the Shore Road and in keeping with the industrial character of the area.”
Both as part of the application process and during the determination period, Grundon said it had provided significant information and technical assessments to address the concerns raised by statutory consultees and the council, particularly in relation to noise, air quality and odour.
Ms Bensadou added: ”We do understand why the general public may be concerned about the proposals and professional officers have a role to play in making sure that the public are provided with full and accurate information to help them form realistic judgments on development proposals.
”We firmly believe and have demonstrated that our proposal would not result in any adverse effects on the local environmental quality or amenity of the surrounding area.
”Outline planning permission has already been granted for the facility so the principle of acceptability of the proposed development at this location has already been established and is not an issue.
”We trust that once the reporter has evaluated all the factual data provided by the company, he will recognise that our proposal to turn local waste into renewable power and heat while meeting the needs of the community at the same time is the best solution for the people of Perth.”For more reaction to Grundon’s latest move, see Friday’s Courier