News and events

News

MVV Energy from Waste Plant gains approval

The proposals for the energy from waste plant were given planning approval by the Plymouth City Council Planning Committee on 22 December 2011, subject to the Section 106 obligations being completed.

The South West Devon Waste Partnership welcomes this decision and will continue to work with the local community to address any ongoing concerns they may have.

Construction work is expected to start in 2012 and once operational, the plant will be strictly regulated by the Environment Agency.

MVV submit application for Environmental Permit

Further to their submission of a planning application to Plymouth City Council MVV have now submitted their application for an environmental permit to the Environment Agency.

You can read more about this permit application on the Environment Agency website.

MVV hold exhibitions June 2011

MVV Environment Devonport Ltd is holding a further series of exhibitions on its plans for an Energy from Waste plant at North Yard, HM Naval Base Devonport.

The exhibition dates are:

• Tuesday 7 June - Weston Mill Primary School, 4.30pm to 7.30pm
• Wednesday 8 June - Watermark, Ivybridge, 4.30pm to 7.30pm
• Thursday 9 June - Gaynor Hall, Keyham, 4.30pm to 7.30pm
• Saturday 11 June - Plymouth Guildhall, 10.30am to 1.30pm
• Monday 13 June - Tamar View Community Centre, Barne Barton, 2.30pm to 6.30pm
• Tuesday14 June - St Budeaux Community Centre, 2.30pm to 6.30pm
• Wednesday 15 June - Torpoint Town Hall, 4.30pm to 7.30pm
• Thursday 16 June - Saltash Town Hall, 4.30pm to 7.30pm

MVV submit planning application

The planning application has been submitted for the South West Devon Waste Partnership project to provide a solution to treat waste from South West Devon.

MVV, the contractor chosen by the partnership, has submitted its detailed proposals to provide an energy from waste facility based at the North Yard in Devonport to Plymouth City Council planners.

As part of the Environment Agency regulations, an Environmental Permit will also be required before the plant can operate. This will be applied for in the near future.

You can view the planning application on the planning online page.

Contract signing and costs

The South West Devon Waste Partnership is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with MVV Umwelt to provide a 25 year residual waste treatment solution for the partnerships waste.

MVV Umwelt is proposing a 245,000 tonne energy from waste plant located in North Yard, Devonport. Planning permission and an environmental permit will be required before any development can take place.

The partnership estimated that an energy from waste solution would cost around £825m. However, because MVV are able to sell the electricity and steam from the process to the Dockyard, the actual cost of MVV’s solution over the life of the contract is £436m, which is £389m less than expected.

In addition, through the three Councils working together, the partnership has secured central Government PFI credit support worth a further £177m over the life of the project. This means the Partnership councils only have to fund £259m for the waste solution instead of the £825m original estimate.

In comparison, the cost of continuing with landfill and recycling is estimated to be £1,701m. The cost of MVV's solution and recycling is £1,026m, which equates to a potential saving of £675m.

MVV hold additional roadshow date

MVV are holding an additional roadshow date in Saltash. The roadshow will be held on 25 February in the Burraton Community Centre, Saltash from 4pm to 7.30pm.

The final roadshow will be held at the Guildhall Plymouth on 26 February 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Final Business Case approved by Cabinets

The cabinets of Plymouth, Devon and Torbay have unanimously agreed the final business case for the long term solution for treating the region’s waste.

At three successive Cabinet meetings held yesterday each committee had a presentation by the South West Devon Waste Partnership before considering the final business case for procurement of our future waste treatment services. This will now be sent to Defra for its approval and subsequent award of £95m of PFI credits to support the project.

The cabinets have confirmed in each case that the project can proceed as it is within the budget limits set out in the original outline business case.

MVV will now have to apply for Planning Permission through Plymouth City Council and an Environmental Permit through the Environment Agency.

Preferred bidder announcement

The South West Devon Waste Partnership is pleased to announce that MVV Umwelt has been selected as the preferred bidder to provide a solution to treat the partnership’s residual waste.

MVV Umwelt is proposing an energy from waste facility at North Yard in Devonport.

Two final tenders were received in November 2010, both proposing an energy from waste facility. MVV Umwelt with a site at North Yard, Devonport and Viridor with a site at New England Quarry near Lee Mill.

The partnership's Joint Committee met in late December to consider the tender evaluation results, recommending the preferred bidder's solution to Defra, who is supplying £95m worth of PFI (Private Finance Initiative) credits towards the cost of the project. This has now been considered by Defra, who has confirmed that the partnership may appoint MVV as the preferred bidder.

MVV Umwelt's solution proposes an energy from waste facility located in North Yard, HM Naval Base Devonport, which is in the Weston Mill area of the Naval Base bordering Blackies Wood. The facility will be a combined heat and power plant providing environmentally sustainable electrical energy and usable heat to HM Naval Base Devonport. It may also potentially supply local heat demand.

The partnership and MVV will be holding a series of public roadshows in February 2011 and will look to sign contracts in March 2011 subject to receiving further approvals from partner councils and Defra. MVV will be working with Plymouth City Council planners with a view to submitting a planning application in spring 2011. Provided planning approval is granted, the intention is to commence construction in 2012 with a view to commencing operations in 2014.

MVV concentrating on Devonport North Yard proposal for South West Devon Waste Partnership - March 2010

The South West Devon Waste Partnership has been notified that MVV is now concentrating its efforts on a single bid proposal for an Energy from Waste facility on a site at North Yard, Devonport. The Ernesettle site still remains allocated within Plymouth City Council’s planning framework and is classed as being suitable for strategic waste management facilities. This includes the site being used as a waste management facility in the future.

Bidder withdraws January 2010

We have been informed by SITA that they have decided to withdraw from the South West Devon Waste Partnership procurement. We will be continuing with the procurement process with the remaining two bidders.

SITA was proposing a solution at South Yard in Devonport.

Air pollution experts say modern incinerators are no significant threat to public health

Incinerators that are well run and regulated do not pose a significant threat to public health, according to air pollution experts. The Health Protection Agency has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of modern municipal waste incinerators.

A Health Protection Agency spokesman said: "The evidence suggests that air pollution from incinerators makes up a fraction of one percent of the country's particulate emissions. Industry and traffic account for more than fifty per cent.

"The evidence suggests that any potential damage to health of those living close to incinerators is likely to be very small, if detectable. The Agency therefore does not believe that studies of public health around individual incinerators are scientifically justifiable."

---

Events

South West Devon Waste Partnership Committee meetings

The South West Devon Waste Partnership holds a quarterly committee meeting which rotates around the three areas of Plymouth, Devon and Torbay. This committee meeting is open to the public and involves councillors from the three authorities and key senior officers from each authority. Information on the committee meetings including dates, agendas and previous minutes can be found on the Plymouth City Council committee meeting page.

MVV Incinerator Liaison Committee

MVV has set up an Incinerator Liaison Committee (ILC), formerly known as the Local Liaison Committee (LLC). The objective of the ILC is to promote discussion between interested parties of issues relating to the construction and operation of the Energy from Waste facility. If you have any questions relating to the ILC please contact MVV.

February 2011 roadshows

MVV Umwelt and the South West Devon Waste Partnership held a series of public roadshows in February 2011.

The roadshow were an opportunity to find out more about the proposals, speak with MVV and partnership officers and to provide feedback.

Joint Scrutiny Review

Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council have completed a Joint Scrutiny Review on the proposals to procure an energy from waste facility to serve South West Devon. The Joint Review Panel focused on four areas of questioning:

• Funding and affordability
• Population and waste stream projections
• Lessons learnt elsewhere
• Contingency plans

The full report details the lines of questioning and recommendations from the review. This report will be presented to the South West Devon Waste Partnership Joint Working Committee during the October meeting. The Joint Working Committee will then provide a response to the recommendations. The full report can be found below.

[Back to top]