East Suffolk Council
Permit issued with robust conditions to protect climate
East Suffolk Council has put air-quality and climate at the core of an operating permit for a residual-waste incinerator.
Planning consent for the incinerator, to be operated by VC Cooke Ltd, was granted by Conservative-controlled Suffolk County Council last year. An environmental permit is also required before operation can commence, which East Suffolk Council have now issued in accordance with statutory obligations.
Having commissioned legal counsel to examine the permitting process in detail, the Council has added conditions to the permit enforcing all applicable regulations regarding air-quality. The Council has also included a condition in the permit requiring VC Cooke to submit a carbon-management plan showing that the incinerator does not contribute to climate-change.
Cllr Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council, said: “We’ve heard resident concerns and representations about the incinerator, and we’ve taken all the steps legally allowed to safeguard air-quality. We’ve also ensured that the permit includes a robust condition to protect the climate. We look forward to discussing with VC Cooke their plans for meeting these conditions.
“We don’t believe that waste-incineration is the future. East Suffolk Council has declared a climate emergency, and we support the national commitment to reach net-zero by 2050. We’ve also said clearly in our new strategic plan for East Suffolk, Our Direction 2028, that we’ll deliver positive climate, nature and environmental outcomes in all that we do.
“We’re committed to prioritising cleaner energy generation, which we believe is the way forward for a thriving economy in East Suffolk.”