"We will offer bidders for Contract B the industrial site in King's Lynn, however they may choose to provide their own site"
Ian Monson, Norfolk CC Cabinet member for Environment and Waste
Norwich, England, UK: Norfolk County Council recently announced that it is to offer land at an industrial site south of King's Lynn, as a potential location for bidders to build a household waste treatment facility.
The site, at the Saddlebow Industrial Estate, will enable the County Council to proceed with its bid to secure substantial additional funding under the PFI (private finance initiative) system from Central Government for new waste treatment facilities.
The PFI credits would effectively be equivalent to a 50% cash grant (£72.4m) towards the capital costs of the residual waste treatment project under 'Contract B' - the second phase of the County Council's strategic plan for residual municipal waste.
Norfolk has a deadline of 30 April, 2008 to submit the outline business case for PFI funding to Defra. If the outline business case is approved, the Council will invite bids for the project in Autumn 2008.
The Council says that the land offer does not guarantee that the facility will be built in King's Lynn, as waste companies will have the option of offering other potential sites under the PFI contract.
Proposed minerals and waste facilities in Norfolk, including the site at Saddlebow Industrial Estate, King's Lynn have been entered into a local waste and minerals consultation, and the public have until 25 April 2008 to comment on any of the proposed sites.
Any proposed new waste facility would also be subject to an application for planning consent and associated consultation.
Contract A
In March 2007, Sustainable Resource Management (SRM), was selected by Norfolk County Council as Preferred Bidder for Contract A, the first phase of the County Council's residual waste treatment project to treat 150,000 tonnes of residual waste per year.
This was followed by the granting of planning consent to SRM for an MBT (mechanical biological treatment) facility with associated AD (anaerobic digestion), last October. The new facility will be constructed at Costessey and is intended to be operational by 2010.
Ian Monson, Cabinet member for Environment and Waste, said:
"Creating new infrastructure is essential if Norfolk is to reduce its reliance on the disposal of waste to landfill and avoid fines and escalating taxes. The County Council is working to divert waste from landfill in a cost-effective manner that will also reduce our impact on the environment.
"We will offer bidders for Contract B the industrial site in King's Lynn, however they may choose to provide their own site. We are keeping our options open on the type of waste treatment technology and will not be making any decision on the preferred bidder until 2010."
Further information
The County Council is also inviting the public to have their say on 'The future of waste in Norfolk ' and how household waste is to be dealt with in the future. For further information visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/futureofwaste.