Incinerator proposal rejected

PLANS for a £150m commercial waste incinerator between Cardiff and Newport have been turned down by the Welsh Government.

Proposals for the energy plant on Newlands Road near Wentloog Corporate Park have been refused by the the planning inspectorate and the Welsh Minister for Climate Change Julie James MS.

The project, which would have ran 24 hours a day, raised concerns from residents when it was first proposed in 2019.

Local campaigners at the time claimed the plant would create a health hazard, increased traffic and air pollution and said it was too close to homes and schools.

The company behind the scheme, Mor Hafren Bio Power, said in 2019 that 40 lorries would also visit and leave the site each day, six days a week and there would be 36 car journeys, totalling 116 vehicle movements each day.

In its final report last week, the inspector in charge of the decision rejected the plans saying its “insufficient need, conflict with the development plan and lack of compliance with the Welsh Government waste strategy outweigh the carbon emission, energy generation, socio-economic and ditch management benefits that the scheme would bring.”

Ms James agreed with the inspector’s decision, citing factors such as the “adverse ecological effects” in her decision to refuse permission.

It marks the end of a years-long fight from campaigners and residents who opposed the scheme.

A local Facebook group Residents against the CF3 Incinerator has more than 3,000 members, and has garnered support from the likes of Cardiff South & Penarth MP Stephen Doughty. Mr Doughty said he was “delighted” at the decision to refuse the plans.