Leicestershire County Council has refused planning permission for an anaerobic digestion facility proposed at a disused mushroom farm near Market Harborough in England.
Great Bowden Green Energy Ltd had sought approval to develop the scheme at Marigold Farm off Welham Way in Great Bowden, designed to process chicken manure, maize and straw to create renewable gas for grid injection.
The council's development control board voted against the proposal, citing concerns about industrial development impact on the rural area, potential odour issues and the effect of heavy goods vehicles accessing the site.
The facility would have processed approximately 40,000 tonnes of feedstock annually to generate seven megawatts of biomethane.
More than 350 local objections were lodged with the council, with residents and neighbouring councillors expressing unease about odour controls and traffic impacts.
Conservative MP Neil O'Brien raised particular concerns about lorry movements from the A6 bypass accessing Welham Lane, warning the scheme would have a damaging effect on road safety and create transport-related problems across the surrounding area.
James Cook, representing the applicant, told the planning committee that the company had successfully operated more than 40 comparable anaerobic digestion plants elsewhere in the UK, accumulating over four million operating hours without documented complaints to environmental health or the Environment Agency. However, these assurances did not allay local concerns about the specific site's suitability.
Phil Knowles, the district councillor for Great Bowden, expressed satisfaction with the refusal. "This is a facility that is not wanted and arguably not needed," he said. "Agreement would carry genuine risk of transport disruption and odour impact affecting the village, surrounding areas and bypass users."
