UK renewables plant gets green light after local dispute

Manchester High Court has decided in favour of a controversial biomass plant, due to be built in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester, UK.

The £70 million (€85.1 million) Barton Renewable Energy Plant will be built by Peel Holdings, reportedly 500m from the nearest homes – a proposal that led local councils and residents to challenge the project.

However, objections to the plant were rejected by the Environment Agency, who granted the plant a permit.

A legal challenge by Trafford council to the plant was thrown out by a judge after the court found that communities secretary Eric Pickles followed correct procedures when he said last year that the project should go ahead.

Jon England, project manager at Peel Energy, says: 'We are grateful to the court for considering the issues raised by Trafford Council.

'We now intend to focus our attention on completing the work necessary for the plant to be built so it can start generating renewable electricity for the homes and businesses of Greater Manchester.'