While the amount of energy generated from waste is set to rise steeply in the UK, many new plants can expect to face considerable local opposition. In Oxfordshire, SLR Consulting has helped Viridor to secure time-limited planning permission for a 300,000 tonne-a-year Energy from Waste (EfW) plant.It is expected that 95 per cent of the residual waste processed at the Ardley facility will be diverted from landfill while producing enough low carbon energy to power 22,000 homes.SLR managed a multi-disciplinary team which carried out all the planning application and environmental impact assessment work for the Ardley development and provided expert witness support at the public inquiry. It looked at how the design would fit into the surrounding landscape, and reviewed alternative sites.Its architectural specialists worked with Viridor’s landscape team which defined the position, form and detailed design of the building and stack, as well as the external lighting and landscaping. This integrated approach to design minimiseds the adverse effects on surrounding landscape.
