Scottish Government decides not to call in Aberdeen energy plant

energy from waste facility in East TullosPlans for a £150 million energy from waste facility in Aberdeen will not be called by the Scottish Government following concerns raised over the project’s public health implications.

Opponents to the scheme on Greenbank Terrace in East Tullos wrote to the Scottish Government last week, making a formal request for Scottish Ministers to call in the decision and hold a public hearing.

Earlier this month, Aberdeen City Council conditionally approved the facility which would be used by Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils for non-recyclable waste, to reduce the amount sent to landfill.

The energy plant will help the city comply with national regulations which, from 1st January 2021, will ban Scottish councils from putting any biodegradable municipal waste into landfill.



A joint statement from Torry, Cove, Kincorth and Nigg community councils said the facility would cause “considerable issues of public concern and public health”, but the Scottish Government said it did not consider the proposal raised issues of national significance.

Finance convener Councillor Willie Young said the Scottish Government decision would allow the facility to move forward.

He added: “The most important thing now is that some of the issues in and around health need to be addressed by SEPA and the Scottish Government.

“Many within the community had put their hopes in the Scottish Government but rightly they have decided not to call it in.”



A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have considered the request for call-in and do not consider that the proposal raises issues of national significance which would merit Ministers’ intervention.”

Work on the site is scheduled to begin in January 2019 with the plant due to open in 2021.


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