Shropshire Council lodges plans for Ludlow biochar plant

The local authority wants to turn a former anaerobic digester into a unit producing biochar, a form of charcoal.

The installation at the Ludlow Business Park site, off Coder Road, will allow the creation of biochar from imported green waste, wood, and compost oversize materials.

It is part of a £2 million investment that Shropshire Council is putting into locally manufactured biochar-producing pyrolysis plants, with the first being built by Woodtek Engineering Ltd on Caebardd Farm in Powys.

In a planning statement, Tony Higgins, from EnviroConsult, which is working alongside the council, said the side effects of the biochar production process include dust, odours, and noise. However, these will all be mitigated, he said.

“All modes operation of the site have been assessed and the impacts are compliant with World Health Orgnization (WHO) daytime and nighttime guidance,” said Mr Higgins.

The consultant added that an onsite survey carried out by Redmore Environmental failed to identify any significant species of concern.

“It advised that there are no sites of international conservation significance within 2km and only two sites of local conservation importance,” said Mr Higgins.

“Additionally, the site is not identified as a core area or corridor within the Shropshire Environmental Network.

“The proposed change of use is considered to offer a viable alternative to inefficient disposal of green wastes, and provides for an economic gain from those wastes that will realise a funding stream for the operator as well as benefit the local community.

“The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development and requires that the three dimensions to sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) are not undertaken in isolation, but are sought jointly and simultaneously.

“The proposed development is considered to accord with the provisions of the relevant development plan policies and is therefore deemed to represent sustainable development and thus it is hoped that the application is approved without delay.”

Anyone who wishes to comment on the scheme on Shropshire Council's planning portal (application reference 25/00309/FUL) can do so up until February 19.

Councillor Andy Boddington (Lib Dem, Ludlow North) has already stated his support, saying the technology is “a win-win".

However, the Mayor of Ludlow, Councillor Beverley Waite, told waste official Mark Foxall in October that Shropshire Council “doesn’t care what the town council think".

“It states quite clearly that planning permission will be required and you’re saying it’s going to be done,” she said.

“Does that mean the planning decision of Ludlow Town Council means absolutely nothing to Shropshire Council? Because if we turn you down, are you just going to go ahead and do it?

Mr Foxall said he wasn’t asking for a decision, but was briefing the town council on what the proposals are.