Permit application submitted for Beccles incineration plant, with consultations to be held

Consultations are being held after a permit application was made for a small incineration plant.

The plant would be located at Ellough, near Beccles, and meetings will be held in two weeks time, on October 17 and 18 at the Old Ambulance Station in Blyburgate.

The original proposal for a Small Waste Incineration Plant (SWIP) was submitted to Suffolk County Council and planning permission was granted in May 2023.

The plant would be operated by V.C. Cooke Ltd, alongside their existing recycling centre on the Ellough Industrial Estate.

Caroline Topping, leader of East Suffolk Council, said: “This application has generated a lot of interest from local residents.

“I am keen that everybody is given the opportunity to express their views on this issue in a constructive way and is able to ask questions to address any concerns and understand what is being proposed.

“The planning application for the plant has already been approved by Suffolk County Council and there is now an opportunity for residents to find out more about the environmental permit by attending a drop-in session, hosted by East Suffolk’s Environmental Protection team.”

V.C. Cooke Ltd have now applied to East Suffolk Council for a permit, and provided information about how the site will be built and controlled.

The council will now conduct an assessment to see if the SWIP would cause harm to human or environmental health.

A permit is required to ensure a SWIP operates with minimal pollution.

The consultations are scheduled for Tuesday, October 17 from 3pm to 7pm, and Wednesday, October 18 from 10am to 12pm.