No objections have been raised by Reading Borough Council to a waste-burning facility on the outskirts of the town.
A new energy-from-waste incinerator is due to be built by Reading waste management company J Mould at its facility in Berrys Lane, Burghfield.
The incinerator will work by burning waste with steam being used to turn turbines and generate power.
The project has proven controversial from the outset, with campaign group Reading Against the Incinerator claiming fumes from burning rubbish would spread to West Reading, Coley, Southcote and Whitley.
Furthermore, a BBC report from last October stated that burning waste is the ‘dirtiest’ form of generating power in the UK.
The development was approved by neighbouring West Berkshire councillors in August 2022.
However, the council requires details of the construction, site management and traffic before the facility is built.
J Mould has therefore submitted details to West Berkshire Council for approval.
Reading Borough Council’s planning department has submitted no objections to the detailed application.
Jonathan Markwell, the principal planning officer at Reading council said: “Council transport planning has confirmed that reasonable steps have been taken by the applicant within the construction traffic management plan to avoid peak hour traffic movements.
“More specifically, the plan has been updated to state that travel will be outside of peak hours where possible, although it is acknowledged that some peak HGV vehicle movements are likely to occur whilst the main building is being fitted with its internal equipment during a six week period.
“However, the plan does state that the principal contractor shall seek to organise construction activities such that where practicable construction workers would not have to travel to and from the site during the morning and evening peak hours.
“The proposed construction traffic routing is acceptable to the council as it avoids Reading town centre and high-density residential areas.
“Long vehicles will be required to use the Red Route via the A4 Bath Road due to the constraints of the alternative route.”
However, the company will require an environmental permit from the government to burn waste.
You can view the council’s response to the detailed application for the incinerator by typing reference PL/25/0437 into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
A final verdict will be made by West Berkshire Council’s planning department.
You can view the detailed application in full by typing reference 25/00529/COND into West Berkshire Council’s planning portal.
