The government has overturned a council’s rejection of an energy from waste facility in Leicestershire.

Planning permission for the energy from waste plant was rejected twice by Leicestershire County Council. The application from Biffa to burn rubbish at a new plant near Shepshed and turn it into energy was rejected. However the company appealed and a public inquiry was held.

As a result the government has overturned the council’s decision to reject a revised application last year. The council has said the scheme was not appropriate.

Planning and permitting manager at Biffa, Jeff Rhodes, said “This is a really important decision for Biffa and for Leicestershire as the area currently has no long term solution for waste. We believe that it makes no sense to put waste which we cannot recycle into landfill, both environmentally and financially, when the value inherent within it can be used to generate energy”.

He added “This is a significant step forwards in the development of sustainable and renewable energy infrastructure in the UK”.

Utility Exchange reported almost two years ago that the CBI (Confederation of British Industries) wanted the government to do more to encourage energy from waste. New European laws mean councils pay fines if they send too much waste to landfill in a bid to encourage recycling.

A Leicestershire County Council spokesperson said they were disappointed that their decision had been overturned and “will now look carefully at the reasons why the secretary of state agreed to approve these proposals, before we can make any further comment”.