January 13, 2020 12.41 pm This story is over 22 months old

Council objects to controversial Norton Disney rendering plant

The company said it has made improvements
Protestors at an event staged against the Norton Disney plans in 2018. | Photo: Jasper Weldon

North Kesteven District Council has objected to a plan for a £28 million animal waste rendering plant in Norton Disney, despite company assurances that improvements have been made.

Lincoln Proteins Limited proposed a new factory at Villa Farm in the village, which would see the firm move from its Skellingthorpe facility.

The authority objected to new plans which were submitted by the company in November 2019 after concern was raised over a previous proposal.

The original application attracted opposition from local residents who submitted a petition and demonstrated against the plan.

Photo: Jasper Weldon

Lincoln Proteins said “extensive improvements” were made to the proposal and addressed previous objections.

But, councillors have raised concern over odour, location of the factory, visual impact, historical environment and traffic.

In a decision notice, the council said that the developer had failed to explain why other sites could not be used for the facility.

It said: “Notwithstanding that having regard to the nature of the proposals the development of an ABP facility in the countryside may be able to be justified, the applicant has failed to fully evidence why alternative allocated employment sites are unable to accommodate the development.”

A decision on the factory will be made by Lincolnshire County Council at a later date.

Site Layout Plan. Photo: Lincoln Proteins Ltd/JHWalter LLP Chartered Surveyors

The district authority objected to the original application in 2018 on the grounds of the location selection and the impact of odour and how it would affect the landscape.

Lincoln Proteins said it felt it had addressed concerns made in the new plan.

The company said an advanced archaeological evaluation has been carried out on the site. The resubmitted application commits to ecological enhancements and improved wildlife habitats including catering for bats that are in the locality.

Lincoln Proteins also commissioned reports including an Odour Management and Air Quality report by a leading environmental expert Dr Nigel Gibson.

The firm said potential concerns associated with Hill Holt Wood users have also been addressed with reports by clinical experts Dr Elinor Butterfield and Dr Hannah Clements.

More than 3,600 people signed a petition back in December 2017 against the plan, which was then presented to the county council. In the same month, around 400 demonstrators took part in a march organised by the Witham Valley Preservation Group from Villa Farm to Norton Disney.

However, the firm said the application has had a lot of support from different organisations, including the National Federation of Meat Traders.

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