January 24, 2020 11.10 am This story is over 50 months old

County council expected to reject Norton Disney animal rendering plant

It raised concern among residents
Protestors at an event staged against the Norton Disney plans in 2018. | Photo: Jasper Weldon

Lincolnshire County Council is expected to reject a plan for a £28 million animal waste rendering plant in Norton Disney.

The controversial proposal was lodged by Lincoln Proteins Ltd for a site at Villa Farm in the village and would see the firm move from its Skellingthorpe facility.

But, county council officials have recommended that the authority’s planning committee reject the plan at a meeting on February 3.

It follows objection from both local residents and North Kesteven District Council, which opposed the development earlier this month over odour and location concerns.

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

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

However, the company argued that it has made “extensive improvements” to the development and addressed previous concerns.

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.

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