Green belt compost plant in Wisley approved

RHS Wisley is home to seven national plant collections

Controversial proposals to build an industrial compost plant near the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) garden in Surrey have been approved.

Wharf Land Investments has been given permission to site a new facility close to RHS Wisley near Ockham.

Residents living nearby are worried about the smell, the impact on the Green Belt and increased traffic.

The government said the site would help the county recycle more waste without having an impact on residents.

'Unique site'

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government John Denham agreed with a planning inspector that plans to build the composting site on the disused Wisley Airfield near the A3 should go ahead.

The RHS had complained that their gardens are down-wind of the compost site and plant pathogens could be spread.

It's a unique site and it's very beautiful Euan Harkness

But the developers said the process was "natural" and would cause no harm.

James Rudoni, from RHS Wisley, said the society would be "watching very closely" to ensure Wharf Land Investments adheres to its planning conditions.

Euan Harkness, who chairs the Wisley Airfield Action Group, said he was surprised the government approved the application.

He said: "It's a unique site close to the RHS, it's in incredibly close proximity to Elm Corner, which is a residential area and it's very beautiful."

In a statement, Wharf Land Investments said: "We will work closely with the relevant parties to ensure that this facility meets and exceeds the requirements of Surrey."