Incinerator plan for Lanarkshire

An artist impression of the proposed incinerator and power station complex

North Lanarkshire could soon be home to a £250m incinerator complex if plans lodged with the council are approved.

Developers Airdrie North said proposals for the recycling and energy centre would create 65 permanent posts and 150 construction jobs in the town.

The site would have the capacity to burn 300,000 tonnes of waste each year, enough energy to heat 30,000 homes.

It would be built to the east of the A73 and would see a mile-long stretch of the road re-routed.

The company, which is a subsidiary of the Gillespie Investment Group, said the centre would help to divert a substantial level of waste from landfill and would recycle up to 50,000 tonnes of rubbish each year.

The application followed consultations with North Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Sepa.

Environmental impact

Scott Gillespie, managing director of Aidrie North Ltd, said the company had also sought the opinion of local residents in Greengairs, Plains, Glenmavis, Holehills, Rochsoles and Wattston.

He said: "One of their main concerns was, quite rightly, the environmental impact.

"However, the principle of utilising household waste in a sustainable manner, rather than simply sending to a landfill site, was universally understood.

"This is especially pertinent in today's economic climate of rising energy bills.

"This centre could only operate by conforming to the strictest environmental regulations laid down by government at local and national level."

Shirley Linton, planning manager with North Lanarkshire Council, confirmed the application from Aidrie North Ltd to build the site between Greengairs and Dykehead Road had been received.

She said: "That application will now be subject to a public consultation period, after which it will be presented to the planning and transportation committee for discussion and debate.

"No decision will be made on this application until that time."

Earlier this year the Scottish Government unveiled its "zero waste" strategy, which included increasing recycling and cutting down on waste sent to landfill and incinerators.

Targets included limiting the amount of waste used to generate energy to a quarter by 2025.