Consultations on to two separate bids to build ‘anaerobic digestor’ plants costing a total of £250m in South Holland are ongoing.
Naylor Farms submitted applications for the proposals near Surfleet and just outside Spalding back in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Since then they’ve remained undecided with South Holland District Council passing the planning authority on to Lincolnshire County Council in that time.
Recently eagle-eyed residents have spotted both are out to consultation and used social media to encourage residents to get in touch regards it.
Lincolnshire County Council says the consultations conclude on January 22. It’s not entirely clear when the consultation started but letters to consultees, including local councillors, were sent out on December 11 and 12.
Simon Naylor, of Naylor Farms, though said that he’d spoken to the county council and they would continue to take submissions until the matter is decided.
The anaerobic digestors are described as ‘state of the art’ and would take commercial food waste to be turned into biogas to be used as energy in food production, as well as fertilizer for farming.
It’s done so by using micro-organisms to feed on the waste.
The two plants are proposed to specialise in processing waste produced in ‘homes, farms and supermarkets and food processing factories making the location in the heart of rural Lincolnshire ideal’, documents submitted with the applications state.
The company claims both sides will result in a total of over 50 jobs.
“The proposals will create a positive environmental impact on the area reducing waste, transport and carbon footprint in addition to biodiversity enhancements on the site itself which will improve the local area,” the documents continued.
The site east of Spalding will be on farmland adjacent to Naylor Farm’s current protein extraction facility between the A16 and Rangell Gate.
The Surfleet site will also be accessed off the A16 where the Outer Dowsing Windfarm relief road is proposed to be, near to Surfleet Bank.
Among those objecting are Coun Sally Slade, who says in her submission on the Surfleet proposal that she’d been in contact with ‘many concerned local residents’.
“This industrial development does not belong in the countryside.
“It will create an industrial site in agricultural surroundings.”
There’s support from Boston rural councillor Paul Lock who says: “I’m pleased to note the AD plant will be operated under a negative pressure system for odour and fly control. Thus mitigating concerns locally around smells from such a site.”
Weston Parish Council has also raised objections over concerns about traffic and potential smells.
Mr Naylor said: “It uses the latest Dutch technology who are the world leaders in environmental waste, so there will be no smell.
“For me, it’s all positive.
“It will put South Holland on the map for green energy.”
