High Court Rejects Trafford Council’s Attempt To Block Development

Plans by Peel Energy (Barton) Limited to build a biomass-fired renewable energy plant in Manchester are set to go ahead following a High Court decision yesterday (24 February).

The Barton Renewable Energy Plant (BREP) development is planned to be built on land near Barton Bridge in Davyhulme and has the potential to provide low carbon electricity for approximately 37,000 homes – equivalent to more than one third of the homes in Trafford.

Designed to have an operational life of over 25 years, Peel Energy’s plant was initially rejected by councillors in November 2011.

Following a successful appeal a public inquiry in November 2012, however, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, overturned Trafford Council’s decision and granted planning permission for BREP.

Trafford Council challenged this but following a High Court hearing on the 10th and 11th of February, it was ruled that Mr. Pickles’ decision to grant planning permission was sound.

Jon England, project manager at Peel Energy, said: “We are grateful to the court for considering the issues raised by Trafford Council. We now intend to focus our attention on completing the work necessary for the plant to be built, so it can start generating renewable electricity for the homes and businesses of Greater Manchester.”

Emily Williams, planning specialist at law firm Irwin Mitchell, acted on behalf of Peel Energy both as instructing solicitor through the public inquiry, and advising throughout the recent High Court hearing.