Landcare approval for biomass plant
Landcare has secured planning permission from Stockport Council for a biomass facility at Adswood Road in Cheadle Hulme.
The 46.5-acre site is redundant brownfield land which was previously operated by Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority for the disposal of household, industrial and commercial waste. The landfill operation ceased in 1987.
Landcare took over 526-acres across 18 landfill sites from the GMWDA in January 2013.
Manchester-based HOW Planning acted on behalf of Landcare. Landcare is part of Glasgow-based land development firm NPL Group.
Plans include the full redevelopment of the site to incorporate a biomass plantation as well as a recreational space to include a network of footpaths to allow access by members of the public.
The company will import materials to landscape the site in order to create the biomass plantation to produce energy crops, with the intention that these are used locally to provide a sustainable source of energy.
The plantation can remain viable for up to 25 years before re-planting becomes necessary.
Elizabeth McFaydean, planner at HOW Planning, said: "LML has recently taken responsibility for 18 former landfill sites in Greater Manchester with the aim of ensuring their long term environmental management and in some cases redevelopment. The site at Adswood was the first of these sites to be proposed for redevelopment and approval of the plans ensures a long term, beneficial and sustainable solution."