The developer behind plans for a biogas plant in a Sleaford area village has had the scheme pulled from a council planning committee agenda at the eleventh hour.

Stream BioEnergy Ltd requested last week that the application be withdrawn from the agenda of Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee, where it was to be considered on Monday (May 11).

The anaerobic digestion plant was proposed to be sited immediately west of Pilgrim’s/Moy Park poultry processing factory in Anwick.

Stream BioEnergy said it would convert 120,000 tonnes of poultry manure and agri-food waste annually into biomethane for the national gas grid. Trucks serving the plant and the neighbouring Moy park site would be diverted via a new access road outside the village.

Campaigners against a proposed biogas plant at Anwick. Credit: LDRS

placeholder image — Campaigners against a proposed biogas plant at Anwick. Credit: LDRS

It had drawn intense criticism from locals about over-industrialisation of the small village and the council’s own officers had recommended that the plans be refused permission.

A spokesperson for Stream BioEnergy said: "We and the Lincolnshire Country Council planning department agreed to defer this application from the May planning committee agenda to allow us appropriate time to fully review the planning officer's report before presenting at a future planning committee. We remain fully committed to this development, which represents a £115 million investment that will support the important agri-food sector in Lincolnshire.”

A number of members of the public were due to attend the hearing and were notified of the late change.

The council told those wishing to attend: “If and when the application is brought back to committee in the future, this will be advertised in the usual way, and further information will be published on the council’s website.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause and thank you for your understanding.”