South Humber Bank Energy Centre, North East Lincolnshire

DWD is acting as lead consultant to EP UK Investments (EPUKI) providing planning, consultation and examination management support for a new Energy Centre on vacant land at South Humber Bank Power Station site, near Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire.

DWD provided all town planning and consultation activities and led engagement with the local planning authority for the consented Energy Centre, which will make use of around 750,000 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) per annum in order to generate approximately 49 megawatts of electricity, enough to power up to 50,000 homes. Full planning permission was granted in April 2019, after 16 weeks.

Since the planning permission was granted, EPWM assessed potential opportunities to improve the efficiency of the Consented Development and is advancing proposals for an EfW power station with a gross electrical output of up to 95 MW at the Site.  No changes are proposed to the maximum building dimensions and fuel throughput that were approved by the planning permission.

This is classed as a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008, which requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy before it can be constructed and operated.

The DCO application was submitted on 9 April 2020, accepted on 4 May 2020 and was approved in November 2021.

The facility would represent a £300 million investment by EPUKI. Construction under the Planning Permission is anticipated to start in 2021, and its operation will generate 50 permanent jobs.