A PLANNING application for a renewable energy plant in Thetford has been submitted to Norfolk County Council.

A PLANNING application for a renewable energy plant in Thetford has been submitted to Norfolk County Council.

Energy Power Recourses (EPR) unveiled proposals earlier this year for a second biomass power plant off the A134 near Thetford, but many living nearby have opposed the idea.

The plant, which is proposed to be sited 1km away from the company's existing station, would generate 40 megawatts of electricity a year through wood burning, enough to power almost 70,000 homes. EPR said the proposed plant would cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 120,000 tonnes a year. The station is planned for farmland off the A134 between the A11 roundabout and Thetford Rugby Club.

Business development manager for EPR, Gary Coombs, said: “At a regional level, the biomass plant would contribute to the region's renewable energy targets.

“Latest statistics show that the East of England has some 508MW of installed renewable energy capacity against a 2010 target of 820MW, thus it is clear that there is an urgent need for larger scale renewable energy generation facilities.”

The plant has been designed so the larger buildings would be at lower ground level, away from the nearest housing, and tree and hedge planting is proposed to help screen the plant.

Villagers in Thetford and Croxton in particular however have voiced concerns throughout the project, raising fears about the impact on the surrounding area and the chosen site.

Should planning permission be granted it is estimated the construction programme would take approximately 28 months and the plant would be operational in 2013.

Further details and how to comment on the application can be found at the project's website at www.thetfordrenewableenergyplant.co.uk