Energy from Waste Reserved Matters submitted

25 September 2008

When Transport and Technical Services (TTS) was granted Outline Planning Permission for building the new Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility at La Collette in October 2007, the Planning and Environment Minister reserved a number of matters which were required to complete the overall planning process.  TTS has now completed the final detailed design and submitted the plans covering these ‘reserved matters’ for final consideration.

Due to the size and location of the EfW facility, the Planning Minister required the final detail of the building and the surrounding landscaping to be designed by internationally acclaimed architects.  TTS commissioned award-winning Hopkins Architects Limited to provide the Outline Planning design. Hopkins, who has been at the forefront of British architecture for many years, have now refined the detailed building design.  Their work has been widely acclaimed by both the public and architects alike, and the company has a track record of delivering buildings of the highest architectural excellence, combining innovative design, craft and environmental responsibility. 

Townshend Landscape Architects, who were commissioned to complete the landscaping features of the project, are similarly respected and working on many high-profile projects across Europe .

Jim Greaves from Hopkins Architects has described the concept of the building as “a simple but bold design. The Energy from Waste plant is enclosed in a simple box with an exposed roof structure.  The structure reduces the perceived bulk of the building whilst at the same time creating an interesting roofscape that relates well to the adjacent existing chimney.  The ends of the box are glazed and will provide glimpses of the industrial plant process within.

Very careful consideration has been given to the landscaping, especially the Eastern side of the site which is visible from the coast of Havre des Pas and St Clement.  TTS has held several meetings with the Community Liaison Group and has listened to their views. Townshend Landscape Architects’ design extends the large trees and shrubs, around from Mount Bingham and along the coastline in front of the EfW building. By using variations in land contours and planting, the design creates the impression of deeper natural woodland and grassland that provides a setting that relates well to the industrial buildings behind.

The Planning Minister will also be considering various other reserved matters.  TTS have improved the traffic access to the EfW complex from La Route du Veulle, the main road into La Collette II, ensuring that it will be safer for vehicles to enter and leave the site.  The Department has developed a plan on how it will deal with major incidents on the site including agreement with the Fire and Rescue Service that they will be provided with a special emergency access to La Collette from the Green Street slip and via the Promenade.

The new EfW plant will conform to the latest emission standards and comprehensive plans for monitoring air quality are in place.  Normal background levels will be measured prior to building the EfW and then regular monitoring will occur once the plant is in operation.

The public will have an opportunity to find out more and comment on the latest building design and the proposed landscaping as well as information on the other ‘reserved matters’ that are due for the consideration of the Planning Minister, at two public meetings in October.  The first will take place on Thursday 9 October at 7pm at St Paul ’s Centre and the second at the Ommaroo Hotel on Sunday 12 October from 2pm to 6pm .

“TTS has not only taken a lot of care to ensure that the new EfW will not only be fit for the job and will adhere to the very latest technical and environmental standards, providing the Island with a reliable waste disposal solution, but we have also paid great attention to the external aspect of the building and site” said John Richardson , Chief Officer of TTS.  “We have used building and landscape architects of the highest calibre to achieve the best possible quality facility with the minimum impact on the landscape”