Augean South to expand King's Cliffe hazardous waste landfill site closer to Fineshade Wood and Collyweston Great Wood after Government go-ahead

Plans to almost double the size of a landfill site for hazardous and low level radioactive waste near ancient woodland have been approved by the Government.

Specialist waste management company Augean South has been given the green light to create another 2.5 million cubic metres of landfill space at its East Northants Resource Management Facility (ENRMF) site, near King's Cliffe.

The extension will be spread over 26.8 hectares - about the size of 50 football pitches - taking the whole site to 58.6 hectares.

Classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, the decision fell to the Planning Inspectorate, and on Tuesday, Lee Rowley granted the development consent order (DCO) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove.

Augean’s chief executive officer, John Rauch, said the consent proved the expansion plans were been based on 'sound scientific, technical, environmental and policy grounds'.

"The DCO will enable Augean to continue to provide a nationally-important facility for the safe, secure and well-regulated treatment and disposal of wastes that require specialist handling," he said.

Mr Rauch said the company had amended plans following a public consultation.

Woodland conservation group Friends of Fineshade raised concerns that the site, which opened in 2004, was expanding into land between the ancient woodlands of Fineshade and Collyweston Great Wood, a site of Special Scientific Interest.

They believed it would threaten several species, including adders, dormice, and newts, and suggested expanding to the south instead.

Last November, Augean was ordered to pay a charity £25,000 after admitting the contamination of groundwater at the site.

Augean has not moved the location, but agreed to alter timescales.

Dr Gene Wilson, Augean’s director of environmental planning, said: "The phasing of the new landfill area has been altered so that the northernmost area between the two woodlands will be worked, filled, capped and restored in around five to seven years from the start of work.

"This will bring forward some connectivity between the two areas of woodland at an early stage, creating links across what is now arable farmland."

Restorative work includes pre-construction planting to promote biodiversity, as well as a new watercourse and wetland to improve links between the woods.

They have also pledged to retain its on-site car park for public use and create footpaths around the site once fully restored.

Friends of Fineshade member Barrie Galpin said: "We became reconciled to the fact it was going to go ahead anyway.

"I'm pleased that Augean has adapted the restoration plans a little bit.

"The two woodlands will now be connected to the benefit of wildlife and people, but unfortunately not until 2030 apparently."

Augean has agreed to requests from the Rockingham Forest Vision group for a guided walk in March to show areas it has already restored .

"The area nearby will be much less pleasant than it is now to visit and I can't imagine it will benefit wildlife in any way to begin with," Barrie added.

"Whether it will in the long term, it remains to be seen and depends how good their restoration work is."

The DCO will also allow Augean to operate at the site until 2046 - the firm's previous licence had been due to expire in three years - and for its waste treatment and recovery facility to handle an extra 50,000 tons per year.

Yet Barrie believes the site could be expanded still to the south of the current site and extend the shelf life beyond 2046.

"I'm sure there will be another expansion in due course," he said.