Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has refused planning permission for a large scale waste treatment facility, on the site of the former Hightown Quarry in North Belfast.

The application by Arc21, an umbrella waste management group for 11 councils in Northern Ireland, proposed the build of the residual waste treatment facility. The development of the Residual Waste Treatment Facility would have incorporated other facilities, including an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility and a Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) facility. The group’s predictions expected the facility to thermally treat 300,000 tonnes of waste per year.

Arc21

As a regionally significant planning application, involving a £240 million incinerator, the Minister’s objection is final. In a statement, she noted the ‘5000 objections’ to the proposed facility, in comparison to the 168 letters of support.

Explaining her decision, the Minister said: "I consider that this development for a residual waste treatment facility in the former Hightown Quarry of Boghill Road should be refused. I have carefully considered all the information before me and I have listened to the concerns of local people and their public representatives. There have been in excess of 5000 objections to this application.”

She added: “My priorities for this assembly mandate were to improve lives, connect communities, grow a balanced economy and tackle the climate emergency. In respect of the latter, I am committed to climate action, and promoting recycling is an important aspect in that regard.

“This development could result in an increased market for waste disposal and to maintain a facility such as this, in addition to the other approved waste facilities, could discourage recycling. I am not persuaded that there is a need for this specific facility. In that context I do not consider there to be any need for this proposal."

In regards to the minister's decision, a spokesperson for the Becon Consortium said: “We note the announcement made by the Minister for Infrastructure on Sunday 27 March which goes against the clear recommendation to approve given by the Strategic Planning Directorate. We will now work alongside arc21 to understand the Minister’s rationale for making the decision before considering our next steps.”

“That means the arc21 planning application has now been recommended for approval on four separate occasions including by the independent Planning Appeals Commission. The strategic need for this type of integrated waste infrastructure has long been recognised in central and local government waste management strategies and other policies. New climate change and Circular Economy targets which place a ten per cent maximum cap on landfill and set an ambitious 65 per cent recycling target by 2035 strengthen that need.

“Approximately a quarter of our household black bin waste still ends up in landfill while last year we also exported a further 235,000 tonnes of this waste overseas, much of which fuelled similar Energy from Waste plants there. Relying on such export markets is increasingly risky and expensive due to increasing import taxes being levied and growing transport costs, never mind the sustainability, environmental and reputational concerns this practice raises.

“Northern Ireland does not have sufficient infrastructure to deal with our non-recyclable waste and that leaves arc21 councils very exposed when it comes to meeting their waste management, Circular Economy and climate change obligations.”