Tata Chemicals Europe in partnership with E.ON Energy from Waste UK Limited, has submitted a planning application to build an energy from plant (EfW) at its chemical manufacturing site in Lostock, Northwich.

The EfW will be developed and operated by E.ON Energy from Waste UK Limited. It is designed to provide heat - primarily steam - and electricity to Tata Chemicals Europe's Lostock manufacturing site.

Tata Chemicals Europe is the only UK producer of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate, products that are essential to the glass, detergent, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries both in the UK and overseas. Until April 2011, Tata Chemicals Europe was known as Brunner Mond, a company that had manufactured in Northwich for more than 130 years.

The proposal to build the new energy plant was submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in February 2010. This is because the proposed plant will produce more than 50 Megawatts of power and is therefore governed by legislation contained in Section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act.

DECC entered into a consultation process with key consultees including the Health Protection Agency, the Environment Agency, Central and Eastern Primary Care Trust and the Highways Agency. These organisations raised no objections to the proposal.

However, another consultee to DECC, the local authority Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) objected to the proposal which has resulted in a mandatory Public Inquiry into the application. This Public Inquiry will commence 11 October 2011 at the Victoria Stadium, Northwich. The aim of this website is to help answer any questions you may have about why the EfW is needed and how it will operate. It also provides information about the planning process.

We are happy to answer any specific questions you may have about the proposals.. You can email us here or call us on 0845 077 3801

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