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Council to require all buildings to be removed from biomass plant

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is to take enforcement action over planning concerns relating to the Biomass Gasification Plant in Barry.

The council said a legal enforcement notice would require the plant and all buildings to be removed from the land.

It added that the move was unanimously decided at a meeting of the local authority’s Planning Committee “after plant owners failed to resolve inconsistencies between the design and what has been built”.

Features including water tanks, machinery, an external conveyor and a substation were not shown on approved plans.

Vale of Glamorgan said it believed that, in combination, this represented a breach of planning permission, and a comprehensive application including the above had not been submitted.

Should Barry Biomass appeal this decision, the matter will be dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.

Cllr Eddie Williams, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Legal, Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “I’m fully aware of the strength of feeling regarding this plant locally and the nature of residents’ concerns.

“The original planning application to erect a plant at Barry Docks was refused by the Council in 2010, but that decision was overturned on appeal by a Welsh Government-appointed Inspector.

“However, the development has not progressed in the manner agreed and, sadly, despite a long-running dialogue, this appears the only way to get certain issues resolved.”

Barry Biomass has been approached for comment.

A spokeswoman for the plant's developers told the BBC it was "disappointed at this decision", adding: "We have already agreed to rectify the issues raised by the council.

"It is our firm belief that the biomass facility in Barry is environmentally responsible, safe and will have a positive long-term impact on the local community."

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