Protesters hail ‘hammer blow’ to energy plan as backer pulls out

In a shock announcement yesterday, Science City York (SCY) revealed it is stepping away from the £30m scheme between the country’s largest coal producer, UK Coal, and Peel Environmental, to transform the former mine, near Selby, into a green energy facility producing electricity for tens of thousands of homes.

It has also been revealed a proposed incinerator, which was to be built on site as part of the plans, has now been scrapped following an environmental impact assessment on the estimated noise from the site.

The decision by SCY is the second blow to the contentious development in a matter of weeks, after York Council confirmed it was serving an enforcement notice against UK Coal over the scheme, following claims original planning rules stipulate the site should be returned to agricultural use.

Last night, a spokeswoman denied SCY’s decision was to do with the enforcement action and said it was down to financial pressures.

Julian Sturdy, Conservative MP for York Outer, said: “It is a blow to the development.

“Science City York has a very good name and a very good reputation.

“In the early roadshows that I attended, Science City York was used as a way of trying to sell this to the wider community and use its good name.

“I’m pleased that the gasification plant that has been proposed has been removed from the plans, but I have always been of the view that the land should be returned to agricultural use.”

North Selby Mine Action Group (NSMAG), which has about 1,200 members from the area surrounding the site, welcomed yesterday’s announcement but said with SCY no longer involved, original claims that the scheme would provide up to 100 jobs would now not be the case.

NSMAG spokesman Mark Oldridge said: “We are pleased that Science City York has recognised the weight of public opposition, both to their involvement in the scheme and to the plans for the site generally.

“Their withdrawal demonstrates clearly that UK Coal’s attempts to avoid returning the site to agriculture are merely a cost-saving measure and have nothing to do with creating a so-called, renewable energy centre.”

Further consultation on the revised plans for the site has been scheduled to take place in July, with a planning application expected to be submitted by the autumn.

Nicola Spence, chief executive of SCY which was launched in 1998 and has helped establish more than 100 technology companies and create thousands of jobs, said: “Financial considerations, the development of other projects and timing have all had their part to play in the consideration of our decision to not press forward with a bio-renewables research facility at the North Selby Mine site at this time.

“We have enjoyed working alongside Peel Environmental and UK Coal and would like to take this opportunity to wish them every success in taking the project forward.”

Myles Kitcher, of Peel Environmental, said: “We’re naturally disappointed about the departure of Science City York from the project but we are committed to delivering a research and development function as part of the project.

“There’s still plenty to be excited about.

“The new proposals, if given permission, will still make good use of the site and will make an important contribution towards York’s renewable obligations and national climate change targets.

“Over the next few months, we’ll be doing our best to demonstrate to the local community the benefits of the facility.”

The revised plans include an energy recovery facility that will use anaerobic digestion to generate heat and electricity from up to 70,000 tonnes of organic waste per year, and in-vessel composting to divert a wider range of green waste types from landfill.