A court ruling has overturned the Government’s refusal of Hatfield’s hated incinerator project.
Today (Thursday) a ruling by the High Court of Justice backed an appeal by energy firm Veolia, which wants to build a 380,000-tonne-a-year waste burner at New Barnfield.
It means Secretary of State Eric Pickles now has to review his decision to throw out the project, which had been backed by Herts County Council.
The ruling states: “The decision of the Secretary of State dated 7 July 2014 refusing Veolia’s application for planning permission must be quashed by the court.”
Councillor John Dean, leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said: “Naturally we are disappointed that the High Court has come to this conclusion.
“We have fought long and hard to make the case on behalf of residents that New Barnfield is an inappropriate site for the incinerator, as have the people of Hatfield.
“We need to thoroughly review the details of the judgement before we can comment any further.”
The application to quash the Secretary of State’s decision was brought by Veolia ES (UK) Limited under section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act.
More to follow.
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