PLANNING permission has been granted for the Portland incinerator by the Government.

Junior minister Rushanara Ali has given the controversial plan the green light on behalf of the Secretary of State after a planning inspector recommended that an appeal be allowed and planning permission be granted.

The original proposal - for the waste to energy plant at Portland Port - had been rejected by Dorset Council prompting an appeal - and a public inquiry.

The minister said she agreed with the planning inspector that the incinerator would "not appear out of scale, or out of place."

She also agreed that the proposed development would have "no injurious effect" on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, or be an "injurious presence" when seen from the Royal Navy Cemetery.

It was further agreed that the proposal would not have "detrimental health impacts" and would not have a "detrimental impact to biodiversity on land and sea, or on water quality".

The minister argued that the proposal would create jobs in the construction phase and "opportunities for local residents".

She further agreed that because the proposal could power cruise liners directly through the shore power element of the proposal, rather than relying on the grid, Portland would be at a "competitive advantage over other potential ports of call".

She also said that the increase of HGV movements from the proposal "would not have any significant impact in highway terms, or in relation to living conditions".

The minister also argued that burning residual waste in this location would "result in lower carbon emissions than the present situation where the waste authority disposes of its residual waste partly through landfill, and partly through incineration outside the Waste Plan area, with the consequent waste miles".

The proposal could also potentially provide space for carbon capture in the future, the minister concluded.

It would also improve the limited electricity supply to Portland by producing electricity on Portland itself, they claim.

In conclusion, the minister said in her report: "Weighing in favour of the proposal are the heritage benefits, job creation, electricity generation and the provision of shore power, potential carbon emission reduction.

"Weighing against the proposal is ‘less than substantial’ heritage harm to the Dockyard Offices which carries great weight, and the perception of harm to health which carries limited weight.

"She considers that the public benefits of the proposal outweigh the ‘less than substantial’ harm to the designated heritage assets and therefore, in her judgement, the Framework’s heritage balance is favourable to the proposal."

As reported, developer Powerfuel wants to build a £100 million waste to energy plant at Portland Port – but plans have been met by fierce opposition amid health fears for the past five years.

The plans were initially unveiled in November 2019.

Powerfuel's application attracted more than 3,360 objections from members of the public, as well as Portland Town Council and Weymouth Town Council.

Residents also voiced their concerns about the plans at a public inquiry in 2023.

READ MORE: Residents speak out on Portland incinerator at inquiry

Local groups Stop Portland Waste Incinerator and Jurassic Coast Against Incineration hired technical experts to evaluate Powerfuel’s proposals, and organised demonstrations in the past. 

Opponents say emissions from the plant and lorries would be damaging to health. It is feared that marine and plant life could be harmed and that the plant would be detrimental to the local tourism economy.

Dorset Council has been contacted for comment.

South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton said: "I am frustrated and disappointed with today’s planning decision regarding the appeal to build an incinerator at Portland Port.

"I will continue to work alongside local campaigners to oppose this ill-conceived proposal. And I will continue to help secure investment that will deliver well-paid green jobs on our doorstep.

"I desperately want to see South Dorset transform into a hub for clean, renewable energy instead."