Opposition grows over Worcester food waste gas plant proposal

Consultation on Court Farm Digestion Facility Closes

The formal consultation on the digestion facility at Court Farm, Hindlip Lane, near Worcester has now closed. Opponents have once again called for the scheme to be shelved.

Details of the Proposed Facility

Stenergy (Worcester) Limited has applied to create an Anaerobic Digestion Facility for a biomethane gas to grid plant. There is a 2026 mandate for all UK councils to divert waste away from landfill and incineration, according to DEFRA’s guidance.

Stenergy’s £30 million biomethane plant will convert 48,500 tonnes of domestic and industrial food waste annually into renewable energy.

Community Concerns

Residents have raised concerns about the potential for unpleasant smells, which could reduce their quality of life. They are also worried about increased traffic on narrow country roads.

Both West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service have lodged objections to the proposal.

Warndon Villages Parish Council has submitted a ‘holding objection’ to the scheme. They argue that the volume of technical information, consisting of 100 documents, makes it difficult to assess without expert advice.

Martin Hussingtree and Salwarpe Parish Council has also registered its objection to the proposal.

Recommendations and Next Steps

Worcestershire County Council, the Highways Authority, has recommended deferral until further information is provided. They want to ensure that the proposals will not have a severe or unacceptable impact on local highways and that safe access can be ensured for all users.

Stenergy has declined to comment.

Proposed Construction Details

If approved, the scheme would involve demolishing two existing buildings and constructing a new unpacking building and pasteuriser. Other features would include three pre-storage tanks, four digester tanks, and the use of existing buildings for ancillary offices and a control room.

The development would also include a lagoon, a flare, a water tank, a weighbridge, a substation, and a heater and boiler unit, along with a new access and haul road from Hindlip Lane.

Local Opposition

Cllr Seb James, a Conservative county councillor for Bowbrook, opposes the development. He stated, “It continues to present a credible risk to the integrity of evidence processing at Hindlip—a function that is vital to public safety and justice.”

He added, “Throughout this process, the developer has failed to engage meaningfully with local residents, despite repeated calls for transparency and dialogue. This lack of accountability is deeply concerning. Furthermore, reports of financial instability within the developer’s organisation raise serious questions about the viability and long-term sustainability of the project.”