Chester law firm SAS Daniels LLP has advised national waste management business 4Recycling Ltd on an £9 million joint venture (JV) to create a cutting edge waste to energy plant in Plymouth. 
 
British engineering company AeroThermal Group Limited together with 4Recycling Ltd is proposing to develop a sustainable waste and resource treatment facility at the site of Imerys Minerals Ltd at Lee Moor, South Devon. A Scoping Report has been submitted to Devon County Council, who will provide their Scoping Opinion on the proposal at a later date.

AAD (South West) Limited’s proposal will provide an innovative and modern alternative solution to treat waste which would otherwise be sent to landfill through the use of the AeroThermal Group Ltd’s unique combination of industrial autoclave processing and anaerobic digestion technology and 4Recycling Ltd’s expertise of running operational facilities.

The AeroThermal Group Ltd is proposing to construct an Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD) facility, which incorporates autoclave and anaerobic digestion. This AAD plant will therefore be a modern waste treatment processing facility that separates out materials for recycling, generates energy, and produces a soil conditioner. The compost-like material produced by the process will be used at the nearby Imerys Minerals Ltd Lee Moor China Clay workings as part of their ongoing restoration programme.

Commenting on the proposal, the AeroThermal Groups Ltd’s Commercial Director, Tristan Lloyd-Baker, said, “Our £9 million investment will create 22 long-term, skilled jobs for local people. In addition the facility will divert up to 75,000 tonnes of waste from landfill every year thereby avoiding harmful methane emissions and providing a facility to enable local businesses to maximise landfill diversion.”

Gareth Brewerton, associate solicitor in the corporate business group at SAS Daniels in Stockport, said: “This is an exciting project which demonstrates how the waste industry is investing in new technology to produce green and sustainable sources of energy from waste material.  4Recycling has built up a highly respected business which continues to grow and we are proud to assist them as they grow their business.
 
“Although we are in testing economic times, certain industry sectors remain strong, waste and energy is one of them and this project is testimony to that.”

The Scoping Report is one of the earliest stages of the planning process and nothing will be constructed until the proposal has passed through the full planning process and all surveys have been carried out. If planning permission is awarded, the facility will be constructed by the AeroThermal Group Ltd and operated by 4Recycling Ltd.

AAD (South West) Limited will be carrying out a public consultation prior to submitting a planning application, in line with national and local best practice guidelines. Details of the consultation programme will be announced soon.

Corporate finance partner, Michael Ware, of BDO LLP is providing corporate finance advice. Jonathan Grant of law firm DMH Stallard LLP is advising AeroThermal Group.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:
 
For further information please contact Joanna Bishop or Peter Lappin at Paver Smith on 0151 239 5000 or bishop@paversmith.co.uk / lappin@paversmith.co.uk.
 
• SAS Daniels LLP has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall
• The firm is organised across five business groups: corporate, real estate, litigation, employment and private client
• SAS Daniels is rated amongst the best in the region by Chambers and the Legal 500 – the two leading client guides to the UK legal profession.