Brunner Mond Plans Move Forward

08 April 2010

Brunner Mond’s application for a sustainable energy plant at Lostock has been submitted to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The new plant will help to secure Brunner Mond’s role as a major local employer. It will create 50 new jobs within the plant and about 350 jobs in related services as well as protecting the 500 people already employed in Northwich, along with about 4,000 in support industries.

Since announcing its intentions in October last year, Brunner Mond has organised exhibitions and distributed newsletters and leaflets to more than 12,000 households in the area to keep residents up to date with the development plans.

The submission of the application to DECC was outlined by Brunner Mond when the proposal was announced in October. Since then Brunner Mond and its advisers have been working on the extensive studies and consultation required for the environmental statement and application.

John Kerrigan, Brunner Mond’s managing director, says: “We have always committed to keeping local people as updated as possible. Last week we held a two-day exhibition at the Lostock Social Club.”

The event attracted approximately 50 people who asked us a range of questions relating to a number of topics including health issues and likely traffic levels.

Of those attending and exit survey found:

• 83% found the exhibition very helpful
• 92% understood why Brunner Mond required the sustainable energy plant
• 80% had their questions in relation to the environmental impact answered
• 44% of people still had concerns about the use of road and rail to transport the fuel to the plant.

John Kerrigan adds: “We are pleased with the outcome of the exhibition and have noted the views and concerns of those who attended. We will continue to engage with the community over the coming months.

“We are aware that CHAIN has expressed some concerns about our proposal by asking a number of specific questions. As soon as we were in a position to answer those fully we invited representatives of CHAIN to meet with us on 2 March. Unfortunately, they refused our invitation and as a result we have now responded in writing and supplied a copy of the environmental statement, which forms part of our full application.

“It is hoped that the decision from the Government will be made in the next 12 months. If the green light is given it is expected that construction will start in 2012 and the plant will be operational in 2014 or 2015. In the meantime, we will continue to talk to the local community and other interested parties about our proposals.”

For further information contact Neal Chamberlain at Brunner Mond on 01606 724000 or Jenny Mason at Staniforth\ on 0161 919 8035