The applicant behind controversial plans for an energy centre at the heart of a County Durham town has vowed to appeal the decision to deny the development planning permission.

Durham County Council 's planning committee unanimously agreed to reject plans for the facility - dubbed locally in Consett as an incinerator - on Tuesday.

It followed widespread objections and a large protest by residents who feared the impact the 50m tall building would have on local amenity.

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There were also fears it could take the town back to its industrial past, and criticism of the small number of jobs it would provide, with just nine onsite - although the company say more would be created in supply chains.

Despite the opposition to the site, the applicant has issued a statement confirming it is considering appealing the decision of the planners.

A spokesman for Hownsgill Energy Centre said: “Whilst the outcome of the planning application is disappointing, we are now considering all options, possibly an appeal, and will work closely with and continue to engage with all key stakeholders moving forward.

“County Durham has a significant (and growing) problem in terms of how it deals with non-hazardous, non-recyclable commercial waste generated by its local communities.

"The majority currently goes straight into landfill here in the region for future generations to deal with, or alternatively, is exported to sites elsewhere in Europe.

“We, as a community, cannot continue to dismiss or turn a blind eye to this issue, and Hownsgill Energy Centre would have provided a very safe and fit-for-purpose solution to generate low carbon heat and power for Consett residents whilst preventing up to 60,000 tonnes of residual waste being buried for years to come.

"It would have also facilitated the upgrade and improvement of the local network to cope with increasing power demands, and would have been a catalyst for wider investment and development projects bringing much needed jobs and regeneration to Consett.

“This was not an off-the-cuff, spontaneous idea. The application had been researched for many, many years based on a very real and heightened waste management problem which Durham County Council and County Durham as an area will continue to face.

"The facility would have enabled Consett to be an exemplar community as part of net zero efforts, becoming one of a small number of towns to responsibly convert their own commercial waste into local heat and power.

"Our plans brought together companies and experts at the forefront of their field to assess and determine the need for low carbon power, as well as enable the safe production and delivery of cost-efficient energy under very strict environmental and health and safety criteria."

The plans were submitted by Project Genesis, which was set up after the steel works in the town shut down to benefit the community.

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