A SUFFOLK-based renewable energy firm has secured planning consent for a major energy-from-waste scheme in Northamptonshire.

Origin Renewable Energy, part of the Ingleton Group, based at Stratford St Mary, has received the go-ahead from Northamptonshire County Council for its Magnetic Park Energy Centre combined heat and power development in Desborough.

The facility, which is due to open in 2015, with work starting next year, will use “gasification” technology, allowing local residents’ non-recyclable black bag bin waste to be used as a fuel to produce heat, steam and electricity at reduced market prices for the surrounding area.

Adam Buxton, managing director of Origin, said: “The new facility is a sustainable and common-sense solution for dealing with waste in the local area.

“Although many other UK projects have met barriers and we understand peoples uncertainties for change with new technology, the planning committee of Northamptonshire have taken a major step towards a truly sustainable future and to tackling one of the most serious local problems of fuel poverty.”

Origin still has to secure an Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency before pressing ahead with the scheme.

The gasification process, developed by ENERGOS, converts residual, non-recyclable waste into renewable energy in the form of heat and power, minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill.