PLANS for a new renewable energy centre have been submitted to North Yorkshire County Council.

Knapton Green Energy is proposing to build the centre on a 10-acre site at the Knapton landfill site near Malton - and the company claims it would generate enough clean electricity to power some 16,000 homes.

The centre is being developed by Tetragen Group, NCG Estates and local waste management company, F D Todd and Sons.

It would use advanced thermal treatment technology to create green energy from non-recyclable waste - biomass.

The application includes the erection of a 6,342 sq m green energy facility, office reception building, substation and switch room, along with 20 car parking spaces, extension to internal access road, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

Darrell Smith, from Knapton Green Energy, said: “Following our public consultation activities in the local area, 94 per cent of consultees have been in favour of the green energy facility.

“We appreciate there have been some concerns raised and we have carried out detailed environmental modelling which demonstrates that, in every respect, the facility will have an insignificant effect on the local environment in terms of noise, smell and emissions.

“We have offered to take local residents on a tour of a similar existing facility so they can see for themselves how clean and quiet modern technologies can be.”

He added: “It will be cut into the hillside adjacent to the existing landfill site and surrounded by an extensive new landscaping scheme to minimise visual effect.”