Welcome to the Southampton Biomass Power online consultation
website
Helius Energy is now consulting on revised proposals to build
and operate the Southampton Biomass Power project, a 100MWe biomass
fuelled energy generating station within the Western Docks of the
Port of Southampton.
After listening to feedback from residents received during our
initial consultations last year, we have looked again at our plans
for the Southampton Biomass Power scheme.
We have worked hard to increase the distance of the facility
from the nearest homes. In order to do this we will be rerouting an
internal port access road to give us a revised site, which is now
double the distance, 250 metres, from the nearest residents.
The revised site has allowed us to re-design the layout of the
Southampton Biomass Power plant so it has less impact on local
views, with the higher buildings moved to the western end of the
site. The architects have also ensured there are gaps between the
principal buildings so that views of port activity and the shipping
beyond can be seen.
We have also sought to reduce the size of the proposed
Southampton Biomass Power plant. The heights of most of the
buildings have been reduced, with the highest building, the boiler
house, lowered by 10 metres to 60 metres - around half the full
height of a container crane.
Overall, the footprint of the energy generating station is
around 2,000 square metres smaller than was originally
proposed.
Local people are also being asked to give their feedback on
three different architectural approaches to the scheme. To find out
more about the designs, click on the images above. To submit
comments on each of the designs and rank the designs in order of
preference, please visit the Comments page.
There is also the potential for the facility to offer a
community heat scheme providing affordable, sustainably produced
heat to the area's households and businesses. We propose to set up
a not-for profit community interest company to explore the
potential for a heat supply project with residents, business
interests and community groups.
To make sure local people can take advantage of the job
opportunities offered by the Southampton Biomass Power proposals,
we would work with Southampton City Council to offer training
courses to local people. This would ensure there are the necessary
skills in the area for residents to secure work on both the
construction and operational stages of the project.
At the heart of our proposals remains the ambition to build a
renewable energy facility capable of powering 200,000 households.
That's enough to power every home and business in Southampton with
sustainable, low carbon energy.
Key features of the revised scheme
- The proposed scheme is now double the distance from the nearest
residents at 250 metres
- Views through the site retained
- The scheme has a lower profile, with many buildings reduced in
height
- The footprint of the facility is 2,000 square metres smaller
than the previous scheme
- Potential for a landmark building, with the opportunity for the
community to influence the final design
- During construction more than 400 jobs would be created
- When complete, the facility would create at least 100 direct
and indirect local jobs
- Helius will provide an employment and skills training programme
in conjunction with Southampton City
- Council so that local people can take advantage of the
employment opportunities
- Every year the facility would contribute around £10m to the
local economy
- The project would help Southampton and the UK meet carbon
reduction targets
- The scheme would make the city a leader in renewable energy and
reduce its carbon footprint
- Potential for providing a renewable energy community heat
supply
- The plant will save up to 470,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per
annum from entering the atmosphere compared with the average for
electricity generated using fossil fuels in the European Union
Details of the Consultation
Further consultation on the Southampton Biomass Power proposals
started on the 14th May 2012. This further
consultation is focussed on a number of changes to the location,
layout and external design of the Southampton Biomass Power scheme
following a major review in light of the feedback received during
the previous consultation in February - April 2011. Further
information on previous consultation with the local community can
be found on the Community page.
More detailed information about the revised Southampton Biomass
Power proposals can be found in the Non Technical Consultation
Document on the Downloads page.
Five exhibitions will be held providing the opportunity for the
local community to find out more about the Southampton Biomass
Power proposals and meet with the project team. Further information
about the exhibitions can be found on the Community page.
Please click here to submit comments on the revised
proposals
For more information about the project, please go to the Project Description
page.
If you wish to receive alerts as the website is updated, please
register here.
This website has been produced to aid the pre-application
community consultation process by providing information about the
proposed scheme. The website also provides access to relevant
documents relating to community consultation on the proposals.