Concerns dispelled over incinerator facility in Berrys Lane, Burghfield

Concerns have been dispelled about a new incinerator facility that will create energy by burning waste at a site near Burghfield, writes Local Democracy Reporter James Aldridge.

Waste management company J Mould successfully applied to develop Reading Quarry to create an energy from waste (EfW) facility and a data centre.

EfW facilities work by burning unrecyclable waste to turn turbines and generate electricity.

The quarry is located in Berrys Lane, which falls just under West Berkshire Council’s jurisdiction, which approved the project in September 2022.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) had raised concerns about the impact construction traffic would have on regular traffic in Reading, which had to be submitted in a construction traffic management plan (CTMP).

However, these concerns have been dispelled following revisions to the plan.

Jonathan Markwell, RBC’s principal planning officer, wrote: “The council’s transport planning team have confirmed that reasonable steps have been taken to avoid peak hour traffic movements.

“More specifically, the CTMP has been updated to state that travel will be outside of peak hours where possible, although it is acknowledged that some peak HGV vehicle movements are likely to occur whilst the main building is being fitted with its internal equipment during a six-week period.

“The proposed construction traffic routing is acceptable to the council as it avoids Reading town centre and high-density residential areas.

“Long vehicles will be required to use the red route via the A4 Bath Road due to the constraints of the alternative route.

“Accordingly, the council have no objections to raise from a transport perspective.”

Mr Markwell’s comments were made in what are called ‘adjacent authority consultations’ where neighbouring councils are able to provide official support or opposition to projects that are near administrative boundaries.