Plans to build an anaerobic digestion facility at the former Skipton-on-Swale Airfield near Thirsk in England have been recommended for approval by North Yorkshire Council planners Bioenergy Insight reported.
The project, proposed by Advanced Fuel Partners, would process up to 144,000 tonnes of agricultural waste each year. The facility aims to produce renewable biomethane for the gas grid while capturing carbon dioxide.
The application is set to be reviewed by councillors on 10 February, despite objections from nine local residents and Sandhutton Parish Council.
A council planning report highlighted the site’s suitability, noting its location within the former RAF airfield, close to local farms and accessible via existing roads.
The developer said the plant would benefit the local farming economy, support sustainable waste management, and provide alternatives to synthetic fertilisers, contributing to the area’s net zero goals.
The facility would operate 24 hours a day, generating an average of 95 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) trips daily, rising to 118 during busy periods. Access would be via the A167, using the old airfield road, with planned junction widening to improve safety.
Local residents and the parish council have raised concerns over increased traffic, noise, dust, light pollution, and round-the-clock operations. Sandhutton Parish Council highlighted the impact of HGV movements on nearby communities.
The plant would use anaerobic digestion to turn agricultural waste into renewable biomethane while capturing carbon dioxide for other uses.
