Westbury Residents Brace for Construction of Divisive Waste-to-Energy Plant

As of November 5th, 2025, initial construction work has commenced on a controversial waste-to-energy incinerator site in Westbury, Wiltshire. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, was granted planning permission by the government in 2023 after years of protests from local councils and residents.

The company behind the incinerator, Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL), claims the facility will generate electricity and provide a "safe, sustainable solution for non-recyclable waste." However, locals remain concerned about issues such as air emissions and the incinerator's proximity to housing.

In response, the Westbury Town Council has shifted its focus to closely monitoring air quality in the area. The council has already installed air quality monitors and hired a consultant to advise on the best locations, establishing a baseline to compare against once the incinerator becomes operational.

While the government has recently introduced stricter planning rules for new incinerators, these do not apply to facilities that have already been approved, such as the one in Westbury. NREL has stated that the incinerator will use "state of the art technology to work as safely, efficiently and sustainably as possible," and that it will be regulated by the Environment Agency.