Alan Titchmarsh hails victory as plans to build 'towering' incinerator next to his home are rejected


Alan Titchmarsh has hailed a victory for ‘common sense’ after plans to build a huge incinerator with two chimneys the size of Big Ben by his home in Jane Austen country were rejected.

The TV gardener said he is ‘absolutely delighted and relieved’ after proposals to build the ‘towering’ waste dump in the Hampshire countryside were chucked out.

For two and a half years campaigners have waged war against the site, with more than 5,500 people opposing it – making it one of the UK’s most hated planning applications.

Phil Spencer, host of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location, also lives nearby and has previously spoken out against the plans.

However, the incinerator, just 600 metres from Titchmarsh’s home in the village of Holybourne, looked set to be built last week when planning chiefs gave it the green light.

An artist's impression of what the incinerator would look like, with nearby residents complaining it would tower over the picturesque countryside

An artist’s impression of what the incinerator would look like, with nearby residents complaining it would tower over the picturesque countryside

Residents in nearby villages formed the No Wey Incinerator group, pictured here with the proposed site in the background, in an effort to stop the plans moving forward

Residents in nearby villages formed the No Wey Incinerator group, pictured here with the proposed site in the background, in an effort to stop the plans moving forward

Alan Titchmarsh, pictured here at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, had previously described the plans as 'totally inappropriate'

Alan Titchmarsh, pictured here at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, had previously described the plans as ‘totally inappropriate’

But now – after a two and a half year battle by angry locals – a council committee has voted overwhelmingly to reject the plans at the eleventh hour.

Victorious campaigners cheered and applauded after the Hampshire County Council regulatory committee dismissed the plans following a six-hour hearing yesterday [Weds].

Good Morning Britain presenter Phil Spencer, pictured here, also lives close to the site the proposed waste plant

Good Morning Britain presenter Phil Spencer, pictured here, also lives close to the site the proposed waste plant

Under the controversial proposals submitted by waste giants Veolia, the incinerator would have been built near between the villages of Holybourne and Upper Froyle, near Alton, in an area next to the South Downs National Park.

Veolia pledged it would burn 330,000 tonnes of industrial and commercial waste a year at the 150 metre long and 40 metre high site which would have had two 80 metre (260 feet) high chimneys – nearly as tall as Big Ben.

It would have been just four miles from the Jane Austen museum in Chawton, where the English writer lived.

But, after Veolia first announced plans in August 2019, locals in the Wey Valley launched the No Wey Incinerator campaign group to fight the company.

Titchmarsh, 72, whose home in Holybourne would have been around 600 metres from the incinerator, was one of the most high-profile opponents.

Speaking out against the incinerator, Titchmarsh branded it ‘inappropriate and irresponsible’ and that it ‘saddened him that such a proposal should even be considered’.

Today, following the committee’s rejection, Titchmarsh said: “I am absolutely delighted and so relieved that common sense and a responsible attitude to our landscape and its future have prevailed.

“This is good news for anyone who cares for the Hampshire countryside and our responsibility for the welfare of the land around us.”

The site would have been Hampshire’s fourth incinerator.

Following Wednesday’s victory, a No Wey Valley spokeswoman said: “This is the right decision.

“There is simply no justification for allowing Hampshire to develop a fourth incinerator, which would have made a nonsense of all the county’s carbon pledges and for which there is no proven need.”

The spokeswoman said they are ‘grateful’ for the council committee – which voted 12 against and only three for – and thanked supporters.

She added: “The councillors involved can be proud of their role in preventing Hampshire turning into Dumpshire, which was a very real possibility if this commercial proposition had been allowed to proceed.

Proposals for the huge waste plant in the Wey Valley, 1km from the boundary of the South Downs National Park

Proposals for the huge waste plant in the Wey Valley, 1km from the boundary of the South Downs National Park

The nearby leafy village of Holybourne. Alan Titchmarsh told how he has been left 'saddened' by the 'inappropriate and irresponsible' proposal to build the enormous waste dump

The nearby leafy village of Holybourne. Alan Titchmarsh told how he has been left ‘saddened’ by the ‘inappropriate and irresponsible’ proposal to build the enormous waste dump

“We would like to thank the thousands of supporters who backed us throughout this two year campaign and we hope that Veolia now realise that the rural Wey Valley is not the place for a massive commercial incinerator.”

At the meeting, Conservative MP for the area, Damian Hinds, spoke out against the plans and encouraged the committee to listen to the ‘overwhelming’ public opposition.

Jeremy Hunt, Conservative MP for neighbouring South West Surrey, said he is ‘delighted’ the plans were rejected.

How the plant would work: Raw materials are delivered into an enclosed tipping hall and fed by crane grab from a bunker into the boiler hopper. Waste is then fed into the boiler on a moving grate, where it then combusts at a minimum of 850c. The heat given off is used to generate steam through a pipe circulation system. The steam is then fed to turbines in a turbine hall which generate electricity. Some of the electricity is used to operate the plant, the rest is fed to the local electricity distribution network

How the plant would work: Raw materials are delivered into an enclosed tipping hall and fed by crane grab from a bunker into the boiler hopper. Waste is then fed into the boiler on a moving grate, where it then combusts at a minimum of 850c. The heat given off is used to generate steam through a pipe circulation system. The steam is then fed to turbines in a turbine hall which generate electricity. Some of the electricity is used to operate the plant, the rest is fed to the local electricity distribution network

Veolia says the plant would produce electricity by incinerating commercial and industrial waste. Pictured, diagrams submitted by the developer showing how the plant would operate

Veolia says the plant would produce electricity by incinerating commercial and industrial waste. Pictured, diagrams submitted by the developer showing how the plant would operate 

He said: “I am delighted that following the Regulatory Committee meeting for the proposed Incinerator between Farnham and Alton, councillors voted against the project.

“This is great news and will be a huge relief to the many concerned residents who have written to me and my neighbouring colleague, Damian Hinds MP.

“The proposal was wrong on so many levels and I am pleased that it has been rejected.”

Veolia’s proposal also attracted criticism from local residents and businesses, farmers, three district and borough authorities, two town councils and 19 parish councils.

Will Butler, who runs the nearby West End Flower Farm. The current Veolia building can be seen in the background

Will Butler, who runs the nearby West End Flower Farm. The current Veolia building can be seen in the background

The proposed site, circled in red in this image, lied on the edge of the South Downs National Park

The proposed site, circled in red in this image, lied on the edge of the South Downs National Park

The site of the proposed development, on the A31 near Alton in Hampshire

The site of the proposed development, on the A31 near Alton in Hampshire

The South Downs National Park Authority, Historic England and even the council’s own landscape department were among those to strongly oppose it.

A Veolia spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed by the Regulatory Committee’s decision today and we will now take some time to consider our next steps for the project.”

Last week the incinerator looked set to be built after Hampshire County Council planning officers recommended the committee approved the plans. 

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