North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has announced that the construction of its new Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) will be funded through direct public borrowing. NLWA says this is an “important step” in the project as it enables companies who are interested in bidding for construction of the new plant to understand the basis on which bids will be sought.
NLWA’s application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for a replacement ERF at the Edmonton EcoPark, with associated development (known as the North London Heat and Power Project), was granted on 24 February 2017.
The final selection of public funding source will be made by NLWA in due course. NLWA conducted a ‘best value consultation’ to ensure that the approach to delivering the Project offered the best possible value for money; the results of the consultation were used to inform the final decision on funding source.
“In making this decision, members have balanced the need to find an option with a manageable level of risk with funding the Project at the lowest anticipated cost”
Councillor Clyde Loakes, Chair of NLWA, said: “I’m delighted to announce that NLWA has chosen to fund this important Project through direct public borrowing. In making this decision, members have balanced the need to find an option with a manageable level of risk with funding the Project at the lowest anticipated cost.
“When the construction contract is let, the Authority will manage it to deliver a good value waste to energy plant in which the people of North London can take pride. This will be a solution which is sensitive to demands on council tax payers”
NLWA will be seeking public funding for a ‘design and build’ contract with a construction company for the design and building of the ERF. NLWA would typically make stage payments to the contractor during the construction period. Further decisions will be made by NLWA members before a procurement for construction companies to design and build the ERF is undertaken.
NLWA expects the new ERF to be operating by the end of 2025 or, at the latest, the end of 2027. Design work is already underway on other elements of the project; the DCO provides for a new ERF together with a Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) with a new Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC), and EcoPark House, an office block with a visitor reception centre, which can also be used for education on waste related matters.
The timing of the programme of works provides for the earliest possible delivery of the ERF while allowing for ongoing use of the existing plant. This timeframe was developed to minimise the risk of relying on the existing plant as it ages further.