As previously reported, back in December 2022, Acorn Bioenergy Limited had submitted an application to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) for the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion facility, ancillary infrastructure and the construction of a new access from Cowdown Lane in Wherwell.
The biogas plant was planned to sit on approximately 7.6 hectares of land to the north of Cowdown Farm and, according to a planning statement, would create and procure biogas from anaerobic digestion and upgrade it to biomethane. The carbon-negative biomethane would then have been directly used as an alternative fuel to power vehicles and also injected into the gas grid to create renewable heat.
However, as of today, Thursday, January 2, this will no longer be the case as Acorn has written to TVBC to formally withdraw the application.
READ MORE: Plans to open dog groomers next to cat cafe met with fears for felines
The proposed design (Image: Acorn Bioenergy Limited)
In response to the request, Simon Finch, head of planning and building services for TVBC, wrote back and said: “Thank you for your letter requesting that this application/notification be withdrawn.
“I am writing to confirm that the application/notification was formally withdrawn as of 02.01.2025.”
The withdrawal comes as a blow for Acorn which had previously said the proposed development at Wherwell would import and treat in the region of 91,000 tonnes of feedstock per annum from its landholding and surrounding farms.
The feedstock would typically comprise energy crops such as silage, rye, maize and grass; straw; and poultry litter, farmyard manure and dairy slurry.
The facility would have the capacity to produce approximately 19,753,703 m3 of biogas per annum.
The application would include for highway modifications to A303 slipway in the form of a new access.
In addition to the biogas, the facility would have also produced a nutrient-rich solid fertiliser and soil conditioner and a liquid fertiliser (digestate), which would have been used in place of raw manures and artificial fertilisers.
The process would also result in the production of carbon dioxide as a natural by-product. This is usually vented by plant operators.
However, Acorn said the proposed Wherwell plant would have been fitted with equipment to upgrade the CO2 to 99.9 per cent purity, suitable for almost all industrial and commercial applications in the UK.
The Advertiser has contacted Acorn for a comment.
Readers can find the application by visiting the Test Valley borough Council planning portal and searching 22/03267/FULLN.