Information for Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant (LSEP), Lostock Works Site, Griffiths Road, Lostock Gralam, Northwich
Status: ExistingPlanning Region: North West
Planning Sub-Region: Cheshire
Operator: FCC / CIP
Capacity: 685,000 (consented) and 728,000 (proposed)
Campaign Group(s): CHeshire Anti-Incinerator Network (CHAIN) and Breathe Clean Air Group (BCAG) and Sustainable Northwich
Notes: In December 2022 the application to increase capacity from 600ktpa to 728ktpa was refused by the Secretary of State, but it was reported that the plant was under construction and expected to be fully operational "by the end of 2025", however in August 2024 local campaigners informed us that the facility was not now expected to become fully operational until early 2026 [Source]. In March 2019 it was reported that the facility had reached financial close in a deal where Copehenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) would own 60% and FCC 40% and that the facility was scheduled to begin operations in Autumn 2023 [source]. Planning permission granted by DECC in October 2012 [Source, DECC project page]. Cheshire Proposal for a "power generating station" to manage "pre-treated municipal solid waste ("MSW"); commercial and industrial ("C&I") waste; solid recovered fuel ("SRF"); and biomass" [Source (PDF)]. Permit granted January 2014 [Source]. In April 2017 it was reported that Tata were undertaking the discharge of planning conditions [Source] and in October 2017 it was reported that clearing work had begun on the site [Source]. In August 2018 it was reported that Tata was applying for a permit variation to BEIS to increase gross electrical output from 60MW to 90MW, and this was issued in December 2022. In May 2024 the Environment Agency issued a Draft Decision Document increasing the capacity from 600,000 to 685,000 tonnes per year (EPR/WP3934AK/V004). This variation to increase capacity was confirmed in June 2024. In June 2026 LSEP Ltd announced their intention to submit an application under S36C of the Electricity Act to vary the existing consent to "enable the plant to process more waste" which is expected to be submitted to DESNZ "in late 2026", with a pre-submission consultation running until 21 July 2026, and noted that "we expect it [the incinerator] will reach full operation in the first half of 2027" [Source]. The consultation page states that this will involve increasing the maximum capacity to 728,000 tpa [Source]. (Entry updated 2026-06-30)
Waste management for England 2024: Pre-operational (Environment Agency)
Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
Permit: WP3934AK
| Operator Name | Site Name | Site Address | Former Planning Region | Former Planning Sub-Region | Type | Permitted Capacity (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant Limited | Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant | Lostock Substainable Energy Plant,Lostock Graham,NORTHWICH,Cheshire CW9 7NU | North West | Cheshire | Municipal and/or Industrial & Commercial | 600,000 |
Entry on WikiWaste:
https://wikiwaste.org.uk/index.php/Lostock_Sustainable_Energy_PlantPermit Variation files:
71-PermitVariation-2022.pdf71-PermitVariation-2023.pdf
71-PermitVariation-2024.pdf
Permit Variation Decision files:
71-PermitVariationDecision-2022.pdf71-PermitVariationDecision-2023.pdf
71-PermitVariationDecision-2024.pdf
Planning Consent files:
71-PlanningConsent-2012.pdfPlanning Refusal files:
71-PlanningRefusal-2022.pdfEnvironment Agency Compliance Assessment Reports
Click here to see the incinerator compliance documents for existing English incineratorsStandard notice:
UKWIN (and therefore the UKWIN map) focuses on Municipal Waste Incinerators, whereas our colleagues at Biofuelwatch focus on biomass projects. If you are interested in biomass incinerators (including waste wood plants) over 20MW then please see the Biofuelwatch map of UK Biomass Power Stations. Those concerned about biomass plants, including waste wood plants, should email Biofuelwatch at biofuelwatch[at]gmail.com.Please be aware: There is always room for improvement, so please send updates to coordinator@ukwin.org.uk. Existing Incinerator means a facility that is operational or under construction/commissioning. A Potential Incinerator is a facility where there is a proposal for an incinerator (e.g. planning application or planning consent) or other reason to believe an incinerator might be built/proposed in the future. A Prevented Incinerator is something which used to be a proposal or expected incinerator which we do not believe is currently being progressed (e.g. because the project was cancelled, planning permission refused, or years have gone by since the permission was granted without any progress) - in some cases a facility marked as prevented is being progressed without us being aware or is subsequently revived. Capacity is usually the permitted or maximum advertised capacity of the facility.