MEMBERS of Bridgend Council have granted a hazardous substance consent for the controversial Hybont hydrogen project in Bridgend.
The plans could eventually see a hydrogen production facility and solar farm built by developers Marubeni Europower Ltd on Brynmenyn Industrial Estate if given the go-ahead by the Welsh Government.
The decision to approve consent for storage and industrial use was made at a special meeting held by the authority on February 20, where members heard a presentation from the developers, as well as from councillors, officers and members of the public.
The meeting came after a massive public backlash over the plans in recent years, as well as an earlier version of the application which was withdrawn when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) lodged an objection just a day before the previous meeting over how hydrogen would be stored and transported at the site.
In addition to the hazardous substance consent, which was granted on condition that the council could regularly check levels of hydrogen stored at the facility, the committee said they were also minded to approve full planning permission, though noted that a full decision on this would ultimately be made by the Welsh Government.
Speaking at the meeting which lasted almost four hours, and led to a number of heated exchanges between residents and officers, some highlighted their concerns over the project which they said they opposed for multiple reasons.
Councillor Tim Thomas of St Bride’s Minor and Ynysawdre said he had spoken to hundreds of people from the area who were against the plans – with a public consultation which had more than 300 objections also recognised.
Local resident Chris Owen said he felt the development was set in an “inappropriate location” with fears over the site’s proximity to businesses and nearby housing in the case of an emergency, as well as concerns over traffic and congestion issues that could eventually make the business park inaccessible.
Others noted safety worries when it came to accessing the site, as there is only one road leading in and out, with some who felt the development would lead to the loss of public green space, noise disruption, lower water pressure in neighbouring homes, and a potential increase to insurance prices.
They also raised concerns that the council did not have the resources or expertise to regulate the plant properly, with business owner Lawrence Till questioning why there was a higher storage capacity than what was agreed to in the consent.
While officers acknowledged that they did not have the expertise on a number of technical aspects of the plans, they noted that it would be down to them to seek advice and to enforce any conditions such as those that limited the amount of hydrogen stored at the site to 3.6 tonnes per day.
They said they had recommended the approval of the hazardous substance consent after consultees such as Natural Resources Wales and the Health and Safety Executive offered no further objections to the latest application.
Members of the committee later gave their approval with a recorded vote of 11 for and two against. With a holding direction still placed on the land use application, Welsh Government will now decide whether or not the project can proceed.
