Controversial Lancashire waste plant gets the green light
Controversial plans for a new waste station in Bacup have been given the go-ahead.
The £6.2m facility - to be developed on a plot within Futures Park - was given the go-ahead at a meeting of Rossendale Borough Council on Wednesday. It had already received permission from the authority’s planning committee earlier this month.
The waste transfer plant, as it is known, ‘bulks up’ rubbish collected from across the borough before it is sent on for processing to other sites beyond Rossendale's borders.
The council said that it recognised that the proposal had “prompted strong views locally” and it “ respects the concerns raised by residents”.
However, the blueprint has been deemed “the most financial sustainable, environmentally responsible and operationally viable solution for Rossendale’s long-term waste management needs”.
The current waste transfer arrangements, based at the authority’s Henrietta Street Depot, will not be fit for purpose from April 2026.
A report to a meeting of the full council stated: “Currently the majority of general waste is taken directly to landfill by our refuse wagons. Lancashire County Council - who are responsible for disposing of waste - have taken the decision, from April 2026, to no longer use Whinney Hill landfill and have instructed the council to take all waste to either Farington, in Leyland, or another [yet-to-be-confirmed] central location in East Lancashire.
“As a result of this… the service is faced with the decision to either drive every refuse wagon to Leyland [or elsewhere] when it is full - or bring the waste back to our transfer station to be loaded on a large articulated lorry which will then take it to Leyland [or another location] for processing.”
Council leader Alyson Barnes said: “This has been a difficult and sometimes sensitive issue, and we fully understand why residents wanted clarity and reassurance. After a detailed and transparent assessment, it is clear that this is the right solution for Rossendale. It protects essential services, provides long-term value for money, and ensures we can continue delivering reliable waste collections for local people. This decision gives us certainty for the future and allows us to move forward with confidence.
“We’re committed to making decisions that protect frontline services, ensure financial stability and deliver reliable outcomes for residents and the approval of this Waste Transfer Station marks an important step in securing a resilient and future-proof waste service for Rossendale.”
The council says the move will ensure “continuity of service”.
The new waste transfer station will allow waste to be bulked up locally before being transported on to Farington, mirroring existing arrangements for some recyclable materials.