A state-of-the-art rail recycling plant planned for the Whitemoor Yard depot has received planning consent from Cambridgeshire’s county council planning officers.
After councillors voted unanimously to approve the 23 million pound plan, Network Rail is expected to soon begin working on the plant. The recycling centre at the Whitemoor Yard depot will bring 25 new jobs to the March area, and is expected to provide a boost to the county’s construction industry.
The centre will enable railway materials to be cleaned and processed for recycling and re-use. This will help Network Rail keep over 50,000 tonnes of waste railway material from ending up in landfills annually.
The national railway recycling centre is the second phase of development at the depot. Environmental initiatives were already part of the Whitemoor Yard site when it was reopened in 2004. A conservation area for plants and animals and a cycle path were included in Network Rail’s 2 million pound investment to enhance the local area.
The new 23 million pound recycling plant scheduled to be completed and operational by the end of 2010 will boost Network rail’s efforts to establish a greener railway system. The recycling centre will be situated on a 60-acre site. Railway materials intended for recycle and re-use include steel railway lines and fittings, as well as concrete and timber sleepers.
In addition, Netowrk Railway says it is committed to continue promoting its environmental initiatives in the area. A new drainage pond has been planned to relocate crested newts from the site of the recycling plant. The pond is also expected to prevent flooding in the local area. The company will also make a contribution towards the proposed Country Park in March.
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