Braintree District Council has expressed its disappointment after the Secretary of State decided not to call in planning applications relating to the Rivenhall Integrated Waste Management Facility.
The council, which strongly objected to the original proposals approved by the Secretary of State in 2010, had raised concerns about the cumulative impact of subsequent changes to the scheme.
After first seeking a call-in in 2025, the council renewed its request in August 2026 following amendments to the applications by the site owners. While some previous concerns had been addressed, the council remained concerned that, taken together, the changes would fundamentally alter the development originally approved, including its form, operation, phasing and environmental assumptions.
The applications will now remain with Essex County Council, as the relevant mineral waste planning authority, for determination.
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree District Council, said: “We are disappointed that the Secretary of State has decided not to call in these applications. We made our request because we continue to have significant concerns about the cumulative impact of the proposed changes and the extent to which the scheme has evolved since it was originally considered and approved at national level in 2010.
“Given the scale and significance of those changes, we believed there was a strong case for the applications to be considered by the Secretary of State.
“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we will continue to represent the interests and concerns of our residents and ensure that the implications of these applications are fully considered through the planning process."