TWO new energy plants could be built on land in Hampshire in a £10 million project that would create 40 new jobs and power more than 12,000 homes.

Landowner Barker-Mill Estates (BME) and construction firm Trant hope to hand in plans for the recycling and energy centre in Marchwood this spring.

They say the new anaerobic digestion and advanced thermal treatment plants would convert food waste and other materials, such as wood, into electricity and heat.

But residents living near the site are concerned about the impact the development could have on the area’s already strained roads, and the potential for noise and smell.

Waste, including food from local supermarkets, restaurants and schools, would be sorted on the site at Cork’s Farm off Normandy Way, with materials such as plastic, metal and cardboard sent away for re-use.

As part of the plans, BME says it also intends to build a small business park and a number of facilities for residents in the surrounding area. They would include new allotments, a community orchard, gardens and public open space.

BME says the proposals could lead to the creation of up to 40 new jobs, while also generating hundreds of thousands of pounds-worth of trade for local firms involved in the project.

It would operate 24 hours a day, but BME says deliveries would be limited to normal working hours to minimise disturbance for nearby residents.

Materials would be unloaded inside an enclosed space at the facility, with any smell extracted and treated at an odour control plant.

The plans for the site, next to the Marchwood Household Waste Recycling Centre, will be shown to the public at an exhibition in February.

BME trustee Tim Jobling said: “We are looking forward to engaging with the local public on what will be a secure, safe and community friendly recycling and energy centre.

“It has been designed to make as little impact on the surrounding area as possible, and we are keen to work with local residents to ensure that we develop a facility that has a positive impact on the community and local economy.

“We have a strong track record in consulting and communicating with local councillors, the public, community groups and other third party stakeholders, and we are looking forward to incorporating their ideas and feedback into our final plans for the centre and its facilities.”

However the plans have not been welcomed by residents living in nearby Quayside Walk.

One, Richard Miners, said: “It’s very unexpected, we thought that land was going to be kept as open countryside.

“It’s quite concerning, Marchwood suffers from heavy traffic as it is and the roads aren’t up to it.”

Another resident, Stuart Gray, said: “This is a housing area, and it’s enough that we’ve got the waste recycling centre up the road which stinks at times.

Green space “Noise is another thing as you can already hear the docks, and with the docks and other industrial things around us it was the only side which has green space.”

Marchwood county councillor David Harrison said: “I’m concerned because the land in question is part of the green strategic gap that separates Marchwood from Totton, and also it’s just about the only green space with access to the coast.”