About 200 jobs will be created by the construction of a controversial £60 million incinerator in Shrewsbury, it has been revealed.

Planning inspector John Woolcock ruled this week that waste firm Veolia would be allowed to operate at the Battlefield Enterprise Park, overruling a unanimous decision by Shropshire Council’s planning committee to reject the proposals in 2010. Although his decision has been heavily criticised.

It was slammed by environmental campaigners and Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski.

But Veolia said today said the arrival of the facility would provide a massive jobs boost to the local area.

A spokesman for the company said: “Approximately 200 jobs will be created during the construction phase and 21 permanent posts once the facility is operational.”

The company has not yet set a start date for the building work, but hopes to have the site operational by 2015.

“Work to develop the site will begin once pre-commencement works are completed and mobilisation of the contractor is undertaken,” the spokesman said.

“It is hoped that the facility will be operational within three years.”

Veolia, which is responsible for waste management on behalf of Shropshire Council, claims that the new burner will be able to generate enough energy to power 10,000 homes.

But opponents of the scheme had claimed its size and scale made it unsuitable for Shrewsbury, while perceived public health risks were also listed in the reasons for the original application being turned down by councillors.

The decision to allow the incinerator to go ahead now has to be ratified by Secretary of State Eric Pickles.

In his ruling, Mr Woolcock said fears about the health of local residents had been taken into consideration. But he added he believed the site to be ‘low risk’.

“Fear about the consequences of the proposed development on the health of local residents is a material consideration in this case and I have given it some weight. However, it seems to me that these fears underestimate the efficacy of pollution controls,” he said.

“I find that the proposed energy from waste facility would have a low risk of harm to human health.”

See also:

• £60m Shrewsbury incinerator gets the go-ahead
• Shrewsbury incinerator appeal costs will take years to pay