Contractor set to invest £7m in the new waste processing plant, built through PPP contract

A joint venture involving contractor Balfour Beatty has been appointed the preferred bidder to a £800m waste project in Essex.

The joint venture with waste management specialist Urbaser will see Balfour Beatty invest £7m to build a new waste facility for Essex council and Southend-on-Sea council under a 28-year PPP contract.

The facility will process 417,000 tonnes of municipal waste a year.

Ian Tyler, chief executive of Balfour Beatty, said: “This award demonstrates the breadth and flexibility of our investment business model and further strengthens our position in the growing waste sector.

“This project will play a major role in delivering Essex and Southend-on-Sea’s waste management strategies, as well as providing a boost to the local economy through construction-related jobs and full-time employment and apprenticeship positions once the facility is operational,” he added.

The residual waste contract will see Urbaser managing the facility from 2015 onwards, fulfilling its 70% share of the joint venture.