Marchwood is set fair to get its own millennium dome. It is the dramatic shape of things to come should planning consent be given for the proposed energy recovery incinerator on a waterside site near Marchwood, previously occupied by the old PowerGen plant.

Clad in aluminium, the 36 metre high dome will - in one clean sweep - house all the equipment of the plant under its 110 metre diameter structure, including the chimneys, which will rise from its centre to a height of 65 metres. It is finished with a low level skirt of windows which curve around the base.

"This is an exciting design and, as far as we know, a world-first for waste treatment" said John Collis, Project Director of Hampshire Waste, the private contractor which will be submitting a planning application based on the design. The choice of styles was heavily influenced by a Contact Group of local representatives who significantly favoured the dome when shown two alternatives, one of a more conventional box nature.

Said John Collis, "The building is a reflection of and a response to its environment. The architect took into account the large scale buildings of the neighbouring industrial estate and the cranes on the docks across the water and decided to prepare something on a grand scale. Although not the cheapest option, it is the best - and the shape is not just visually pleasing, it is also highly practical."

The internal layout allows for all traffic movements in and around the facility to be kept within the dome, using a roadway leading straight to the tipping hall for those lorries dropping of waste and to other parts of the plant for vehicles making general deliveries.

Utilising the natural resources on site, the plant will take water from the Solent for cooling purposes thereby avoiding the need for condensers, which would otherwise have obtruded from the dome's roof.

Although dramatic in style, the building will not be seen from the village of Marchwood, being screened by landscaping and other large industrial buildings nearby.

The Marchwood incinerator is sized to accept 165,000 tonnes of waster per year, and generate sufficient electricity to export 14 MW to the local Grid - enough to power 14,000 homes. Designed to serve the needs of the south west of the county, it is one of three energy recovery incinerators that will make up part of the new waste infrastructure for the county - as conceived in the waste strategy Project Integra. This was agreed by the County, District and the two Unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton.

Details of the plant will be on show at an exhibition to be staged in locations either side of the water in the coming months. Literature is also available to those calling the Hampshire Waste information help line on 01962 714874.

10 February 2000

For further information please contact John Collis at Hampshire Waste Services on 01962 764000.

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