A new waste to energy plant can be built on the outskirts of King's Lynn.

West Norfolk council turned down plans for the anaerobic digestion plant on Cross Bank Road last April.

Councillors heard it would increase the number of lorries using the unadopted route.

But Mickram Ltd, which hoped to supply biogas to neighbouring businesses DOW and KL Technologies, appealed the decision.

Now a government planning inspector has upheld the appeal, saying it can build the plant subject to road improvements taking place and contracts for supply of heat and electricity being agreed before building work begins.

Mickram hopes to process 14,000 tonnes of specially-grown maize and beet pulp at the plant. It says that would mean between four and seven lorries delivering to it per day.

The inspector's judgement says neither the highways authority or Port of King's Lynn has objected to the proposals.

It says: 'I consider that the relatively limited volume of traffic likely to be generated by the proposal would be very unlikely to have a material effect on the operations of the port, both during construction and once in operation, including during

harvest.

'Moreover, I note that the port authority has not objected to the

proposal, although a road user agreement with the appellant is proposed, which would potentially control the timing of traffic serving the appeal site.

'This would provide additional reassurance that adverse impacts on the operation of the port, including the Fisher Fleet area, would be avoided.'

An average of 2.7 lorries will visit the site while building work is under way.

The inspector says a detailed construction plan must be drawn up 'to protect neighbouring living and working conditions, in the interests of flood risk, ecology and to maintain an efficient and safe use of the highway'.

The judgement notes that the proposed plant would be 800m from the Wash National Nature Reserve.

It adds: 'From the details provided, I am satisfied that the proposal would be unlikely to have a significant effect on these protected sites, their special interest features, or undermine their intrinsic scientific interest.'