A renewable energy company has announced proposals to develop a £65 million biomass combined heat and power plant, with the promise of 40 jobs.

The specialist company behind the plans aims to develop the plant on the former Pfizer site near Sandwich, and the project has been greeted with optimism by Cllr Paul Watkins from Deal, the district council leader.

He said: “We welcome the announcement of proposed new investment in the Discovery Park Enterprise Zone and the potential for local jobs, growth, and renewable energy generation.

“It is a further sign of renewed investor confidence in the Dover district supporting both housing and business development. Discovery Park is already home to 39 companies taking advantage of the Enterprise Zone’s tax incentives, simplified planning and super fast broadband.”

Estover, a company based in London and Edinburgh, is behind the plans and aims to supply renewable heat and electricity across the 220-acre park. The combined heat and power plant will also supply low carbon electricity to the national grid, supporting the UK’s national target to generate 15 per cent of its energy demand from renewable sources by 2020.

Andrew Troup, development director at Estover Energy, said: “We believe that using the by-product from woodland management and harvesting to generate energy is a positive alternative to fossil fuels, and one that is supported by government and many environmental and rural campaigning groups.

“Low-grade wood fuel is clean, has low emissions and is good for the local area, both providing rural jobs, and stimulating investment in local woodland and forestry.”

About 100 jobs will be created during construction, as well as the 40 permanent jobs at the plant, and Estover Energy intends to submit a planning application in July. If granted, work would begin on site in 2014.

A series of public consultations will take place in the coming weeks.

* For more about this story see the East Kent Mercury, May 30.