DWF appointed by three Scottish local authorities on landmark energy scheme

DWF has been appointed by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council to advise on a £120 million joint energy from waste development in East Tullo.

The scheme will process non-recyclable municipal waste from each local authority to deliver secure, low-cost energy to households and businesses across the regions.

The planned capacity for the facility is approximately 150,000 tonnes of annual waste, which will dramatically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

The Scottish DWF team has experience in the waste sector and is currently advising Dundee City Council and Angus Council on its joint Residual Waste Project.

In addition, the team was recently reappointment to the Scottish Government Legal Panel on the major projects roster.

Suzanne Moir who leads DWF’s construction, infrastructure and projects team in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting all three councils on the landmark energy for waste project that will create sustainable heat and power for the Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray areas.

“This will not only improve fuel poverty and reduce landfill costs, but help the region meet key recycling targets.

“There has been a marked uplift in activity over the past 12 months which has seen our team working on a number of major projects across Scotland, and the East Tullo energy from waste development is a great example of this.

“We’ve continued to invest in our construction, infrastructure and projects practice to strengthen our expertise and capabilities, which means we are well placed to support high-profile developments across Scotland, the UK and internationally.”

Councillor Jean Morrison, convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Zero Waste Sub-Committee, said: “We are pleased that DWF have come on board as legal advisers to the project team. This is a complex project and we want to make sure that all aspects are addressed to the highest possible standard.

“Most of the waste in this region is currently going to landfill, which is unsustainable in environmental terms and does not allow for the recovery of any value from the waste collected. The proposed energy from waste plant would process non-recyclable municipal waste from Aberdeen City, as well as neighbouring local authorities, Aberdeenshire and Moray, subject to a formal legal agreement between the three councils. Essentially, we are developing a waste-fuelled power station to provide secure, low-cost energy to households, businesses and council facilities.”

The DWF team has recently appointed key lateral hires including Andrew Herring (rail, transport), Moray Thomson (planning) and Ben Powell (project finance) from partner roles at Eversheds, MacRoberts and Tods Murray, respectively, and promoted Isobel Reid (contentious and non-contentious construction) to senior associate - further strengthening the CIP practice.