A GREEN energy company has applied for more time to build a composting plant near Hallen.

New Earth Solutions has written to South Gloucestershire Council asking for an extension to its permission to build an in-vessel composting facility at Willow Farm.

The company was granted permission for the development by the local authority back in December 2008 but is yet to start any building work.

New Earth Solutions, which operates a similar plant in Sharpness, Gloucestershire, had hoped to have its Hallen scheme up and running by last year but has been unable to secure enough contracts to be able to justify building it.

In its application to South Gloucestershire Council’s planning department the company blamed the global recession for the project’s delay.

It said: "As a result of the uncertainties caused by the global economic downturn and change of government in May 2010, such contracts have been delayed by local authorities, primarily due to their own financial uncertainties.

"However, demand for such infrastructure, particularly with the annual increase in landfill tax, remains over the short to medium term and New Earth Solutions wishes to preserve this permission to service such demand."

When built the Hallen composting facility would be able to handle 50,000 tonnes of green garden and food waste a year.

The original application received 18 letters of objection from members of the local community who were concerned about an increase in traffic travelling through Hallen.

However, as part of the permission the company said all lorries accessing the composting plant would not drive through the village, where there is a 7.5 tonne weight limit.

New Earth Solutions wants to extend its planning permission to July 1, 2015.

Members of the public have until next Wednesday, July 6 to comment on the application. To view the application in full visit, www.southglos.gov.uk