Residents campaigning against the development of a Heat to Power Plant near Benburb village have launched a public petition following a recent meeting.
The collective known as Residents Against Incineration (RAIN), was established off the back of plans to develop the £9 million plant put forward by local environmental engineering firm, AIC Group, back in December 2025.
When AIC Group – based on the Milltown Road near Benburb – first expressed their plans to construct the combined heat to power thermal treatment centre at the rear of their existing site it was met with fierce public opposition.
Despite the company arguing they have done all they can to assuage public concern by “being upfront”, acknowledging concerns as “perfectly valid” and hosting several public consultations, that opposition continues to mount.
Residents’ primary concerns surrounded the emissions produced by the facility – and if these will be pollutant – air pollution by the way of possible odour produced by waste combustion, visual impact through the accumulation of waste on site and the type of waste to be handled on site… particularly surrounding the feeding of medical waste from hospitals.
Related: First official step taken by Benburb firm with hopes of building contentious heat to power plant
AIC Group had engaged of their own volition with the public but up until April of this year had not submitted any formal plans for the proposals to Council.
Following submission of a Pre-Application Notice (PAN) in that month – which has been deemed as ‘acceptable’ by council -, RAIN has again met to discuss how they intend to move forward.
The meeting held on May 14 at Benburb Priory saw attendees outline a new public petition to garner signatures in support or objection.
Within the first 24 hour period, the petition had gathered over 200 signatures; it has since got over 600.
Describing the petition, RAIN say, “This campaign is about standing together as a community to protect our environment, our countryside, and future generations from a development that could have lasting impacts on local health and air quality.
“We, the undersigned, call on our political representatives and statutory authorities to reject this application, protect public health, respect and address the concerns of the local community.”
They make the clear distinction, “this petition is NOT a formal planning objection. It is intended for political lobbying purposes only — to demonstrate the strength of public feeling and show decision-makers just how many people in our community oppose this proposal.”
Related: Benburb: Proposals for two heat to power plants just miles apart polarise opinion
With that in mind, they continue to encourage those wishing to make formal objections to any future planning applications to do so via the NI Planning Portal directly.
AIC Group has always vehemently stressed that their proposals are for a Heat to Power Plant – rather than an incinerator – and that there are, in their view, several positive factors to its development to consider.
Previously, the company signalled a potential jobs boost as a result of their multi-million pound investment, if approved.
Of the job creation, a company director explained: “We would need in the region of 16 people. That’s full-time. We employ 24 to 26 at the minute and then we would have to bring on six more in the near future; they would be kept on and then four to six on top of that would be needed to facilitate the facility fabrication which would all then be sustained and then 13 to 16, roughly, to help with general service, maintenance, house-keeping, admin and management.”
They also argue the facility would see a significant reduction in their company’s carbon footprint.
The petition can be viewed here.
