Trafford Council's planning committee has voted to support plans for a 1,520MW gas-fired power station to be sited on derelict land designated for industrial development in Carrington, Greater Manchester.
A final decision about whether to grant planning consent to Trafford Power Station will now be taken by the government's Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and is expected by the end of the year.
The proposal is to develop the combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant on the site of the old coal-fired Carrington Power Station that was demolished in 1991. Trafford Power Station will also be located alongside another newly consented gas-fired power station, the 860MW Carrington Energy Centre, that gained planning approval in 2008 and which will supply electricity to the National Grid from 2013.
Mike Benson, project director at Carlton Power, the company behind the Trafford Power Station proposal, commented: "The UK needs a new phase of energy generation development to replace national power generation capacity that will be lost shortly with the impending closure of so many older coal and nuclear power stations."
"Trafford Power Station will be able to supply electricity to over one and a half million homes in the region," added Mr Benson. "The decision by Trafford's planning committee sends out a clear signal that the need for new power generation is understood very well in the North West."
The planning committee's decision has also been welcomed by Trafford's executive councillor for economic growth Mike Cornes who said: "As well as helping to supply our energy needs, Trafford Power Station would contribute to the ongoing regeneration of Carrington."
"It's a £600m investment proposal creating up to 800 construction jobs and up to 60 full-time operational posts. Should the plant get the final go ahead from the minister of state, Trafford Power Station will offer valuable new employment opportunities to local people."
Trafford Power Station will also have the potential to provide heat to neighbouring businesses that require a supply, further increasing its efficiency. In addition, enough land is available to incorporate a facility for capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CCS) nearby and the plant will be designed to accommodate the retrospective installation of CCS equipment in the future.
Output from the new plant will be more than five times the amount of electricity generated by the former coal plant located at the site but will occupy only a quarter of the land.