London: Hackney backs £1.5bn incinerator plan despite budget strain

Hackney Council has ended its opposition to the reconstruction of the Edmonton waste incinerator. The decision reverses a pledge made by the Green Party during the 2026 local elections. The party had promised to explore every option to cancel the project.

The council now expects the cost of the rebuild to rise by 80% compared to earlier forecasts. This increase has directly affected the borough's financial outlook. Hackney Council stated that the projected budget deficit for the next three years has grown by £9m. The authority now predicts the budget gap will exceed £21m by 2030.

Jacob Cable, the cabinet member for climate and chair of the North London Waste Authority, announced the change. He said failing to finish the build would be devastating for the seven north London councils that rely on the facility. Cable noted that cancelling the project would force the authority to transport waste to lower-performing incinerators. He described this shift as a major negative for environmental and operational outcomes.

Cable reached this conclusion after commissioning a review into the costs and risks of stopping the work. The review focused on the financial and environmental impact of leaving the plant unfinished. The Green Party won control of the council in May 2026. Its manifesto had called for a potential cancellation of the aging rubbish plant.

The Edmonton plant serves seven boroughs in north London. Construction on the rebuild began in 2022. The project has faced opposition for decades due to concerns over air pollution and carbon emissions. The North London Waste Authority said work has been delayed by high interest rates and supply chain pressures. It also cited unforeseen complications on the old industrial site, including asbestos and unmapped water pipes.

A previous Labour administration defended the scheme in 2024. That defense came after an investigation found that burning rubbish was the dirtiest form of power in the UK. The project website indicates the incinerator will enter its commissioning phase in 2027. The authority must now manage the rising costs while completing the build before the plant is fully operational.