Cory Decarbonisation Project development consent decision announced

The UK government has granted development consent for the Cory Decarbonisation Project, a major carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative on the River Thames. Announced on 5 November 2025 by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the decision authorises Cory Environmental Holdings Limited to build and operate a full-scale carbon capture plant at its existing energy-from-waste facility, along with associated CO₂ storage and a marine export terminal for shipping captured carbon to offshore storage sites in the North Sea. The application, submitted in March 2024 and accepted in April, underwent a rigorous six-month examination by the Planning Inspectorate, during which local communities, statutory consultees, and interested parties could submit evidence. This marks the 100th energy Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project decided under the Planning Act 2008 within statutory timescales. The Secretary of State, advised by Minister Martin McCluskey, approved the scheme following the Examining Authority’s recommendation on 5 August 2025, with all decision documents now publicly available on the National Infrastructure Planning website. The project is expected to capture up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, supporting the UK’s net-zero ambitions.