A £150MILLION plant which will turn Glasgow rubbish into electricity is to be built next to the M8.

Planners have given the go-ahead to the "landmark" building which will be seen by thousands of motorists every day.

The Clyde Energy Centre will be built close to the King George V Dock in Cardonald.

It will be capable of handling 250,000 tonnes of waste each year, some of which – such as paper, metal and plastic – will be sorted and taken for recycling elsewhere.

The remainder will be converted into electricity which could power the new Southern General Hospital and a new extension to Braehead shopping centre.

Cheshire-based Peel Environmental is behind the plan which resulted in objections from a number of community groups.

They included Scotstoun, Whiteinch and Partick community councils, Linthouse Housing Association, Dumbarton Road Corridor Environmental Trust and Yoker Resource Centre.

There were also 18 letters of objection from individual residents who raised concerns about lack of consultation, health, pollution and traffic.

But members of Glasgow City Council's planning committee agreed unanimously to give the scheme their blessing.

Earlier this month, Peel Environmental was granted planning permission by West Dunbartonshire Council for a recycling centre at Rothesay Dock in Clydebank.

At present the M8 site is used for crushing aggregates, mainly from roadworks, which are reused in future road schemes.

Jane Gaston, development manager for Peel Environmental, said: "We are delighted at Glasgow City Council's decision to grant planning permission for the South Clyde Energy Centre. We feel positive about the real benefits the development will bring to the area and are looking forward to bringing this development to fruition.

"The energy centre will help drive economic growth in the Bogmoor Road area creating a minimum of 49 permanent jobs and up to 350 jobs during construction.There will also be apprenticeships available to local people and a visitor and education centre for use by the local community and schools. We have developed an iconic design which reflects its position at the gateway to the city.

"We are pleased councillors have recognised such a design could help Glasgow to emulate the success of other similar, city-based facilities in Europe.

"These are viewed on the merit of their design as much as they are on their contribution to landfill diversion."

THE dramatic building, which will cover 12,000sq m will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year.

It will need a permit from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) which will ensure the public's health and the environment are protected from any emissions.

Senior city council planner Ken Clark said: "It is a very sizeable building, 49m at its highest point with an 80m high stack, which is right beside the motorway in an extremely prominent position.

"It will be seen by a lot of people on a very heavily trafficked road. It is a building of some quality and will be a landmark in the area.

"The Scottish Government's policy, which is set out in the Zero Waste Plan, is to try and get away from landfill and to try and recycle as much material as possible.

"The Zero Waste Plan recognises there will be much more need for facilities such as this. As far as health issues are concerned, if SEPA licenses this facility it will look at the running of it and any infringements.

"The city council will look at the odour issue in terms of lorries bringing waste material to the site. However, lorries will be unloaded in the building where there would be no escape of odour."

It is likely lorries will arrive and leave the facility around 160 times a day. Mr Clark said: "The Southern General will require power 24/7 and this will produce power 24/7."

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk