Controversial plans for an organic waste processing plant in County Durham have been thrown out in a “victory for common sense”.

Residents and businesses joined forces earlier this year to fight back a bid for a huge anaerobic digestion plant at Sprucely Farm near Sedgefield.

Proposals for BioConstruct New Energy’s industrial-sized site were initially approved last December, but complaints were raised over a lack of consultation.

Fears over the smell of the plant, which would have processed food waste and farmyard manure, were among the more than 800 objections to the scheme.

However, today, following a hearing held earlier this year, the Government Planning Inspector dismissed an appeal from the Teesside firm, meaning the plant will not go ahead.

In his report, the inspector said th

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