Hackney Council accepts cost overrun for Edmonton incinerator

Hackney Council has withdrawn its plan to cancel the reconstruction of the Edmonton waste incinerator. The council will now proceed with the £1.5bn project despite a substantial rise in estimated costs. This decision reverses a campaign promise made by the Hackney Green Party before the local elections.

The Green Party took control of the council in May 2026. Their manifesto pledged to explore every option to cancel the rebuild. The project serves seven north London councils and handles waste for a wide area. Officials state that stopping the work now would cause severe financial and environmental damage.

Construction on the ageing plant began in 2022. The scheme has faced opposition for decades due to concerns about air pollution and carbon emissions. In 2024, the previous Labour administration defended the scheme. They did so after a BBC investigation described burning rubbish as the UK's dirtiest form of power.

Councillor Jacob Cable, the cabinet member for climate, confirmed the change in direction. Cable is also chair of the North London Waste Authority. He said it was clear that failing to complete the project would be devastating financially for the seven constituent boroughs. Cable noted that cancelling the rebuild would worsen environmental and operational outcomes. The council would have to pay to transport waste to lower performing incinerators.

Cable told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he reached this conclusion after a review. The review assessed the costs and risks associated with not completing the project. The authority commissioned this analysis to understand the impact of abandoning the scheme mid-construction.

The cost of the rebuild has risen by 80% according to the council. This increase directly affects the borough's projected budget deficit. A council spokesperson stated that the predicted budget shortfall has increased by £9m. This rise is partly because Hackney must contribute more money towards the escalating cost of the Edmonton plant. The council expects its budget gap to grow to more than £21m by 2030.

The North London Waste Authority cited unforeseen complications on the old industrial site as a cause for delays. These issues included the discovery of asbestos, unmapped water pipes, and a sewer diversion that proved more complex than planned. Rising construction costs, high interest rates, and supply chain pressures also hindered progress. The incinerator is due to enter its commissioning phase in 2027.