WASTE processing company HLC has confirmed it intends to continue with its planning application for a materials recovery and energy centre in Wrexham, despite a recent change of site ownership.

Their application is to build a centre for the recycling and processing of waste to create energy through pyrolysis and gassification on Oak Road on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, where the former BICC factory was sited.

Until recently owned by Balfour Beatty PLC, the site has now been sold and HLC is looking to establish relations with the new owners to negotiate the future of the site.

Lawrence Isted, chief planning officer for Wrexham Council, said: 'An applicant is not required to own a site before applying for planning permission to develop it.

'The council will continue the process of public consultation on the current application and a decision whether or not to allow the development will be made on planning grounds and not on issues of ownership.'