A new £50 million biofuel plant that will help power one of the largest road projects in Britain has been granted permission.

Medway Council has given the green light for an expansion to the Syntech Biofuel facility at the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate on the Hoo Peninsula.

It will see a new 1,600 sq/m production building and associated infrastructure built to convert waste cooking oil into advanced smart biofuel — a low-carbon alternative to conventional diesel.

Tom Bingham, CEO of Syntech Biofuel, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the investment was a “stepping stone” to bringing more jobs to the area.

He said: “It's the most sustainable fuel made in the UK today, as a drop-in replacement to diesel.

“We work predominantly for the construction sector to decarbonise that industry. We are looking at building out this site to help facilitate the fuel for the Lower Thames Crossing for the major contractors on that project.

“So we've been very well supported by Vince Maple (Lab), leader of Medway Council, as well as Lauren Edwards (Lab) [MP for Rochester and Strood].

“And this is one of the stepping stones as part of our growth plan that will ultimately mean about 200 direct jobs come into the area.”

The site will also enable research and development, as well as increased production supporting 20 specific new jobs.

He continued: “We're constantly looking for new alternatives, new improvements to the technology and so we've invested very heavily in the science and R&D of what we do.

“It's been all part of the process to date, but the new facility will have a dedicated R&D and science team looking at all of those new innovations.”

Syntech Biofuel, based in the South East, produces the most biofuel in the UK for commercial use in the transport and logistics sectors.

The total site spans 1.05-hectares and will see new processing tanks, electric generators, landscaping, and biodiversity enhancements.

The proposals were designed by Out the Box Architecture and the application to Medway Council was secured by Nexus Planning and granted approved on October 13.

The new plant is part of a £130 million investment into the area, with the money going towards the Kingsnorth facility and another near Grangemouth in Scotland.

Syntech Biofuel produces around a million litres per month, with this figure estimated to double by early next year.

Andy Somerville, director at Nexus Planning, added: “We’re delighted to have secured planning permission for this forward-thinking development, which reflects the growing importance of renewable fuel technologies to the UK’s low-carbon economy.

“The project will revitalise an under-used industrial site while supporting green jobs and sustainable innovation in Medway.

“We worked closely with Syntech Biofuel, Medway Council and the wider technical team to ensure that the scheme delivers environmental, economic and operational benefits in line with local policy and the National Planning Policy Framework.”

The Lower Thames Crossing is a near £10billion scheme that will connect Kent with Essex through a tunnel under the River Thames to help alleviate traffic on the Dartford Crossing.

Plans for the route east of Gravesend, in Shorne, were first put forward 14 years ago but were only approved by the planning inspectorate earlier this year.

The scheme - which is billed as the UK’s biggest planned infrastructure project - will be looked after by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander after taking over control from National Highways last month.