New household waste and recycling centre in Sunderland gets the go-ahead

Plans for a new household waste and recycling centre in Sunderland have been given the green light by council chiefs.
Aerial view of how the Household Waste and Recycling Centre could lookAerial view of how the Household Waste and Recycling Centre could look
Aerial view of how the Household Waste and Recycling Centre could look

Earlier this year, Sunderland City Council announced plans to replace its current Beach Street hub with a new and improved service.

The facility will be based at the former Rolls-Royce site within the Pallion Industrial Estate and will offer a recycle and re-use shop operated by the community and voluntary sector and a ‘walk-in’ option for the first time.

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“Obviously I have been living with the Beach Street tip in my ward for lots of years and there are lots of problems that have come about as part of it being a bit out of date,” said Cllr Niall Hodson.

“So it’s really good to see some of the concerns from that site being resolved on this site.”

The comments came during Friday’s (October 2) Planning and Highways (East) Committee, where the application won unanimous support.

Cllr Hodson also welcomed measures to reduce traffic disruption, which he said had been an “absolute nightmare in Millfield” and extra tree planting to screen the site and reduce its visual impact.

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A planning report to councillors states the new centre will increase the city’s potential for higher recycling levels and diverting more waste from landfill.

Re-use Centre at new HWRC PallionRe-use Centre at new HWRC Pallion
Re-use Centre at new HWRC Pallion

It added the Beach Street facility is “no longer fit for purpose” and needs to be moved to accommodate the new Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor, a new road between the Northern Spire and city centre.

When operational, the new tip will accept the same types of waste as Beach Street and a small proportion of trade/commercial waste on a pre-booked permit basis.

It will process around 21,000 tonnes of waste every year, with an average of 106 to 138 vehicles arriving every hour, alongside 20 operational vehicles per day.

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Due to its popularity, the online appointment booking system introduced to support social distancing and to reduce queuing at Beach Street, will also transfer to the Pallion site when it opens.

Skip view of proposed household waste and recycling centre, SunderlandSkip view of proposed household waste and recycling centre, Sunderland
Skip view of proposed household waste and recycling centre, Sunderland

Cllr Amy Wilson stressed that both residents and businesses in the area had been consulted on plans for the new recycling centre.

However, five objection letters were received from residents raising concerns about the centre’s proximity to homes, noise, litter, traffic and other issues.

At the planning hearing, council officers stressed the new centre would be kept in check through an Environment Agency permit.

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This would maintain standards at the site around the management of litter, pest control, noise and dust.

How the entrance to the new Household Waste and Recycling Centre could lookHow the entrance to the new Household Waste and Recycling Centre could look
How the entrance to the new Household Waste and Recycling Centre could look

Highways bosses also agreed to a ‘signage strategy’ encouraging visitors to access it from European Way to help reduce traffic on residential streets.

The city council previously allocated £5 million for the Pallion scheme and a mini-recycling centre in the Coalfields area as part its budget setting process in 2018.

Work on Pallion’s household waste and recycling centre is due to start this winter with a planned completion date of Autumn 2021.

Council leader, Cllr Graeme Miller, welcomed the approval.

“Residents have told us that they want to see better household waste recycling facilities and that’s something we’ve taken on board with our plans for this fantastic new centre,” he said.

“Beach Street desperately needs replacing with something that is both bigger and better.

“The new household waste and recycling centre at Pallion will offer much improved facilities and better access, which for the first time will include a walk-in option and a recycle and re-use shop.

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“It will also provide for Sunderland’s bulky waste and recycling needs well into the future as the city continues to grow, including any future recycling opportunities.”

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