Plans for major waste recycling plant win approval

Plans for a major waste recycling plant near Chester-le-Street have been nodded through by councillors.

In recent months, H.W Martin Waste Ltd submitted proposals for a plot on the Drum Industrial Estate.

The site was previously occupied by Simpson Bros as a haulage depot and includes a purpose-built building and parking.

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Now, a ‘change of use’ bid aims to give a new lease of life to the site by relocating staff to a state-of-the-art waste plant.

And this week, (May 7) Durham County Council’s area planning committee gave the go-ahead to the plans.

The northern part of the site is sidelined as a parking area with three planned demountable buildings aiming to provide a driver’s canteen, training room, washroom and lockers.

According to planning documents, the plant will be used for the shredding and sorting of  “confidential waste”, general waste and recyclable materials.

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However, the facility will not accept soils and waste demolition material and won’t be open to the public.

And the proposed development will operate 24/7 with up to 24 vehicle movements expected every hour.

During consultation, one objection was lodged from a neighbouring business raising concerns about parking, odour and noise.

It also argued the plans would have a  “detrimental impact upon amenities” and be “unsympathetic to the appearance and character of the local environment.”

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At the planning meeting at Durham County Hall, planning officers said the plans represented a good use of an existing building.

And they raised no concerns about the site in planning terms.

Following a motion by Coun George Richardson, the plans were backed unanimously by the committee.

H.W Martin Waste Ltd and Premier Waste Recycling Ltd form part of the H.W Martin Group of Companies and manage waste and recyclable materials for households and businesses.

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The new plant is expected to secure up to 64 full-time jobs.

However, the majority will be linked to staff relocating from existing sites in the Drum Industrial Estate and Washington.

Chris Binding , Local Democracy Reporting Service