Sunderland's Beach Street tip site to become car park for car parts firm after plans approved

Sunderland City Council is in the process of constructing a new £4million HWRC in Pallion to replace the ageing Beach Street facility.

A statement on the council’s website says the site is “operating beyond capacity with no further scope for refurbishment,” with increasing resident usage and congestion at peak times.

When completed, the Pallion complex will provide new and improved services for residents, including a purpose-built recycling/ re-use shop, and is expected to open in late 2021.

While services will continue to operate from Beach Street until the switchover, plans have now been approved for the future of the Deptford site.

Nearby business Minth Automotive (UK) Ltd aims to transform the compound into a car park for its employees.

The firm is involved in the manufacture of electronic equipment and accessories for motor vehicles.

According to a transport statement from Minth Automotive, current shift patterns and operations at its current facility leave a shortfall of parking spaces.

“Without expansion of the parking,” the statement reads, “this would push employees into parking in the the public highway.”

Following consultation, Sunderland City Council’s planning authority approved the car park plans on Wednesday, December 9.

The planning application includes ‘regrading works’ and a stepped pedestrian access route and work must start in the next three years.

More than 100 spaces would be provided including 80 car spaces and a mix of motorcycle and cycle spaces.

A new barrier system will also be put in place at the Beach Street site to serve the car park, with no changes to the vehicular access.

The current Beach Street HWRC is open seven days a week, only closing on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

It has around 40,000 visits annually and collects around 17,000 tonnes of plastic, wood, rubble, garden waste and redundant electrical appliances, such as white goods or televisions.

The tip saw huge queues when it reopened as the first national lockdown eased, and has remained in high demand.

Beach Street’s replacement on Pallion Industrial Estate is due to open in Autumn 2021.

The new site will offer a range of new and improved facilities for Sunderland residents.

This includes a recycle and reuse shop, improved access and a ‘walk-in option’ for the first time.

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