Agenda item

The Committee considered a report which sought planning permission by Condor Recycling Ltd for change of use of an existing building, from storage and distribution (Use Class B8) to a waste plastics/polymer/PVC/rubber recycling facility (Sui Generis use) at New Mills, North Witham Road, South Witham. The proposal site covered an approximate area of 0.134 hectares and comprised of an existing industrial/warehouse type building sited within a small industrial site/estate. The building sat between two similar existing warehouses/buildings which were both currently in use. Access to the site, gained via an entrance off North Witham Road, was suitable for HGV use. The applicant was proposing to use the building as a recycling facility for plastics.

The main issues to be considered in the determination of the application were whether the proposed development was acceptable in this location given its proximity to the local village of south Witham and whether it would cause detriment to residential amenity.

Officers guided members through the report and set out the main issues to be considered in the determination of the application. It was reported that the application had been considered by South Kesteven District Council on the 9th March 2021 and it had resolved that the Council had no objections to raise and had made the following comment:-  'Having regard to the existing authorised use of the building, the District Council had no objections in principle to the proposed use subject to conditions regarding hours of operation and all activity to take place within the building'.

The applicant had requested that Condition No.5 be amended as it limited vehicles transporting materials to 20 foot curtain sided trucks only. Although reference was given to this sized vehicle in the application, materials could potentially be transported in smaller or larger vehicles (up to 40 foot curtain sided trucks). There would, however, be no change in the overall number of visits per week. The Head of Planning had recommended that Condition no.5 be amended to read as follows:  All vehicles entering and leaving the site which are carrying materials shall be covered or enclosed on all sides so as to prevent any materials dropping on the public highway.

Mr James Hodgkin, Managing Director, Electrical Installations (Lincs) Limited had requested to speak at the meeting in objection to the application but did not attend. His property was adjacent to the site. He had previously made objections on the following grounds:- Noise, smells, rodents, extra transport to the area, the building did not have any welfare facilities as there were no drains, the building had been constructed in the wrong place and had no clear fire exit routes.  

On behalf of Condor Recycling Ltd which was run by his son, David Slinger, (Director of Synergy in Trade) attended the meeting to support the application but did not speak.

The Committee was provided with the opportunity to discuss the application and information presented and some of the points raised included the following:

·         Councillor B Adams reported that all concerns to the application had been addressed, apart from the consequences from any possible future expansion. He commented as a member of the Committee and not as a local Councillor that he supported the application. It was noted that should there be a future request to expand the business then a further application would require submission and it would be considered on its merits at the time of that application

·         Officers confirmed that the figures in the report concerning site throughput had been calculated accurately.

On a motion by Councillor B Adams, seconded by Councillor P A Skinner, it was:-

RESOLVED (13 in favour and 1 abstention)

1)    That conditional planning permission be granted;

2) That Condition no.5 be amended to read as follows:  All vehicles entering and leaving the site which are carrying materials shall be covered or enclosed on all sides so as to prevent any materials dropping on the public highway.