Councillors to vote on plans for new waste and recycling centre
Plans for Sunderland’s new household waste and recycling centre could be given the stamp of approval this week.
Sunderland City Council is looking to move its current centre at Beach Street in Deptford to the former Rolls-Royce site on the Pallion Industrial Estate.
Planners say the current centre has “outgrown the site” and needs to be moved to accommodate the new Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor, a new road between the Northern Spire and city centre.
If approved, the Pallion hub would offer a range of new and improved facilities for residents including a recycle and re-use shop, improved access and a ‘walk-in’ option for the first time.
Plannershaverecommended the application for approval and say the centre will “increase the city’s potential to achieve higher recycling levels and divert greater quantities of waste from landfill.”
According to planning documents, the centre would accept the same types of waste as Beach Street and a small proportion of trade/commercial waste on a pre-booked permit basis.
The site would keep the same hours as Beach Street and open seven days a week, all year around – apart from Christmas Day.
Around 21,000 tonnes of waste would be processed every year with an average of 106
to 138 vehicles arriving every hour, alongside 20 operational vehicles per day.
The council also plans to let the proposed re-use shop to an organisation from the commu
nity and voluntary sector with charity recycling bins provided on site.
And unlike Beach Street, pedestrian visitors will be able to access the site via new footways.
Followingconsultation,two letters of support and five objection letters were received – including a representation from Pallion ward councillor, Martin Haswell, on behalf of residents.
Potential issues included the centre’s proximity to homes, noise, light pollution, litter and traffic and further questions about how odour would be managed.
Meanwhile,supporterssaid Pallion Industrial Estate needs improvementwiththenewsite potentially having a positive impact on fly-tipping.
A report to councillors for Friday’s2pmmeetingstatesthe existing centre at Beach Street is “no longer fit for purpose”.