Green light for new waste site
Plans for a new household waste and recycling centre in Sunderland have been given the green light by council chiefs.
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.
“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Street tip in my ward for lots of years and there are lots of problems that have come about as part of it being a bit out of date,” said Cllr Niall Hodson.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 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.
A planning report states the new centre will increase the city’s potential for higher recycling levels and diverting more waste from landfill.
It added the Beach Street facility is “no longer fit for purpose” and needs to move 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.
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.
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.
This would maintain standards at the site around the management of litter, pest control, noise and dust.
Highways boss es also agreed to a ‘signage strategy’ encouraging visitors to access it from European Way to help reduce traffic on residential streets.
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.
“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.
“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.”