Quarry extension sparks fears for new retail park
waste into recyclable and non-recyclable materials.
Non-recyclable waste has been used to create a ‘development platform’ for an employment park, which won approval from Sunderland City Council in 2013.
However an independent assessment, provided by the applicant, states there is no demand for the development currently as “economic uncertainty for construction projects remains likely due to Brexit.”
Under a new programme, waste bosses hope to continue infilling at the quarry to increase the height of the developmentplatformalongside building a new ‘wash plant’ to clean materials.
But local councillors have hit back, claiming the the plan could stall a proposed retail park at the nearby former Houghton Colliery site.
“This [quarry] application arrogantly assumes that because the activity is already being undertaken, that it should continue, and that because it’s happened for a number of years that it should automatically be approved,” Copt Hill councillor, Kevin Johnston, said.
“This is simply not the case and to subject the site and the people of Houghton to another five years of use as a waste site shows a lack of ambition and a lack of respect for the residents who aspire for better for Houghton.”
Coun Johnston was speaking at meeting of the area development control sub-committee, as a ward councillor.
He added that rejecting the plans would show residents that their “quality of life matters, their pride in Houghton is justified and that the regeneration and development of this site and Houghtonisthecouncil’spriority.”
Last year, the city council’s cabinet backed plans to sell the colliery land for development, subject to planning permission.
The plans are expected to generate around £12 million of inward investment and create hundreds of jobs in the Houghton area.
Houghton councillors, Juliana
Heron and Neil MacKnight, raised concerns at the meeting about the impact on visual amenity, increased traffic, road conditions and dust from the quarry site.
Coun MacKnight added these issues could make the colliery site “less attractive to businesses” and “will potentially put this huge investment in jeopardy.”
The council’s own strategic property manager also shared similar views in an official objection to the plans.
A planning agent for Holystone Civil Engineering told councillors that the scheme would bring economic benefits to the area. This includes £2million of investment into the local economy, alongside securing jobs.