Plans for major 'reconfiguration' of recycling village in South Tyneside approved
Plans to "reconfigure" and enhance South Tyneside’s Middlefields Recycling Village have been greenlit by local councillors. The Planning Committee of South Tyneside Council approved an application for the reconfiguration of the Middlefields Industrial Estate and Recycling Depot at a meeting this week.
The council site currently accommodates various local authority services including highways construction, waste services and collection, fleet services and maintenance, business support and greenspace and street scene. It also offers facilities for third party organisations related to recycling, waste transfer and materials storage.
A planning application submitted by the council earlier this year proposed to overhaul the site with the "construction of a new gatehouse, addition of a canopy to the domestic bin store and the relocation and addition of parking". Council leaders stated that the work would "both rationalise and improve [the site’s] layout, so that it may operate more efficiently", as well as "providing improvements to site safety".
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The application was presented to South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee for decision on Monday, October 21, at South Shields Town Hall. A report from council planners published ahead of the meeting had recommended the proposals for approval, subject to conditions.
Council planners have given the green light to a set of proposals, considering them sound in aspects concerning "highways, flood risk, drainage, ecology, landscaping, contaminated land, visual amenity and residential amenity matters". According to a design and access report, the aim of the redevelopment is to "maximise the efficiency of the site, as the demands upon the site will increase in future years".
The plan includes reorganising the site into "defined areas" dedicated to various purposes including fleet and staff parking, electric vehicle spaces, and areas for refuse vehicles alongside commercial and domestic bin storage. The proposal also includes provisions to "safely accommodate the current needs of the site, whilst future-proofing the electrification of the vehicle fleet", aligning with the council's ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Additionally, there are designated spots for container storage, "enhanced MOT and vehicle servicing" and motorcycle parking. Councillors were informed that the development at the Middlefields site would be carried out in stages to ensure it remains functional throughout the renovation period.
The improvements are set to bolster surface water management through sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) stationed at three separate locations. However, during the planning discussions, some councillors voiced concerns about the potential for increased flood risks in the surrounding area, with Councillor Paul Brenen expressing his apprehensions about persistent and "embarrassing" flooding near Western Approach and Kennedy’s pub, despite welcoming the upgrades to the Middlefields facility.
The Middlefields site was deemed at "low risk of flooding" during the meeting, with no formal objections raised against the development on drainage grounds. Later in the council meeting, it was revealed that broader flooding issues in the nearby Tyne Dock area were being investigated by the local authority as part of a study.
Councillor Geraldine Kilgour, citing the committee report from planning officers, also pointed out that the Middlefields planning application would not exacerbate existing drainage problems in the Tyne Dock area. "I think if we just use that word betterment as you have, it will not be any worse than it currently is, so it’s not worsening an already difficult situation," she added.
A report to councillors highlighted that 37 replacement trees would be planted to compensate for the loss of nine trees and a group of conifers, and that tree losses were necessary to enhance the site. Councillor Andrew Guy praised the planning application as a "good development" and a "a great project for our borough".
"I think it will help us move into a new era in terms of managing our council services," he added. After a vote, the plans received backing from members of the Planning Committee.
As part of the proposed works, several buildings and structures are set to be demolished "to enable the best possible scheme on the site", including derelict or temporary buildings and the "outdated" gatehouse.
Council documents have made it clear that the planned scheme "does not propose any amendments to the waste management facilities onsite", ensuring that existing operations such as Suez, Remondis, Wolseley and vehicle wash facilities will remain untouched. Councillor Jane Carter, who is the deputy council leader with a portfolio covering governance, finance and corporate services, earlier this year highlighted inefficiencies at the site, saying: "The site has become inefficient in terms of layout and configuration."
She further noted: "The proposed changes would maximise the current and future use and efficiency of the site, and reduce maintenance costs and energy consumption."
Cllr Carter also mentioned: "There would also be increased security measures implemented including site-wide fencing upgrades, additional CCTV, improved lighting, a new gatehouse and vehicle ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)."
Following the recent planning decision, there's now a three-year window for work to commence at the Middlefields Recycling Village.
For those seeking more details on the project, information can be found by visiting South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and searching for the reference: ST/0393/24/LAA.