South Tyneside Council approves £8 million overhaul of former Biffa site for new distribution hub

Councillors have given the green light to transform a vacant industrial site into a parcel distribution hub after an £8 million "complete overhaul". South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee, during the weekly meeting, approved the plans for the unused unit at Simonside Industrial Estate in the Bede ward.

Previously occupied by waste management firm Biffa, the site is set to be repurposed for a "parcel distribution company", although no end user has been confirmed as per planning documents. The Shaftesbury Avenue property, which has stood empty for about three years, includes a large industrial warehouse with office space, a service yard, parking and landscaping.

Kans and Kandy Property Ltd, who acquired the site in 2022, have since poured £8 million into refurbishing the building, with planning documents detailing a "complete overhaul". This revamp included replacing all old cladding and roofing with superior insulated materials, fitting LED lighting and an air source heat pump, and adding a new canopy and "side closures".

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The proposal, which allows the site to be used for storage and distribution, was discussed and approved on Monday (November 18) at South Shields Town Hall. Planning officers had recommended the project for approval, highlighting in their report that the development would complement existing area uses and not cause any demonstrable harm.

The final user of the site has yet to be confirmed, but it is believed that the proposed development would create "a significant number of jobs within the borough", according to a report presented to councillors. A planning statement submitted in support of the application stated that the proposals would bring an existing empty unit back into use and there were "no significant adverse impacts which would outweigh the benefits" of the development.

The statement further added: "The site was formerly part of Biffa, however, has since been empty for several years where the current owner has invested heavily into the fabric of the building to improve the sustainability and efficiency. The site will continue to operate in a similar manner under an industrial use (storage and distribution) and will support the employment of over 100 people, therefore, supporting the local and regional growth and prosperity."

No changes are proposed to the existing car parking on-site and it is proposed 38 cycle spaces be provided, while the access points from Shaftesbury Avenue would remain as existing. After being put to the vote on November 18, 2024, councillors voted unanimously to approve the planning application.

Councillor Shirley Ford welcomed the scheme but mentioned flooding issues in a nearby area and said additional measures around surface water drainage for the former Biffa unit would have been welcomed. “It’s a shame that there isn’t a requirement, condition or even a recommendation for betterment of the drainage,” she added.

“So if they’re putting a canopy on and capturing grey water, it would have been ideal to say can’t you use that grey water for something and can’t you put in some additional permeable paving or something, just to improve things? Obviously when we’re considering housing development applications we’re always looking for betterment around surface drainage [...] I appreciate that it might not be legally allowed, but it would have been better.”

Council planning officers, responding, said the “immediate area” was not considered to be at “high risk” of flooding and on surface water drainage concerns, it was confirmed no extra hardstanding was proposed under the plans.