A RECYCLING business which sought retrospective permission to double the capacity of its operation near a wildlife haven has been condemned by planning bosses after ten-metre-high mounds of waste were found at the site.
Eric Lidster, who runs West Green Recycling in Monk Bretton, submitted an application in December 2023 but it is due to be discussed by planning board members on Tuesday, it was revealed this week.
However, a recommendation to refuse his bid has been put forward after inspectors found a prior agreement - which allowed the business to operate - was of a ‘significantly larger scale’ than permitted.
It also neighbours Carlton Marsh - a nature reserve recently granted site of special scientific interest (SSSI) status due to its rare species - which was raised during the application’s public consultation process.
A planning report said: “The principle of the proposed development is complicated because this is an existing and long-standing waste recycling facility on a site which in 2019 removed from the green belt.
“It was included in the council’s local plan as part of a much larger mixed-use allocation for housing and greenspace.
“It appears that the applicant has no intention of relocating his existing business to allow the site to be redeveloped for housing and there is no objection to the continued operation of the business, if undertaken in accordance with the extant permission at this time.
“It also appears that small-scale development associated with the extant permission may not be contrary to local plan policies which identify the site for housing development and seek to protect the site from other uses.
“The site backs on to the heavily tree-lined embankment to the dismantled railway which is now part of the wider wetlands’ SSSI.
“There are significant mounds of material within the north-western part of the site - which are in excess of ten metres high - are awaiting processing.
“They are highly visible from West Green Way - the equipment has already been installed and largely operational and is of a significantly larger scale than the authorised development previously granted..
“The development is at odds with the local plan, the joint waste plan and the Carlton masterplan framework, all of which seek to ensure that developments function well, add to the overall quality of the area, are visually attractive, sympathetic to local character, establish a strong sense of place and create safe, inclusive and accessible places that promote health and wellbeing.
“The development has resulted in incongruous features that have an unacceptable visual impact in the landscape because of their height, scale, design and prominence and lack of existing or proposed landscaping to relieve their impact.
“The applicant has failed to respond to the request to submit further information.
“In the absence of this information, it is not possible to conclude that these elements would be of satisfactory appearance and use and the proposal is therefore considered to be in conflict.”
