DEADLINE of 28th March. Every separate objection will add gravitas, contribute to the decision and act as a new and separate objection to this appeal process against Fornax in the up-and-coming public enquiry.
As a resident on the Business Park and possible neighbour/business in close proximity to the above proposal, you may not yet be aware of the latest developments in the process, so this is just a general awareness communication to draw your attention to the applicant, Fornax’s decision to seek to overturn the rejection of their hazardous waste incinerator proposal by means of a Public Inquiry.
This is going to be held at The Work Place on the 28th of June 2022.
Prior to this, an independent planning inspector will review the soundness of Durham County Council’s original planning committee decision to reject the proposal on the grounds of LAND USE and CONTRIBUTION to LOCAL EMPLOYMENT.
At the original refusal hearing in 2021, the Committee found that “The proposal is contrary to the allocation of the site in Policy 2 of the County Durham Plan for employment uses and would prejudice the delivery of B uses in the future.
The ‘Durham County Planning Committee’ agreed last year that the negative impacts of the incinerator greatly outweighed the number of jobs it would bring, 27 in total and would use up land that could support many more jobs… Policy 2 covers the use of land and whilst the site was allocated for employment use, the relevant B uses are B1 Business Use, B2 Industry, B8 Storage and Distribution.
Many local domestic residents and business park companies rallied around during the consultation to air opinions that this type of development was not in keeping or in line with the aspirations and culture of the business park where it is hoped to attract entities that embrace new technologies to create new, highly skilled jobs attracting and developing the best workforce.
The objections last year also highlighted concerns from employers in relation to employee health affected by air quality, the impact on the nursery and schools in the area and the subsequent effects of dissuading people from living and working in the vicinity of such a plant as that proposed by Fornax. Concerns about particulate matter contaminating sensitive industrial processes and equipment, visual impact and other pollutants as well as the reputation of the park with an incinerator on its western approach, were also cited.
Whilst these are valuable and heartfelt concerns, the overturning issue was that of economic impact, employment and land use and that is what the planning inquiry will consider primarily.
If you do wish to become involved in the discussions and to take an active part in expressing any concerns or opinions in relation to the development and application, the following are suggestions of what you might choose to do:
- Consider how the site would affect your business were it to go ahead. For example, it would dissuade people from living and working in our area making recruitment harder and more expensive. Staff retention could well be impacted and absenteeism could possibly increase. Alternatively, you may operate a business that could potentially benefit from a supply chain arrangement, in which case, you may wish to support the application.
- Think about how this land might be used in the context of the business park we want to have. The ‘B’ uses outlined above may be more useful to incumbent businesses than a site processes waste.
- If you wish to state or reiterate your opinion to the Planning Inspector, IT MUST REACH THE OFFICE BEFORE 28TH MARCH, you can do so by email or letter.
Planning inspectorate Case Officer – FAO Tim Salter
Email: tim.salter@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
OR
THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE
ROOM 3D
TEMPLE QUAY HOUSE
TEMPLE QUAY
BRISTOL
BS1 6PN
[letters need three printed copies in the envelope for their records and filing]
Please also don’t forget to add the Planning Appeal Reference: APP/X1355/W/22/3292099
Should you wish to have a more proactive involvement, you might also choose to add to your correspondence that you would like to have new representation and that you could register to take part in the public enquiry. This can be made in your email, letter or online via https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/, quoting the appeal reference above, or forwarded directly to the Planning Inspectorate at the address
PLEASE REMEMBER you MUST include in your response statements based mostly around the grounds on which it was originally rejected which are:
- Poor use of the allocated land providing just 27 jobs for two hectares of land sale
- The economic impact to your Business, Staff, Employment, Footfall etc and the increased problems the incinerator would introduce.