 North Devon Council’s multi-million pound project to create a state-of-the-art recycling depot on the outskirts of Barnstaple has been granted planning permission.
The Council wants to convert the site of the old meat processing plant near Roundswell into its new Waste and Recycling headquarters and move from its current home on Seven Brethren.
The design includes all the facilities expected in a recycling depot, plus some innovative extras such as an education centre and viewing gallery. This would give young students the opportunity to see first hand what happens to their recycling when its been collected from their homes.
The Council has been looking to move from its present site, which it has outgrown, for several years and bought the plant at Brynsworthy a year ago.
Once the Council moves it will be able to look at ways to expand its recycling service and start recycling food waste. At its peak North Devon Council recycles 39% of household waste, but hopes to increase this to 50% by the year 2010.
The proposal includes plans for around 190 parking spaces, facilities to harvest rain water, bicycle racks, solar panels a bio-mass boiler, lorry wash areas,
a vehicle maintenance workshop and a recycling plant. There will also be storage on the site for wheelie bins, composters and vehicle parts.
Councillor Rodney Cann, Lead Member for Waste and Recycling, says: “This approval takes us one step closer to providing a recycling Centre of excellence that should be fit for purpose for the next 30 to 50 years. The site will enable us to provide a more comprehensive recycling service to North Devon’s residents. Facilities will include a viewing and education area to enable children to learn what happens to our rubbish.”
The plans have been drawn-up by architects Reed Holland Associates, who designed the original building in the 1990s.
Full details of the planning application are available on the Council’s website.
For more information contact:
Cllr Rodney Cann
Lead Member for Waste and Recycling
North Devon Council
01271 372998
rodney.cann@northdevon.gov.uk
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