Battle Over Bracknell Farm: Appeal Launched to Keep Waste Site Operational

An appeal has been initiated against the efforts to close down an illicit waste site in Leicestershire. Last year, Leicestershire County Council denied planning permission for waste activities at Bracknell Farm near Earl Shilton, citing that the site was unsuitable and unsustainable according to council planning officers. They specified that waste facilities could be established in or near designated areas such as Loughborough, Shepshed, Hinckley, Burbage, Coalville, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, or Market Harborough, none of which included Bracknell Farm.

The council noted that the applicant failed to demonstrate that transporting waste to the facility would require significantly longer distances if the center was not operational. Despite lacking the necessary permissions, the site had been operational for some years, with the owners disregarding council orders to cease operations during the planning process. Consequently, the council unanimously voted to reject the application and authorized enforcement action to close down the operation, remove all equipment, and restore the land to its previous state. An enforcement notice was subsequently issued against the farm owners.

Now, the landowner, Martin Smith, is appealing against the enforcement notice in a final attempt to keep the site operational. Documents submitted with the appeal indicate that the site is currently still in operation. Mr. Smith and his legal team argue that planning permission should have been granted last year, claiming that the council misrepresented the nature of the development and failed to recognize its necessity.

They argue that the operations at Bracknell Farm are not just a waste processing facility but also involve mineral processing, specifically handling rejected or oversized minerals imported from sand and gravel operations in the southern part of the county. This processing produces clean sand and gravel aggregates used in local construction projects, addressing a need in the area for low-cost construction materials. Additionally, the waste center would process construction and concrete waste.

The documents also reveal that the company behind the operations at the site has changed, with Mr. Smith now in a contractual arrangement with Golden Site Solutions (GSS), which is responsible for clearing soils left behind by the previous company, Winstay Aggregates.

However, the council maintains its decision to reject the application and opposes the appeal, arguing that the waste site would result in unacceptable development in the open countryside and is not located in designated areas for waste facilities. They emphasize the lack of evidence demonstrating an overriding need for a waste transfer station at Bracknell Farm.

The appeal will be determined by the Government’s planning inspectorate, with a hearing scheduled soon. If the planning inspector upholds the council’s decision, Mr. Smith’s legal team will request an extension to clear the site and restore it, citing the need for time-consuming soil processing by GSS and the search for a new site.

Leicestershire County Council has indicated willingness to agree to a 12-month extension for restoration, considering factors such as weather conditions and the planting season. However, they consider the requested 18-month extension excessive, given the landowners’ history of unauthorized use and continued operation despite awareness of the need for planning consent.

If the appeal is successful, the site would operate within specific hours on weekdays and Saturdays, creating job opportunities both on-site and off-site, and involving a limited number of heavy goods vehicle journeys.