Perry Barr recycling centre plans approved
Plans to demolish all of the buildings at Perry Barr household waste recycling centre and build new structures have been given the green light, subject to further consultation.
Birmingham City Council put forward plans to launch a phased replacement of the existing household waste recycling centre (HWRC) and waste transfer station (WTS) buildings at Holford Drive.
The proposals were approved subject to further consultation around 24-hour opening time plans for the WTS by councillors on the city council’s planning committee on Thursday.
The plans would see a widened site entrance for vehicles in order to separate waste lorries from vehicles used by members of the public. The new structures would include a new 99 metre-long waste transfer station, open-air skips for different types of waste and a main office and welfare building plus more facilities.
No objections were received following an initial consultation.
A report to councillors states waste volumes in both the HWRC and WTS will “be slightly larger than existing volumes”.
A total of 68 car parking spaces – including two for people with disabilities and nine electric charging spaces – are proposed together with 20 cycle spaces and 65 fleet vehicle parking spaces.
The planning committee meeting heard an update to the initial plans submitted – suggesting the WTS is now planned to open 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The previous plans had suggested shorter hours on the weekend.
Opening times
The HWRC is due to open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday during summer time and up to 6pm weekdays and 4.30pm weekends during the winter.
Councillor Gareth Moore said: “Given the nature of the site, I’m not too concerned about the idea of 24-hour usage but I do think the fact we haven’t consulted on that basis is a concern.
“I definitely would be interested to hear what [regulatory services'] view is.”
He disagreed with a point in the report which states there should not be any queuing at the site and said queuing “has been a problem”.
He said: “Clearly, queuing has been a problem in the past and does happen from time to time.
“Most times I have been there, there has been some queuing of some description.”
The committee voted to approve the application subject to further consultation with council regulatory services around plans for the site to operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
If there is no objection from regulatory services, council officers will be able to make a decision under delegated powers.
