Waste transfer area changes at West Suffolk Operational Hub Bury Road, Fornham St Martin

What was proposed

The application sought amended plans for the waste transfer area, including facilities for separate food-waste handling and related staff and vehicle arrangements.

“Ward: The Fornhams and Great Barton Proposal: Planning application - variation of condition 1 of DC/24/1072/VAR to allow use of amended plans for waste transfer area of site for municipal operational hub comprising waste transfer station, household waste recycling centre (including reuse building), fleet depot (including offices), public realm maintenance depot and associated infrastructure including accesses, paths, internal roads and paths, parking, weighbridges, and…”

“The application proposes to vary condition 1 (approved plans) of DC/24/1072/VAR to facilitate further changes to the Waste Transfer Station, which include the separate handling of food waste. These changes include:”

Officer report

The site

The site is an operational waste facility north-east of Bury St Edmunds, bounded by agricultural land, a farm and the A134.

“The application site relates to the West Suffolk Operations Hub, a waste facility comprising a waste transfer station, household waste recycling centre, fleet depot, public realm maintenance depot and associated infrastructure operated by West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council.”

“The facility is approximately 2.5km north east of Bury St Edmunds town centre, immediately south of Fornham Road and east of the A134 in Fornham St Martin, Suffolk. The site is bounded by agricultural land to the north and east. Hollow Road Farm abuts the site to the south, with the A134 immediately to the west, with agricultural fields acting as a buffer before adjoining the settlement of Bury St. Edmunds.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

The operational hub was granted permission in 2017, followed by variations in 2024 and a separate jet-wash facility in 2025.

“DC/17/0521/FUL Planning Application - Creation of a municipal operational hub comprising waste transfer station, household waste recycling centre (including reuse building), fleet depot (including offices), public realm maintenance depot and associated infrastructure including accesses, paths, internal roads and paths, parking, weighbridges, and landscaping, (as amended). Application Granted 21 December 2017”

“DC/24/1779/FUL Planning application - stand alone jet wash facility within existing compound Application Granted 6 February 2025 Consultations:”

Officer report

Officers’ assessment

Officers considered the changes modest and acceptable, with no adverse residential, visual, highway or drainage impacts, and recommended approval with conditions.

“The previously approved planning application DC/17/0521/FUL considers, in depth, the material planning considerations attributed to the Recycling Hub as a whole. Officers also discussed amenity impacts as a result of the changes approved under variation of condition application DC/24/1072/VAR. Officers will therefore only detail the changes proposed in this application and summarise the key policy considerations below.”

“The proposed development will not affect the function of the existing drainage systems at the site. Any discharges to the drainage will continue to be managed under the Environmental Permitting regime where necessary.”

Officer report

Local responses

The parish councils raised no objections or supported the variation, while the town council and neighbours made no comments.

“Bury St. Edmunds Town Council: No comments received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Senior Planning Officer clarified that the proposal involved internal drainage changes and no new connection to the public sewer network.

The committee vote

The application was proposed and seconded for approval, then approved unanimously by the committee.

“Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 36 of Report No DEV/WS/26/023.”

“Councillor Jon London proposed that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation. This was duly seconded by Councillor Marilyn Sayer.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions controlling the approved plans, access, drainage, operations, waste limits, hours and environmental matters.

“Surface Water Drainage Plan Sheet 1 of 4 (Drawing No.170631-PE- XX-XX-DR-C-503 P05) • Surface Water Drainage Plan Sheet 1 of 4 (Drawing No.170631-PE- XX-XX-DR-C-504 P04 - Surface Water Drainage Plan Sheet 1 of 4 (Drawing No.170631-PE-XX-XX-DR-C-505 P04) • Surface Water Drainage Manhole Schedule (Drawing No.170631- PEV-XX-XX-DR-C-506 P04) • Surface Water Drainage Contribution Areas (Drawing No.170631- PEV-XX-XX-DR-C-507 P02) • Overland Flow Routes (Drawing…”

“16 The details of charge points for electric vehicles as set out in information provided by John McDonald (Gowing and Hunt), received by the Local Planning Authority on 22 July 2019 and suitably discharged via DCON(F)/17/0521 shall be retained in their approved form. 17 The retention of the approved scheme of soft landscaping works as per planning permission DC/17/0521/FUL shall be retained in its approved form.”

Minutes