Aggregates Recycling Facility

Town Planning, Environmental Permitting and SAB Services for a Wash Plant Development.

Client: Waste Management, Recycling and Skip Hire Company

Service Provided: Town Planning, Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Project Overview

Technia Environment and Planning Limited was appointed to deliver the full suite of planning, permitting and drainage services for a new aggregates recycling facility at a disused limestone quarry.

The development extended the client’s existing waste site and included:

• Engineering works to infill and expand the operational area
• Installation of a wash plant (200,000 tonnes/year capacity) for C&D waste
• A coordinated strategy for landscape, drainage, and ecological enhancement

Planning permission was secured in May 2025. We are now progressing the Environmental Permit and SAB approval, providing full regulatory support to move the project toward construction.

Our Approach

We led an integrated strategy to deliver complex planning, environmental, and engineering requirements. Our approach included:

• Understanding Operational Needs: Worked closely with the client to design a layout that supports vehicle flows and day-to-day operations.
• Feasibility and Risk Assessment: Assessed commercial viability and site constraints to shape a sustainable, practical scheme.
• Design Coordination: Collaborated with engineers and equipment suppliers to minimise environmental impacts while optimising efficiency.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintained dialogue with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and technical consultees, addressing issues early.
• Problem Solving: Responded rapidly to LPA requests for additional assessments on ecology, lighting and active travel.
• Drainage Integration: Delivered a SAB-compliant drainage strategy tailored to the quarry’s hydrological context and surrounding area.
• Project Management: Managed all regulatory requirements, ensuring clarity, coordination and timely progress.

Key Challenges and Solutions

1. Proximity to Sensitive Receptors

   Challenge: Residential properties to the east and an environmentally sensitive surrounding area required careful noise and impact management

   Solution: Designed the site layout to position noisy activities away from homes and installed acoustic bunds and barriers to reduce any disturbance during construction and operational periods. Additionally, we produced a Construction Environment Management Plan to ensure environmental considerations were maintained throughout the project.

2. Presence of Protected Species and Habitats

   Challenge: Presence of bats and reptiles on-site required habitat protection and enhancement.

   Solution: Developed and incorporated ecological mitigation into the site design, including reptile translocation and habitat improvements integrated into landscaping. Habitat features were retained where possible and supplemented with ecological enhancements to support long-term biodiversity.

3. Highway Safety and Access Concerns

   Challenge: Increased HGV traffic raised concerns regarding capacity and safety of the existing access arrangements.

   Solution: A Transport Assessment was prepared to demonstrate that the local network could accommodate the uplift in vehicle movements. Site access was reviewed and adjusted to ensure safe ingress and egress for HGVs, with improvements proposed to visibility and internal circulation.

4. Management of Surface Water

   Challenge: The development area and surrounding topography required careful surface water management to prevent runoff impacts and ensure compliance with SAB requirements.

   Solution: A sustainable drainage strategy was prepared, including attenuation features and treatment measures designed to manage water quality and flow rates. The approach was developed to align with SAB guidance and account for hydrological links to the adjacent flooded quarry void and nearby Margam Moors.

5. Landscaping and Visual Impact

   Challenge: The exposed location of the former quarry presented challenges in reducing visual impact and integrating the development into the surrounding landscape.

   Solution: A detailed landscaping scheme was developed using native species and strategic bunding to screen the facility from nearby receptors. The approach was designed to provide both visual mitigation and biodiversity value, forming part of the wider Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Outcome

Planning permission was granted in May 2025, supporting the client’s objectives to expand operations and improve sustainability. Work is underway to secure the Environmental Permit and SAB approval, enabling construction to proceed.

Considering a Wash Plant Development?

We’ve helped operators successfully deliver high-capacity wash plants by managing planning, permitting, drainage and design coordination from start to finish.

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