Councillors to make decision on planning permission for waste transfer station on Burnley's Heasandford Industrial Estate

The proposal for the multi-million pound project, on the borough’s Heasandford Industrial Estate, will be debated by its development control committee on Thursday night.

The scheme, proposed by Burnley Council’s ruling three-party coalition executive, has caused a major political stink in the town with the authority’s Labour group opposition leader Coun. Mark Townsend branding it ‘flawed’ and warning it would cause unacceptable smells and nuisance.

The new waste transfer station (WTS) in Widow Hill Road is required following Lancashire County Council’s contract with SUEZ to use the Whinney Hill near Accrington ending in March 2026.

In November Burnley’s development control committee approved he relocation of the council’s vehicle depot to make way for the development of a controversial WTS. The authority’s ruling executive had previously had to debate and approve the project twice after Coun. Townsend’s objections.

Now Thursday’s development control committee meeting has been recommended to approve the planning application for the scheme with 11 conditions. This, despite a public objection on the grounds that the new WTS will store food waste which will decompose and create odours; will attract rats, gulls and flies and will blight the area.

A planning officer’s report recommending approval says: “The application site relates to the existing Burnley Council Refuse Collection Vehicle Depot within the Heasandford Industrial Estate.

“The application seeks permission to create a non-hazardous waste transfer station with capacity for up to 35,000 tonnes per annum.

“Currently the council’s waste collection vehicles are having to drive to Leyland, South Ribble to deposit waste.

“This transfer station would allow waste to be bulked up for transport reducing the number of trips, improving the efficiency of the service and reducing costs. The proposal seeks to operate Monday to Sunday 06:00-19:00 all year. The site would be run by a total of four operational staff per day.

“The waste transfer station would include a residual and food waste transfer hall, recycling and green waste transfer hall, office cabin, water tank, weigh bridge, storage bays and space for skips.

“The application site is located within an Industrial estate which includes several large industrial buildings.

“The proposal would include four car parking spaces which would be sufficient for the four employees who would operate the site on a day-to-day basis.

“County Highways are satisfied access and internal manoeuvring space are sufficient for largest vehicles to use the site, although they advise it will be tight.

“United Utilities has reviewed the scheme and advised that their a surface water sewer is in close proximity to the site and requested that this be located.

“Some waste streams have the potential to generate odour however these waste streams would be secured in a sealed building which would include ventilation.

“The access, parking and manoeuvring arrangements are adequate and so there would be no unacceptable highways safety impact.”