A call to allow the expansion of a Pembrokeshire waste recycling business of over 25 years standing has been submitted to county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, TBS Skips, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, seeks retrospective permission for the expansion of an existing recycling processing yard, waste storage and engineering works to form an earth bund at Waterston Industrial Estate, near Milford Haven.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says: “The applicants have run a successful skip hire and waste/recycling separation and recovery facility from the adjacent site for over 25 years.

“The business accepts waste from skips and scrap metal, separates the materials collected, stores the separated material until it is collected to be processed. As modern recycling processes have advanced the availability to separate and collect more materials for recycling has increased and this has led to the requirement to have additional space to store separated materials.”

It goes on to say: “This application seeks approval for the retrospective extension of the existing recycling processing yard, waste storage and the formation of an earth bund. This expansion includes the change of use of the unallocated land to the east.”

It says there is now a requirement for more space “to provide suitable separation and to encourage best practice”.

“The proposal involves the concreting of the portion of the yard, with concrete walling to contain both the yard and materials to prevent spillage into the adjacent land areas. Further to this, the proposal seeks an oil separator and silt trap to ensure no leaching of any liquids or oils from the site. Both will be built to the relevant specifications to ensure safe working.

“An earth bund has been formed along the eastern boundary to screen the existing and extended site from neighbouring views into the site. The proposal seeks to plant native species along this bunding to provide additional screening and encourage biodiversity enhancements. Additionally, significant native planting is proposed to the southern boundary to screen the proposal from the neighbouring business.”

It finishes: “The development will therefore underpin the continued operation of a successful enterprise in a sustainable manner, without harming the sensitive character of Waterston. It has been deemed that this business will not introduce a use incompatible with the area and has been designed to reduce visual harm. Overall, it will contribute to a diverse and resilient rural economy.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

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