WORK to develop a waste recycling and recovery facility in Christchurch could be close to commencing.

Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd obtained planning permission to build a new administration building at its Chapel Gate site in December 2022. 

Once built, the development will provide office accommodation, welfare facilities and a visitor centre, along with associated staff and visitor parking.

Permission was also obtained to install a low carbon Energy Recovery Facility for the generation of heat and electricity through a low-emission thermal process.

The facility is said to be capable of treating up to 60,000 tonnes of non-hazardous residual waste per annum.

Now, Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd has submitted a new planning application for a temporary development to be installed on site while the works were implemented – suggesting they could be due to begin shortly.

It would include a temporary office and welfare building, with an associated car park for a period of up to three years.

In a planning statement given with the application, the applicant said: “The proposed development is intended to facilitate the relocation of the on-going administrative and business functions associated with the Applicant’s existing waste recycling and recovery site during the period in which the approved Energy Recovery Facility is being constructed.”

The proposed temporary development would sit at the western side of Chapel Lane, directly opposite the entrance to the waste management and recovery site.

A decision is yet to be made on this application.