Port of Blyth expansion plans approved for Bates Terminal site

The proposal, for a site east of Morpeth Road Academy on Bates Avenue, which involves installing perimeter fencing to include it within the port boundary, had been recommended for approval at a meeting of Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee on March 3.

The scheme will include the initial reclamation of the site and re-engineering of the existing earth bunds, site clearance, the construction of a new bund – five metres high and up to a maximum of 10 metres wide – along the southern boundary, construction of an internal access road and hard-standing areas, plus the erection of a 2,500 sq m industrial unit.

Councillors did have some concerns about noise and lighting, particularly in relation to the working area in front of the warehouse, which can be used on a 24-hour basis.

However, the meeting heard that there are conditions in place to mitigate the impacts and given the port has extensive permitted development rights in its existing boundary, it would be difficult to refuse permission on this adjacent site.

Coun Barry Flux noted that there had been no objections from residents or the town council and said that ‘it’s good to get some investment in the area’.

“I do think development on this site is welcome,” he added.

A planning statement submitted with the application said that residents had welcomed the proposals at a public consultation event, due to concerns about the site currently being used for antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping and fire-starting.

The bid was approved by 14 votes to zero, with one abstention – from Coun Malcolm Robinson, due to the lack of information about what would be stored in the warehouse, although he had been told that this was not a planning matter.

This warehouse will be limited to storage/distribution purposes only, which led to some of the initial concerns from the likes of the Environment Agency and the council’s public health team being dropped.