A rural concrete processing plant has been able to extend its operating hours, following a planning appeal.
In a decision notice published earlier this month, a planning inspector has agreed to alter conditions attached to a concrete processing plant at the Squires Farm Industrial Estate, near Palehouse Common.
Wealden District Council had granted retrospective planning permission for the business in October last year, but committee members at the time chose to significantly limit hours of operation due to concerns around disturbance to neighbours.
These restrictions came through conditions, which meant the site could only operate between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
In January, the business put forward a further application seeking to amend these operating hours to 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 7am to 4pm on Saturdays. This application (which formed the basis of the appeal) was refused, with councillors again raising concerns around disturbance to neighbours.
The planning inspector did not share these concerns, however, opting to approve the change in operating hours.
In their decision notice, the inspector said: “The business is part of the supply chain providing concrete for the construction industry, which commonly starts on-site activities at 08.00 or earlier. There is therefore a reasonable economic justification for requesting an operational start of 07.00.
“A small number of staff may arrive before then but provided they do not commence the use of machinery before 07.00, I see no reason why that should result in unacceptable disturbance to occupants of properties that are more than 150m away.
“I therefore conclude that the proposed operating hours would not result in unacceptable additional noise or disturbance for the occupants of nearby dwellings.”
The amended condition also states that the plant’s staff may only arrive at the site 30 minutes prior to opening and confirms no operations can take place on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
For further information about the proposals see application reference WD/2023/2671/FA on the Wealden District Council website.
