PLANS for land to be turned into a breakdown recovery site look set for approval.

An application proposing a change of use for the council-owned site, on land bounded by Battersby Lane and Hopwood Street, will come before the development management committee at its meeting on Wednesday.

The application site is an existing area of 0.25 hectares partially enclosed open land, with residential properties to the north east but not adjoining the site.

Planning permission is being sought for a change of use of the land to a breakdown recovery site, which would be a base for a recovery business.

There would be one office-based member of staff on-site during day time operating hours to receive calls, manage the recovery vehicle’s workloads and deal with general admin duties.

A report to the committee says: “The only time that a recovery vehicle is likely to return to the site during their specific work shift, would be only occasionally – currently approximately twice weekly – when a vehicle is recovered and cannot be delivered to its chosen destination point.

“Although not originally proposed as such, the applicant has agreed that the proposed use can be on a temporary basis for two years to allow time for them to find suitable permanent premises.

“The use of the site and the hours of operation have been considered by the council’s environmental protection in terms of any harmful impacts, particularly in relation to night time activities and the movement and vehicle drop off by HGVs.

“The proposal site is located within a DEFRA noise mapped area arising through both road traffic noise and rail traffic noise.

“Noise levels are indicated as being elevated during daytime and night time periods although the actual operation proposed is not especially noise sensitive but office elements may be impacted by general environmental noise.

“The applicant has submitted a noise management plan which satisfies the requirements in relation to the impact on the nearest residential occupiers.

“The proposal will result in a short-term solution to support an existing established business in the borough without detriment to highway safety or the visual amenity of nearby occupiers.”

The application has been recommended for approval subject to conditions.