Find out more
If you would like to support our application you can do so by signing our petition. It is also possible to submit any comments on this application directly to Hampshire County Council by emailing planning@hants.gov.uk using ref: HCC/2024/0464.
Thank you to all who provided feedback during the public consultation on the proposals. Community feedback received has been included in the final Statement of Community Engagement report which was submitted as part of the application. All documents are available to view on the HCC planning portal.
You can find out more about how we have responded to feedback received during the pre-application consultation by clicking on the headers below:
Operations
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The existing site is mostly screened by dense woodland areas. Dense woodland along the north western site boundary already creates a visual and acoustic buffer and this will stay in situ.
The proposed extension of the site will remain set back from the neighbouring properties to avoid intrusion on their outlook. The highest ground towards the south-eastern portion of the site is not proposed to be developed.
Silverlake is committed to ensuring that tree planting is undertaken as early as possible (to include mature trees) in line with HCC ecology requirements in order to maintain the privacy of our neighbours.
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The dismantling facility will include a green roof to address concerns regarding visual impact and will also enhance the biodiversity of the site.
Further planting is also proposed to increase the tree lined screening to the north and eastern boundaries of the site.
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The expansion of the site will enable greater efficiencies in operations, creating a better working environment for staff and shorter working hours. Shift patterns within the dismantling facility will be considered to reduce working hours on site.
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The new dismantling unit reduces the requirement for external lighting. Remaining external lighting will be turned off at the same time as today.
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A noise assessment has been undertaken to understand current noise levels which the new proposals will not exceed with the ambition of reducing noise.
The proposed site layout moves the noisiest operations further away from residents. The new dismantling facility will shield the nearest residents from the noise.
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We are aware of the dangers of disposing of lithium batteries. The fire and rescue service are a statutory consultee and have been involved in discussions surrounding the design and operation of the EV battery storage facility. They will continue to provide advice throughout and after the planning process.
We seek to be a centre of excellence and to set the standard for dealing with hazardous batteries.
Highways
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Two primary vehicular entrances are proposed to separate front of house and back of house operations, allowing customers to have a safe and separate access away from the numerous cars, trucks and HGVs accessing the site, as well as enabling safer and less disruptive access for employees. All parking for employees and customers will be located on site.
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As part of the pre-application process, we have been engaging with Hampshire Highways and a Traffic Assessment has been undertaken has been submitted as part of the planning process. In the worst-case scenario, it is anticipated that Silverlake’s traffic could increase by a third over a 3–5-year period (equivalent to an additional 9 vehicles per hour).
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Silverlake has previously received push back from Hampshire County Council with regard to this matter and will reopen the conversation about reducing the speed limit along Botley Road, which will be aided by the new proposed access.
Silverlake has committed to suspending the allowance of any employee found to be speeding on Botley Road.
Design proposals
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The proposed dismantling facility will be 16 metres in height with a green roof and is set back from the road. New planting and screening will be featured along the northern, southern and eastern boundaries.
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Silverlake is already assigned as a safeguarded minerals and waste site. Therefore, the existing site is the most appropriate location to do more to meet the county’s recycling objectives set out by both the local authority and national planning policies.
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The proposed will be sympathetic to the local area and in keeping with the surrounding context.
The dismantling facility will be clad in light timber on the first floor and darker timber on the ground floor to mimic the tree line boundaries. A bisolar roof system is proposed which integrates Photovoltaic panelling.
The Site
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The proposed extension area is within the existing site boundary and develops what is a currently an under-utilised and relatively low-quality arable field.
If the operation were to move to an alternative location, this would potentially require greater removal of farmland.
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Silverlake Automotive Recycling makes a significant contribution to the UK’s headline recycling statistics. The government encourages the prudent use of resources whilst also taking into account the potential for waste growth.
Silverlake is already assigned as a safeguarded minerals and waste site. The existing site’s operation is already over-capacity and unable to keep up with the demand for recycling vehicles. This restricts the production of recycled material and results in higher levels of waste material going into landfill.
Site expansion provides the opportunity to increase production levels, increasing the level of recycled waste material, reducing the amount of material sent to landfill.
Heritage and Archaeology
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In relation to Archaeological potential of the site, the Historic Environment Desk Based Assessment (HEBDA) recommended that “The need for, scale, scope and nature of any further archaeological works should be agreed through consultation with the statutory authorities.”
It is proposed that if additional evaluation is required, this would be undertaken prior to the commencement of the proposed development in order that, if required, a scheme of archaeological management would be agreed by way of a planning condition to ensure an appropriate level of archaeological supervision and recording is undertaken at appropriate stages of the development. These investigation and management measures would ensure compliance with Policy 7 of the Hampshire Minerals Waste Plan, and Policy DM26: Archaeology of the Winchester District Local Plan Part 2.
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There are no designated heritage assets within or immediately adjoining the site. However, there are a total of 6 Grade II Listed Buildings within 1 km of the site. The nearest of these are Rowan Ash Farmhouse and Raglington Farmhouse.
The submitted Landscape Visual Impact Assessment states “While the Site lies within the vicinity of these heritage assets, due to the high volume of established woodland, roadside hedgerows and field boundaries across the wider landscape, there is no intervisibility between the Site and 50 any conservation areas and heritage assets, with the exception of Rowash Farmhouse to the immediate southeast of Site.” In relation to the changes to the settings of heritage assets the Historic Environment Desk Based Assessment concludes “that the proposed development would result in less than substantial harm to Rowan Ash (NHLE 1095658) and no harm to Raglington (Old) Farmhouse (NHLE 1179582) through changes in their setting.”
Flooding and Drainage
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As with the existing hardstanding and facilities, water will be collected, held back and discharged at a regulated rate no higher than today’s.
The drainage design incorporates new attenuation basins, swales, water storage structures, and other SuDS features, including a blue/green roof on the new dismantling building.
Local impact
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The expansion of the site will provide new jobs and training opportunities for members of the local and wider Hampshire community, while helping everyone better manage car recycling and motoring budgets.
Site expansion also provides the opportunity to increase the breadth and depth of Silverlake’s community support and sponsorship programmes.
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The development will provide many economic benefits for the local area including new jobs and training opportunities.
Impact on property value is not a planning consideration.
Planning policy
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Silverlake is safeguarded in the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan (HMWP) (2013) as an existing End-of-Life Vehicles site. Policy 25 of the HMWP sets out the long-term aim for Hampshire to become net self-sufficient in waste management with a recyclable target of 60% for non-hazardous wastes.
As the UK strives to meet ambitious net zero targets, the critical importance of automotive recycling and awareness is becoming increasingly more evident. Automotive recycling allows for the successful reuse and reconditioning of car parts, helping to curb demand for our planet’s finite resources. By increasing recycling capacity and diverting material away from the landfill, Silverlake’s proposed expansion will help meet national recycling targets and facilitate the mandatory transition to electric and hybrid vehicles.
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All assessments have been undertaken in accordance with the latest policy guidance outlined by Hampshire County Council and Winchester District Council.
The application site is not located within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and the anticipated HGV movements (38 in and 38 out per day) would not increase the daily flow of HGV traffic on the A334 by more than 100 annual average daily traffic (AADT). As such, and in accordance with published guidance, and air quality assessment of the impact of vehicular exhaust emissions is not required.
Landscaping and ecology
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A small number of trees will be removed through the existing tree belt in the middle of the site to enable the access to the wider site to be created.
Trees that are removed will be replaced in excess of the loss.
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The proposed scheme will seek to expand upon the local ecological value by increasing the level of green space on the site, including a tree lined frontage which will soften the edge to the A334 and increase tree lined screening to the north and eastern boundaries.
The dismantling facility will include a green roof to address concerns regarding visual impact and will also enhance the biodiversity of the site.
View our online webinar
We hosted a live webinar on Wednesday 8th November to provide further information on the proposals.
You can watch this event below:
Presentation to Curdridge Parish Council
On Monday 8th January 2024, we provided a presentation to Curdridge Parish Council on the expansion proposals. You can view a copy of the presentation below.
Presentation to Shedfield Parish Council
On Monday 19th January 2024, we provided a presentation to Shedfield Parish Council Planning committee on the proposals. You can view a copy of the presentation below.