New Forest District Council submits planning application for revised waste depot at Hardley industrial estate

NEW Forest District Council has submitted revised plans for a waste and services depot in Hardley to replace the current facility near Totton.

Last year NFDC granted itself permission to build a £5.5m depot at Hardley industrial estate, including offices, workshop and storage space.

A spokesperson for the council denied the fresh bid was due to the recent adoption of the waste strategy, which will see wheelie bins introduced from 2025.

They said: "Since the original planning application in 2021 we have reviewed our overall approach to depots within the district and identified that a larger area for vehicle parking will be required at the Hardley site.

"This requirement is not specifically related to the approval of the waste strategy.

"Other changes to the plans since 2021 include amendments to storage and internal layouts [so] a new planning permission is required for these proposals.

"We will shortly carry out an open procurement exercise for contractors to tender for the construction work following which a final decision will be made."

The project is to house vehicles for refuse and recycling collections, ground maintenance and street cleaning.

It was planned to replace the current Claymeadow depot in Hounsdown, which was deemed no longer fit for purpose and had no room for expansion.

It is expected to be developed for housing later.

So far there have been no public comments made in support or against the plans. NFDC will make a decision after the public consultation ends on 13th March.