Egger expansion given go-ahead
Jul 10 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
A CONTROVERSIAL bid to expand an industrial powerhouse in Northumberland was given the green light last night.
Fierce opposition had stood in the way of Egger UK Ltd’s plans to extend its chipboard manufacturing company on the outskirts of Hexham.
The company was vying to build a new 28,000 square metre processing facility on 6.8 hectres of land to the east of the plant.
And last night, at a meeting of Northumberland County Council’s Area Planning Committee West, councillors pushed the application through.
It is hoped the new development will create positions for 45 permanent staff and between 100 and 150 indirect jobs.
Bob Livesy, the company’s commercial director, said: "This is the 25th anniversary of Egger in Hexham. The current plant employs 450 people on a direct basis, and many more on an indirect basis. We are an important part of the local economy and have contributed £180m to it. With this new proposal we are looking to build on this momentum." As well as constructing a new 28,000 square metre processing facility on 6.8 hectres of land to the east of the plant, the firm, based at Grange Road, Anick, will now develop the surrounding land too.
Ancillary office accommodation, 42 additional car parking spaces and landscaping are also in the pipeline. But angry protesters had claimed the site was reserved for future economic development and claimed the expansion would destroy green belt land.
Sandhoe Parish Council also raised concerns over the low number of jobs generated, the road infrastructure proposed being inadequate, along with the noise and visual impact.
The firm claimed it had to act immediately to ensure the stability of the company and safeguard the hundreds of jobs at the site.
But speaking at last night’s meeting, John Halliday, a solicitor whose Anick home overlooks the proposed development, called on the councillors to reject the proposals.
He said: "There’s no terrible rush to get the permission granted in the current economic climate."
The county council received 12 letters of objection from members of the public on the initial application, two of which are from groups of residents from Hexham, Anick, Oakwood and Sandhoe.
A further five letters were submitted in response to the amended scheme, including one from a band of 40 residents from Hexham, Oakwood and Anick.
Residents echo the concerns of the parish council and also say the development is too big for the site and would be harmful to tourism.
Coun Anne Dale last night said more action was needed to protect the rural landscape around Northumberland.
She said: "I hope that people look very seriously at keeping the green belt protected in future.
"Egger has stretched its company to the limits."
