PLANS have been unveiled for the redevelopment of a waste transfer station in east Durham.

Durham County Council’s planning committee is expected to approve an application by the authority to carry out the work at the Thornley Waste Transfer Station (WTS).

Once upgraded the 2.4 hectare site will be able to handle up to 83,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Thornley WTS, to the south of Thornley Station Industrial Estate is access from the B1280 Road known as Salters Lane, along a short section of unclassified road.

A report to the county planning committee meeting on Tuesday (April 7) notes there are no landscape or nature conservation designations within or next to the site or public rights of way in the vicinity.

Recommending approval, planning officers say all operations will be being carried out inside the buildings, with fast-action doors being kept shut when not in use.

Management of the buildings in this way would control the potential spread of any odour from the site, while waste material would not be kept on the site for a prolonged period of time.

It considered that the proposals would not adversely affect the amenity of the nearest noise sensitive properties over 290m away.

Thornley WTS serves as a collection point for local waste streams, which can then be bulked up and exported for disposal or further processing elsewhere.

The transfer station has been operational since 1983 after planning permission was secured in September 1979.

The Environmental Agency and other statutory bodies have raised no objections, while no representations have been received from members of the public.