Wood recycling scheme near Framfield resubmitted

In a new application to East Sussex County Council, Holley Woodshavings is seeking permission to open a wood recycling facility at its premises within the Squires Farm Industrial Park.

The application comes after similar previous proposals were refused by the county council’s planning committee in February, due to concerns around dust affecting neighbours.

While the business maintains it has grounds to appeal this decision, this latest application seeks to address the committee’s concerns by moving the facility into a new enclosed building. 

In its application, a spokesman for Holley Woodshavings said: “Holleys have until August 12 to appeal this decision and consider that they have a very strong case to do so. 

“However they are mindful of members’ comments at the committee meeting that, despite it not being the industry norm, they want to ‘raise standards’ and see the process [take place] in a building. 

“Holleys wish to take a constructive and positive approach which will represent the best possible solution for all and provide a secure future for what is an established family business supporting the next generation hence they decided to submit this application proposing a building in line with the wishes of members.”

The previous applications had originally been brought forward by Holleys as a way of clearing more than 1,000 tonnes of waste wood from its site, which was left there following an ill-fated third-party venture several years prior. 

While the third party was prosecuted by the Environment Agency for not complying with a Waste Removal Notice in 2015/16, the court made no requirement for the persons involved to facilitate the removal of the waste wood. 

This left Holley Woodshavings in possession of the wood and (following a county council enforcement notice) responsible for disposing of it. 

The proposed facility, which had been in operation prior to the February decision, involved this waste wood being processed into a material for export and later use as animal bedding, chipboard and fuel for biomass plants.

This process required new waste wood to be delivered to the site, in order to ensure the final product is of an acceptable quality.

The remaining waste wood (around a third of the original 1,000 tonnes) has now been removed from the site, but Holleys says it still hopes to open the recycling facility as part of its wider business plans.

In the application documents, a spokesman for the business said: “Holleys have now arranged for the wood to be taken to Scotland for processing prior to use in an energy plant there. 

“This has been at a considerable cost to Holleys (in excess of £50,000 covering transportation and processing) and given the transportation distances its sustainability credentials are considered to be low albeit they avoided landfilling.

“The terms of the enforcement notice have been fully complied with and the original deposit of waste wood has been removed. However as the notice remains in place it in effect prevents any waste wood coming to site. 

“As Holleys’ business plans are to diversify their wood operations increasing the sustainability credentials by recycling waste wood, this application [takes] on board the wishes of planning committee members for a building in which operations can take place.”

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