NLP was appointed by Egger UK Ltd to advise on the planning implications of the company’s proposal to develop a new £95 million ‘state of the art’ chipboard plant as an extension to the existing site in Hexham.
The site was previously Green Belt but subsequently safeguarded for future economic development. It was necessary therefore to demonstrate that the proposal would not harm the Green Belt and that other material considerations existed to justify bringing the site forward for development in advance of the date envisaged in the Local Plan.
NLP worked with Egger’s environmental consultants to prepare a planning application and Environmental Statement for the 29 hectare site. In addition NLP was responsible for organising a public consultation exercise involving an exhibition viewed by some 10,000 people.
Following a decision by the Government Office for the North East not to call in the application, planning permission was granted.