Objections still being Recieved
You are still able to email the council to send your objections with regards Silverlake Automotive Recycling expansion.
We are against the proposed expansion of Silverlake Automobile Recycling into a 20 acre field which, on its northern boundary, adjoins the woodland, streams, lakes and a vineyard.
You may be aware of this industrial development application, but may not have seen the plans (website below). Silverlake is proposing building one of Europe's largest car recycling factories on the site. It would cover an area of 12.8 hectares, which is equivalent to over 18 international football pitches, or 16 Wickham Squares, stretching the entire width of the field and almost its entire length.
The main building would not only be bigger than 1.5 international football pitches, or 40% bigger than Wickham square, but 16 metres high, the equivalent to a 5 storey building. That building would be 60% taller than Silverlake's current premises, taller than Shedfield church's building, and on the crest of the field hill, so would absolutely dominate the area.
Another building is for the dismantling of Lithium Ion batteries, with all the risks of fire and explosions involved. There will be a car park for 200 staff cars - that would be half the size of commuter station Winchester's car park - and parking for 50 HGVs and all the vehicles waiting to be processed. New road ways will cover the site and there will be considerable movement of vehicles on the site every day. Silverlake intends to process over 40,000 vehicles a year (113 every single day). This is major industrialisation.
Local residents have set up an action group Community Against Silverlake Expansion (CASE) to object to this proposed permanent transformation of the rural area into an industrial zone. We have multiple concerns: fire risks, light and noise pollution, sound pollution, impact on wildlife, including endangered species such as the 'incredibly rare’ barbastelle bat (The Woodland Trust), protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and listed as Near Threatened globally (IUCN Red List), and the greater crested newt, protected by British and European law.
In addition, there would be a doubling of traffic going to and from Silverlake, adding congestion to our already busy roads. The proposal contravenes multiple Hampshire policies.
We are firmly against the industrialisation of this rural area.
All of the car recycling plants Silverlake says it is modelled on are based in existing industrial zones, with the appropriate highway infrastructure. Silverlake's expanded business should be in in such a zone - not in a quiet, rural field.
Silverlake's plans may cause you concern about the safety and wellbeing - please take a look at the website below - scroll down and Agree and click on tabs.
https://planning.hants.gov.uk/Planning/Display/HCC/2024/0464
Thanks for your help, please check out the council email address to send your objection.