Planners have given the go-ahead for the construction of a new concrete batching planting site in south Cumbria.

Westmorland and Furness Council has approved the plans on the Lindal Industrial Estate off Pennington Lane, which would replace the existing concrete mixers on Diamond Yard.

Planning documents from the applicant, Tony Brown Aggregates Limited, state: “The batching plant will be an acceptable and appropriate use for the industrial site.

“The batching plant will make use of the recycled aggregate materials of the business, and hence provide locally produced concrete for developments occurring in the local area.”

The applicant is a waste management operator and is involved in the crushing of materials such as stone and brick to produce aggregate as well as the screening of soils to produce topsoil. The resultant materials are then sold to local contractors for construction and landscaping developments.

Tony Browns Aggregates operate from Diamond Yard which is approximately 200m east of Lindal Industrial Estate.

There are currently three volumetric concrete mixers on Diamond Yard, which use the material produced on the site, but these will be replaced by the concrete batching plant allowing the mixing operation to be standardised and operated by one person.

Lindal Industrial Estate is located on the edge of Lindal-in-Furness.

Planning documents state the estate was previously a mixed use yard which had HGV haulage, car repairs, farming supplies, playground equipment manufacture and other minor uses. In more recent times the yard has been purchased by Tony Brown Aggregates and has become a satellite yard for the adjacent Diamond Yard waste processing site.

A report from the planning officer says the location is suitable for a concrete batching site.

The report, prepared by Jayne Petersen, states: “I consider that the siting of the concrete batching plant is located appropriately as it is close to the source of material for use in the concrete plant.

“It is located close to the strategic highway network and therefore reduces minerals and waste road miles.”

Planning permission was granted on October 4 by Westmorland and Furness Council.