Artist's impression of the new employment park at Houghton-le-Spring.

Waste management company, Biffa, has submitted plans, worth a reported £50 million, to build a ‘sustainable employment park’ at its Houghton-le-Spring landfill site.

The planning application was submitted to Sunderland City Council yesterday (28 November), and includes proposals to provide sustainable office and light industry space on the site, which could provide employment for 500 people.

Following complaints from residents regarding Biffa’s previous application to extend landfill operations at the site until 2028, Sunderland City Council asked the company to ‘explore alternative solutions’ for the site.

A consultation with 2000 residents was conducted at the end of July, which saw Biffa revoke their previous application and formulate plans to develop the 4.8 hectare former quarry for a return to productive use.

If the plans for the development are accepted, the landfill site will only accept inert waste (rubble, stones and bricks) over the next five years in order to create a platform on which the new development will be built. The construction process will also create a further 50 jobs.

Commenting on the application to Sunderland City Council, Biffa’s Senior Planner, Mike Harty said: “This major investment represents Biffa’s commitment to listening to our neighbours and the Council.

“Our revised proposal will not only reduce the amount of waste landfilled by over one million cubic metres, but importantly it will also mean an end to the landfilling of general waste as we will infill the quarry base with inert wastes only to provide a development platform for a sustainable employment park, benefitting local residents and bringing an end to landfill operations in approximately five years.”

Read more about Biffa’s operations