Planners recommend approval for huge animal feed plant near Thirsk

A leading animal feeds manufacturer’s plan for a huge £12m plant has been recommended for approval by planners, despite concerns it will spoil countryside and affect residents.

The I’Anson Brothers scheme to build a 23,000sq ft facility at Dalton Industrial Estate, south of Thirsk, would see the firm which has been based at Masham for 60 years, add two production lines capable of producing more than 30 tonnes per hour to meet growing demand.

In documents submitted to Hambleton District Council ahead of its planning committee considering the proposal next week, the firm said it is anticipated the plant near Dalton village would see 37 HGVs arriving and departing every day, but studies had shown the scheme “would not result in any operational issues on the road network”.

The firm’s application added: “It must be accepted that a building of this scale will have an impact on any landscape and that these impacts must be weighed in the planning balance alongside any other identified harms and benefits.”

However, the plans to increase the size of one of North Yorkshire’s busiest industrial estates have alarmed some nearby residents, saying it would generate more traffic to pass through the Dalton village.

Objecting to the proposal, resident Emma Binks said: “Our house already shudders when trucks pass daily, we do not need more trucks using Dalton as a short cut through. Also we have an issue with speeding traffic, so the roads will become more dangerous for our children.”

Another resident, Matthew Fleming, said despite the firm’s assurances that lorry drivers would not pass through the village, he believed they would still use the roads through the village to access the A19 south of Thirsk. He said: “We already have issues with HGVs using the village as a shortcut to the industrial estate, which they should not be doing.”

Nevertheless, while planning officers agreed that the additional traffic on had “potential to cause additional noise and pollution to properties near to the site”, they said the impact could be reduced by the creation of an access linking to Eldmire Lane in place of the proposed access to Dalton Lane.

Officers added the impacts upon the landscape and ecology could also be mitigated through the use of an access to Eldmire Lane and so avoiding the removal of trees that provide important screening for short range views of the site.

Recommending the scheme be granted due to the benefits it would produce, the officers’ report to the committee concludes: “The development would enable the growth of a local business, creating additional jobs in the business and supporting the agricultural economy.”