A proposal to expand an industrial recycling site in Sheffield has been recommended for approval by the city’s planning committee, despite opposition from residents and local politicians. The application, submitted by Blue Phoenix UK, seeks to extend the aggregate recycling facility at Beeley Wood Recycling Village, located on Beeley Wood Lane, Middlewood.

The planned extension involves a 3.5-hectare land parcel at the north-western end of the Claywheels Lane industrial estate. The proposal includes the construction of a new processing building, as well as an increase in operating hours, waste processing capacity, and stockpile heights.

The planning and development committee at Sheffield City Council is set to decide on the application next week (April 29). The proposed expansion has raised concerns among local residents regarding its potential environmental and logistical impact.

Plans for a major redevelopment of the former Rentokil site on Cemetery Road in Bradford have been approved, paving the way for a mixed-use commercial scheme targeted at business and industrial occupiers.

The project, proposed by ISA Industrial Park Ltd, includes eight industrial or business units, three drive-thru restaurant or café spaces, an electric vehicle charging and filling station, and an associated convenience store. The site has been vacant for over a decade.

While end-users have not been confirmed, the developer has indicated that there is interest from several national brands across food service and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. The location’s proximity to Bradford’s Outer Ring Road was cited as key to the site’s commercial viability, particularly for the drive-thru elements and the volume of vehicle traffic required.

Bradford Council granted planning permission despite objections from the public health department regarding the inclusion of multiple drive-thru units close to a nearby school. Planners classified the proposed units as restaurants with drive-thru facilities rather than takeaways, aligning with existing local policy.

The development team also addressed concerns over HGV access by committing to several highway upgrades. These include widening Northside Road, installing new signal controls at a key junction, and removing an existing pedestrian crossing to improve traffic flow.

To meet biodiversity obligations, the developer will introduce on-site landscaping, install a green roof on one building, and contribute £416,500 towards wildlife enhancement projects elsewhere in the district.

Plans for a new discount store in a former Barclays Bank building in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, have been approved, despite concerns over its impact on the local conservation area. The Yorkshire Trading Company will open a branch in the building located at Market Place, with a 5,860 sq ft extension added at the rear and two flats to be constructed on the first floor.

The proposal faced objections from planning officers, who raised concerns about the potential harm to the conservation area and the effect on a nearby residential property. Historic England also expressed reservations about the project. However, Thirsk Town Council supported the redevelopment, citing its potential to revitalise the site and provide much-needed housing.

Local leaders, including North Yorkshire Council’s deputy leader, highlighted the benefits of the development, including job creation and preventing the building from deteriorating further. Modifications to the original plans were made following feedback from a previous planning meeting.

Councillors voted in favour of the project, with some believing the economic benefits would outweigh the potential impact on the conservation area.

Anglian Water plans to build a major reservoir in Lincolnshire, with construction potentially beginning in 2031, pending regulatory approval. The proposed site is located south of Sleaford, near the villages of Scredington and Burton Pedwardine.

The project aims to secure long-term water supply for approximately 750,000 homes across the region. If approved, it would result in the flooding of around five square kilometres of land and the loss of at least 15 homes and farms.

Initial survey work is set to begin shortly, although Anglian Water has clarified that this does not mark the start of construction. The utility provider is continuing to develop its plans to submit a formal application in 2028 through the development consent order process.

The proposal has received political support, including from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, signaling broader government interest in strengthening the UK’s water infrastructure. For B2B stakeholders, the project represents a significant opportunity across construction, engineering, environmental consultancy, and utility supply chains.