Axis provided planning, transport, and landscape support to Veolia for the comprehensive redevelopment of the Perry Barr Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and Waste Transfer Station (WTS) in Birmingham.
The project replaced ageing infrastructure with a modern, purpose-built facility, improving operational efficiency, access, waste separation, and recycling provision.
The redeveloped site provides a WTS with capacity of approximately 170,000 tonnes per annum, alongside a HWRC capable of handling approximately 20,000 tonnes per annum.
The project involved the complete redevelopment of an established waste management site while maintaining essential operations throughout construction.
Located within a complex urban environment, close to residential and industrial uses, the site also presented important access and transport considerations. The existing arrangement shared access between members of the public using the HWRC and operational waste vehicles, creating the potential for conflict and queuing onto the surrounding highway network.
A carefully phased approach was therefore required to enable the existing infrastructure to be replaced without disrupting waste management services, while addressing the transport, environmental, and operational implications of the redevelopment.
Axis supported the project from pre-application through to planning permission and the subsequent discharge of conditions, working closely with Veolia, Birmingham City Council, and the wider project team.
Our planning team helped establish the consenting strategy and coordinate the technical assessments required to support the application, addressing matters including transport, noise, air quality, landscape and visual effects, ecology, arboriculture, archaeology, and ground conditions.
Axis also prepared the Transport Assessment and Travel Plan. A key element of the proposals was the introduction of separate accesses for the WTS and HWRC, reducing potential conflict between operational vehicles and members of the public. Increased off-highway waiting and manoeuvring capacity was also incorporated to minimise the potential for queuing onto Holford Drive.
The development was planned across five phases, enabling the WTS to remain operational during construction and ensuring continuity of this important waste management service.
Planning permission was secured in April 2021, with Axis continuing to support the project through the discharge of planning conditions and into delivery.
The completed redevelopment provides a modern, more efficient waste management facility with improved access and vehicle movements, greater recycling provision, and an improved experience for members of the public.
By combining planning, transport, and landscape expertise with a carefully considered phasing strategy, Axis helped enable the transformation of a live operational site while maintaining essential waste services throughout the redevelopment.