North Somerset Council is preparing to invest in a major new recycling centre and waste depot in Weston-super-Mare, with preliminary costs estimated at £56 million. The move responds to the impending lease expiry of the council’s current waste depot and the inadequacy of the existing household waste recycling centre for long-term use.
A recent council report highlights that the waste depot is located on leased land, with the lease set to end on 28 July 2028. Council officers have expressed concerns that securing a replacement depot within this timeframe is unlikely, warning that interim contingency arrangements would significantly increase costs.
At a scheduled meeting on 8 September, councillors will be asked to authorise £2.5 million for the design and planning stages of the new facility. This initial phase will provide a comprehensive and updated estimate of the total project cost before full funding is sought.
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Projected costs break down as follows: £9.3 million for the recycling centre itself; £29.4 million for the accompanying waste transfer station; and £16.8 million for the transport and operations hub. Additional expenses, including fees and project management, are expected to amount to approximately £550,000.
Potential funding sources under consideration include cost reductions at existing waste centres, enhanced revenue from recyclable material sales, utilisation of government waste grants, and borrowing options.
The planned site for the new facility is likely to be the Avoncrest former landfill, situated near Weston-super-Mare’s current recycling centre. Council officers have stressed the urgency of delivering the new depot swiftly to maintain the continuity of waste services.
The report concludes: “It is imperative that the depot is delivered as quickly as possible.” Officials recommend that councillors endorse the commissioning plan to advance development of a new waste depot encompassing all North Somerset Environmental Contract waste operations alongside a new Household Waste Recycling Centre for Weston-super-Mare and approve the capital programme increase of £2.5 million to initiate the project.