A food manufacturing giant says it has ‘paused’ demolition work after being refused planning permission to demolish a factory.
Bakkavor claims that it received approval via a ‘Section 81 notice’ before work to knock down Building H at its Holbeach St Marks building started but says a ‘subsequent planning related application’ was refused.
On December 6, South Holland District Council had refused an application, which had been submitted on October 30, to demolish the factory.
Bakkavor site in Holbeach St Marks
Both the council and company – which has been locked in a pay dispute with its Spalding factory workers since September – say they are ‘working together’ to find a way forward.
The firm says that not every building demolition job requires planning permission.
A spokesman said: “Bakkavor Pizza in Holbeach applied in September for permission to demolish Building H on the site – a building which has not been used since the site was purchased back in 2001.
“We have been in constant dialogue with the local authority who are supportive, and the demolition application was approved prior to the work commencing in October. It is a subsequent planning related application that has been refused, which we are working on resolving with the local authority. Until this is resolved we have paused all demolition works on site.”
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The district council’s planning officers turned down the application, using delegated authority, as the site notice failed to meet the requirements of planning orders and concerns were also raised that the development had started without permission.
Bakkavor site in Holbeach St Marks
A council spokesman said: “The council is working actively with the applicant to address the matter.”
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