The Distington Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Cumbria, UK, serves a number of purposes.
As a replacement for the Distington landfill site, it recovers recyclable materials and then acts to bulk up and prepare waste for efficient haulage to processing facilities. Securing the planning permission for the Distington MRF was challenging. It was a greenfield site located to the south of the former aluminium works with the potential for contamination. The proposal involved several large buildings visible from a number of viewpoints. We prepared a persuasive planning case for the location of the facility with reference to operational benefits of its proximity to, and direct access from, the adjacent landfill site. We also prepared a series of photomontages, including the progress of planting schemes over the years following planting. Contamination was addressed through a combination of desktop assessment and conditions attached to the planning permission.