GREEN Belt land opposite Hounslow Heath, parts of which have been used as an illegal dumping ground for years, could become a recycling plant.
St Albans Farm, in Staines Road, was a sand and gravel pit during the 30s and 40s, but since the 60s has been home to a variety of industrial businesses, often operating without approval from Hounslow Council.
Although civic centre chiefs have taken enforcement action against a number of the firms based there, some of these illegal users were allowed to continue unchecked for so long they have become immune to planning control.
However, the site, next to the Fairway industrial estate, could be set for a major overhaul after developers announced plans to turn the ramshackle collection of about a dozen different plots into a purpose-built recycling centre.
If approved, the new centre would be a 'stadium-type' design of up to two storeys, with trees shielding it from the road and neighbouring fields.
According to a report by council planning officers, the site falls within the designated metropolitan Green Belt, meaning industrial use would not usually be allowed under the council's unitary development plan.
In 2008, the Planning Inspectorate ruled in favour of the council following an appeal over an enforcement notice given to one of the businesses on the site.
In his ruling, the inspector said: "I take the view that the grant of a permanent planning permission in this case would do very substantial harm to an important and vulnerable area of Green Belt."
However, despite dismissing another appeal last January, the inspector showed 'considerable encouragement' towards a complete redevelopment of the site.
The enforcement investigation by the council is continuing, pending the outcome of the current application.
The proposal was due to be discussed at a meeting of the central Hounslow area committee (planning) last night (Thursday) before a decision is made by the sustainable development committee at a later date.
Brian Shrubshall, development manager for applicants Ian David Ltd, said the new plant would restore a significant amount of Green Belt land, through landscaping, to what has essentially become a 'brown field' site.
He added that the site already recycled 96 per cent of material taken there and the new centre would be much more efficient, allowing more waste to be recycled in the borough.
"Bringing it all within one stadium will keep the noise and dust inside.
"This will be good for the town in terms of recycling and visually it will look much better," he said.
