Plan approved to replace burned-down Herefordshire building

Robert Stevens had applied for planning permission to rebuild what was the Paragon Laundry on a site on the Overross industrial estate north of Ross-on-Wye on a like-for-like basis, for general industrial or storage and distribution use.

The previous workplace, run by national firm Clean Linen Services, had worked on a near round-the-clock basis laundering for hotels and restaurants in the area, employing around 120 staff.

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But the company is not involved in redeveloping the two-acre site, having since moved to a new premises elsewhere on the estate.

The replacement building proposed by Mr Stevens will measure 60 by 31 metres, with a mezzanine floor giving a floorspace of nearly 2,400 square metres, and a maximum ridge height of 10 metres.

Concerns had been raised by landscape and ecology officers and local councillors over the materials and external lighting used in the proposed building.

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Planning officer Heather Carlisle concluded that though the site lies within the Wye Valley National Landscape, it “is not considered to be in a sensitive nor in a prominent location” and the plan would be “appropriate for an edge-of-town setting”.

It would be expected to “have no greater implications for noise generation or nuisance” than its predecessor.

Meanwhile conditions with the planning permission requiring prior approval of external lighting and building materials “should alleviate concerns” on these, she added.

A further condition requires approval of a travel plan to promote sustainable transport for future staff and visitors.