Plans for first ‘super’ timber sawmill in Wales could deliver 30 jobs
Plans to create the first “super” timber sawmill in Wales could see an extra 30 jobs created in Powys.
A planning application has been lodged with Powys County Council by David Burd of BSW for two new buildings and associated works to be built at their sawmill near Newbridge-on-Wye.
The village is five miles from Llandrindod Wells.
The two new buildings and associated works would allow BSW to increase their log input capacity from 200,000 cubic metres (m3) to 360,000 cubic metres.
The scheme would take the number of workers at the saw mill up to 145 from 115.
The buildings would be gross inside area of 820 square metres and 1640 square metres.
Planning agent, Dylan Green of Asbri Planning Ltd explained the proposal in a number of documents lodged to support the application.
Mr Green said: “The location of the two new buildings will be within the grounds of the existing operations and will allow a more efficient means of working.
“A new drop sorter building, and a new operations building is proposed which will increase the capacity and productivity of the business, creating the first super mill in Wales.
“The primary operations building will contain sawmill machinery, chippers, bandsaw and circular saws that will convey partially converted round logs to the existing sawmill.
“The drop sorter building will be an extension to the existing sawmill to provide additional sorting and stacking facilities to process
the increased production volumes.
“The buildings will be constructed in composite profile metal cladding with metal flashing in order to assimilate into the existing buildings
on-site.”
The proposal shows that the sawmill has “extant” planning permission for new buildings which were approved by the council back in 2014.
This means that the company could implement this existing permission and build facilities including a primary operations building and drop sorter as well as others for different processes in timber production.
These were not built at the time due to the prevailing economic conditions.
The new application is for bigger buildings than those that were approved in 2014.
Mr Green said: “Both buildings will be constructed on an existing area of hardstanding, associated with the operations at the sawmill.
“The position and orientation of the buildings will be dictated by their functional requirements to serve in a way which will enable them to
tie into the existing buildings on-site.”
Disserth and Trecoed community council have discussed the application and support it.
A decision on the application is expected by July 21.
By BBC LDRS
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