32ft tall liquid nitrogen storage tank plan approved in Telford
Planners give permission for a fruit processing and packaging company's application for frozen liquid tank in Newport
A fruit processing and packing company has been given planning permission for a ‘sizable’ 32 ft (10m) tall liquid nitrogen storage tank at its Newport base.
Planning officers at Telford & Wrekin Council decided that the scale and design of the storage tank is acceptable given the wider context of its surroundings in the Audley Avenue Enterprise Park.
Newport Town Council had asked borough planners to address regulatory issues “in greater detail” given that the site is close to an army cadet base and Burton Borough School.
Planners wrote: “Overall, they (the town council) state they would be more comfortable supporting the application if these aspects were addressed in greater detail, potentially as part of planning conditions.”
But planners stated in their decision that liquid nitrogen tanks in the UK are regulated primarily through workplace safety and pressure equipment legislation and not through planning conditions.
They concluded that planning decisions should be on whether proposed development is an acceptable use of land, rather than the control of processes.
“Planning decisions should assume that these regimes will operate effectively,” they wrote.
“Therefore, given the other regulatory controls that are applicable, no conditions regarding the operation of the storage are deemed necessary.”
Planners recorded that the applicant’s business involves fruit and vegetable processing and packaging and a common application for liquid nitrogen is for the freezing and transporting of food products.
“At 10 metres high the proposed storage tank is a sizable feature,” planners noted.
“However, in its proposed siting in close proximity to the Audley Avenue Enterprise Park building it would not be significantly higher than the multi ridgeline height of the building.
“Furthermore, it is set back away from public views from Audley Avenue and screened by a line of mature coniferous trees that separate the site with the Army Cadet Centre and Burton Borough School to the east.
“Accordingly, officers are of the view that that the scale and design of the proposed storage tank is are acceptable with the wider context of its surroundings.”
The company had told planners that the liquid nitrogen storage tank would facilitate the rapid chilling of fruit to prolong shelf life.
A nearby resident had lodged an objection over the location of the tank and its proximity to their house.
But planners noted that the objector “appears to have made their comments on the basis that the proposed storage tank is being located next to the electricity sub station between Nova House and the Audley Avenue Enterprise Park building.
“This is not the case as the tank is proposed to located on the eastern side of the Audley Avenue Enterprise Park building meaning the building would be between the tank and the objector’s property.”
They concluded that the works are not considered to result in significantly detrimental harm upon the amenity of neighbours.
Nitrogen is gas with no colour or taste, forms most of the earth’s atmosphere, and is a part of all living things. It has a boiling point of about −196 °C.