6 hours Ago By [email protected] (Chris Binding)
South Tyneside Council has given the green light for a major manufacturing firm to expand its operations in South Tyneside . The council's Planning Committee approved plans from Feller UK Ltd to extend its base in South Shields , located off Heddon Way in the Middlefields Industrial Estate, during a meeting this week. The company, which describes itself as a "world leader in design and manufacture of international power cables and cord sets" on its website, operates four manufacturing sites worldwide, including locations in the UK and USA.
It began its UK operations in 1987 with production facilities and a sales office based in South Shields. In 2023, the company sought planning permission from South Tyneside Council to build an extension to an existing warehouse unit and to provide a larger service yard area. According to council planning documents, the extension would add "a floorspace of 1278m2 which would bring the total floorspace of the unit to 4178m2", bringing the total floorspace of the unit to 4178m2.
The proposal also included sustainable drainage in the form of a "swale and underground cellular storage" adjacent to and beneath the extended service yard. Council planning officers noted that the extension would offer "additional storage facilities" and would enable the company to stay at the site, thereby securing and retaining around 50 jobs. As part of a standard section 106 legal agreement in the planning process, the applicant agreed to make a financial contribution to the council to offset ecology and biodiversity impacts.
The council has reportedly provided around £27,000 towards "off-site habitat creation and enhancement", with councillors insisting that the funds should be used within the local area. The plans were put forward for discussion and decision at a meeting of the council’s Planning Committee on Monday, December 16, at South Shields Town Hall. Some councillors on the committee raised concerns about surface water drainage, given the site’s close proximity to the Tyne Dock area which faces flooding issues during heavy rainfall.
Council planners, responding, said a ‘sustainable urban drainage system’ scheme on the site would help “hold back the water” and discharge it at an “acceptable rate” into existing sewers. Councillor Shirley Ford also raised concerns about external lighting at the site impacting wildlife given its location, and asked whether an illuminated storage area could be moved to a different part of the site. Council planning officers said these changes could affect the operation of the site, which had been designed with the manoeuvring of vehicles in mind, including HGVs.
Councillor Andrew Guy described the plan as a “great scheme” and welcomed a business based in South Tyneside “expanding its operations”. Councillor Joan Keegan said the plan would help maintain jobs at the site and could potentially allow the business to expand its workforce in future. Councillor Paul Brenen added: “I welcome the application and think it will be great for the area with the employment and the expansion of the business.
“I do share some concerns about the flooding as well but overall, I’m happy with the [planning officer’s] reply in regards to that and I think it will be great for the area.” After being put to the vote, the plans were approved in line with the recommendation of council planning officers. A report published ahead of the meeting said the development was “acceptable in principle, and in terms of its impact upon visual amenity, highway safety, biodiversity, residential amenity, drainage and flooding and land contamination subject to conditions.
” The planning permission is subject to the “completion of a legal agreement to ensure that some off-site habitat creation/enhancement is provided for that, together with the on-site habitat creation/enhancement proposed, would provide for a net gain in biodiversity.” For more information on the planning application or council decision, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: ST/0721/23/FUL Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone. To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device.
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