Cheshire East looks set to get the go-ahead to expand the car park at its environmental services hub in Middlewich to accommodate extra staff needed when the weekly food waste recycling service is introduced.

The council is seeking permission for a new 84-space car park on vacant hardstanding between Cledford Lane and Faulkner Drive to provide parking for new employees who will take up the jobs created by the weekly service, which is due to start in the autumn.

A new single-storey security lodge is also proposed to the west of the new parking area, and the council also wants permission to relocate a bin store.

A report from a Cheshire East planning officer to next week's meeting of the strategic planning board (SPB) says: "The applicant states that there is a need for additional car parking spaces in order to provide a weekly food waste collection service for residents and to increase the efficiency of the existing waste management facility.

"All councils are now required to provide a new food waste collection service to meet the simpler recycling law change linked to the Environment Act 2021 and this comes in force from 2026/-27 onwards.

"It is anticipated that 50 to 60 new permanent positions would be created to deliver food waste recycling due to each HGV delivering this additional waste collection requiring a three-person crew which increases demand for employee parking.

"The applicant also notes that in April 2025 the number of employees with a formal base at the site had increased above the 2015 forecast of 400 to 478, which has already increased pressure on staff parking availability."

The application has been recommended for approval, subject to a financial contribution of £176,000 towards the Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

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The SPB next week will also consider a separate application from Cheshire East to vary a condition in relation to vehicle movements to the hub on Cledford Lane.

At present the total number associated with the hub is restricted to a maximum of 1,066 a day – 533 in, 533 out.

A maximum of 344 of these can be HGVs – 172 in, 172 out.

This was conditioned in the 2015 planning permission.

The council now wants to increase this to a maximum of 1,330 a day (665 in, 665 out) on any one day, with no more than 398 HGVs – 199 in, 199 out.

That variation of condition is also recommended for approval.

The strategic planning board meeting takes place at Crewe Municipal Buildings on Wednesday, May 27, at 10.30am.

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