Silverlake plans to keep temporary buildings set to be approved

The retrospective planning application, submitted to Hampshire County Council, seeks permission for two structures already built at Silverlake Automotive recycling in Botley Road, Shedfield.

The buildings were erected in March 2025 and January 2024 and according to the application, the buildings will remain in place until Silverlake secures permanent approval to expand its operations.

The company says the new facilities are needed to cope with a rising demand for car disposal.

The buildings provide covered areas for vetting and dismantling End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs), offering better working conditions and meeting fire safety requirements.

The Parts Removal Building measures about 22.5 metres by 8.2 metres, while the Vehicle Vetting Building is a 15-by-15 metre canopied structure with a maximum height of 7.74 metres.

Together they provide around 225 square metres of additional workspace.

However, the council received 38 objections, including one from Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes.

Mr Holmes said that approving the application could create a “planning precedent,” meaning other proposals for the site might not receive proper scrutiny.

He said: “This application is seeking retrospective permission for buildings which have already been constructed. It would be better to have this all decided in the outline planning permission also submitted.”

He also raised concerns about the size and community impact of the buildings, saying that “no community consultation took place before construction.”

Mr Holmes added: “I do think that this application should be taken by the Regulatory Committee having looked properly at the proposed site and unless this application does not have an impact on the other more substantial application’s assessment further down the line, it should be rejected and enforced.”

Curdridge Parish Council has also objected, raising concerns about noise from vehicle dismantling, increased lighting, and the potential impact on local amenity.

The parish council said: “The application represents inappropriate development in the countryside that is not supported by planning policy.

“It relies on irrelevant taxation arguments, fails to assess or mitigate its environmental and amenity impacts, and would materially harm the rural character of the area.”

One resident, Jo Burrows, urged the council to not grant permission.

Mrs Burrows said: “Local people living near this site who are impacted by their constant traffic and noise of their increasing expansion were not consulted.

“The precedence of not following planning procedures and pushing neighbours into accepting what they do without following rules should be looked at.”

Another resident, Matthew Day, said: “It is deeply saddening to see the willful disregard for established planning laws and regulations demonstrated by Silverlake and this application.

“The very fact that Silverlake have put up buildings without permission and only afterwards are retrospective planning applications being submitted is concerning for a business that operates in an industry that is heavily regulated in the UK.

“I also believe that this action undermines trust in our local planning process.”

Hampshire County Council’s Regulatory Committee is due to decide on the retrospective application on Wednesday, October 29.