Film studio works to force salt store move
BBCWorks on a major film studio mean a council is having to shift one of its winter salt stores.
Sunderland City Council has submitted an application to its own planning department to relocate its salt store for the east of the city, at Shorts Quay, as it is currently on the proposed Crown Works Film Studios development.
It is seeking permission to move it to an empty Beach Street site in Deptford, which was previously used as a waste recycling centre.
Submitted plans described the new development as a "proposed salt heap", 34ft (10.4m) in height, to be used help keep roads safe during the winter period.
Plans for the Crown Works Studios project on the banks of the River Wear were given the green light last year with hopes of creating more than 8,000 jobs.
The council is only applying for a temporary change of use for the Beach Street depot, for a "maximum of five years", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
7,000 tonnes of salt
The local authority's primary salt store is in Houghton, according to a transport statement submitted to council planners.
It was noted that an additional salt store was needed for the east of the city, in case vehicles could not get through Houghton cut in the snow.
The transport statement added: "To stock the initial salt heap, it is anticipated that there will be a maximum of 175 deliveries of salt during late summer months with a maximum total delivery volume of 7,000 tonnes of salt.
"These operations would be carried out during daytime hours over a two-week period."
A decision on the planning application is expected to be made following a council consultation.
The council's planning portal website lists a decision deadline of 4 August.