Celsa Manufacturing, Cardiff Plant
On behalf of Celsa Manufacturing UK , the largest manufacturers of steel reinforcement in the UK, Boyer has gained full planning permission for a new reheat furnace, comprising a new 60m-high furnace stack, water treatment plant and electrical control building.
Allowing Celsa to increase the plant’s efficiency and potential capacity at a time when other steel manufacturers continue to significantly scale back their workforce in the UK.
Planning permission had previously been granted for the development in November 2008, but subsequently expired in 2013. Since then, there has been a number of significant changes of both local and national planning policy, as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. This was especially relevant due to the potential for land contamination given the prevalence of heavy industry in the area, as well as proximity to the Severn Estuary SSSI.
Boyer ‘s Cardiff office successfully screened out the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment, despite the highly visual and potentially controversial nature of the proposals, and obtained swift, delegated approval from Council Officers, despite some concerns regarding the potential for leeching of heavy metals and other contaminants in the soil.