A NEW planning application has gone in concerning a composting plant in Hallen.

New Earth Solution, the company behind the application, have said the amendment is necessary to allow them to use the latest technology in composting.

The in3vessel composting facility at Willow Farm, Hallen, was granted planning permission by South Gloucestershire Council last December.

However, in this new application New Earth Solution is asking that the height of the composting hall be increased to 12 metres, which is just over 39 ft.

The building will still be lower than the new reception building that is also to be built on the site, which stands at 13 metres.

Ted Bleszynski, planning director for New Earth Solution, said: "This would allow us to use the newest model of the windrow turner, which has been designed with a higher cab requiring more headroom in the building.

"We also want to install a slowly rotating drum to gently breakdown the heavy cardboard that is being collected with green and kitchen waste. The cardboard is then more easily composted and does not need re-shredding and sending through the system again. The drum is fed via an overhead hopper and a higher internal roof would make loading easier."

When complete the facility in Hallen will handle 50,000 tonnes of green waste a year, 30,000 tonnes of which would come from Bristol.

For more information about the application visit, www.southglos.gov.uk