Plans for a new lorry washing facility in Brandon have been given the go-ahead despite concerns.

Members of West Suffolk’s development control committee met on Wednesday to discuss plans for the installation of a lorry wash and driver facilities space in Richmond Road, on the Brandon industrial estate.

Plans on behalf of applicant Nathan Byford, of BYF Transport, said the empty land would be repurposed to provide economic growth for the town.

The facility would accommodate up to five lorries at any one time and only be used by the company.

It was estimated that between 15 to 25 lorries would use the facilities per week, stretching to 30 during peak times.

Concerns were raised by the town council and ward member Cllr Victor Lukaniuk about the impacts of the plans on the environment and HGV movements.

He said:  “[The report] clearly states this scheme, if it succeeds, will cater strictly for the applicant’s trucks and not intended for commercial use — if you believe that, you believe anything.

“We as a council no longer resort to landfill and the same criteria must be applied to all lorry wash facilities. This is a polluting facility ready to go into action unless we act on it.

“Yet another HGV scheme for Brandon that will add to our misery.”

Cllr Lukaniuk also said two businesses within the industrial estate had raised serious issues but did not share these publicly.

Matt Sawyer, the applicant’s architect, said the plans would ‘categorically reduce’ HGV movements as they would not need to send the lorries to Bury St Edmunds to be washed.

He added: “The thinking behind the land purchase and this application is a desire to bring things closer to home and reduce unnecessary back and forth across the county.

“It might not be, and is certainly not, a massive operation but there will be a material benefit in increasing employment locally and the virtuous circle that comes from supporting small local businesses.”

Mr Sawyer said there would not be increased HGVs within the town centre as most lorries would be coming from the Midlands and elsewhere in the country and not go through the town.

Several other concerns were raised by members about the chemicals that would be used to wash the lorries, but officers said any hazardous materials would need separate permission to be used.

Committee members approved the application with 10 votes for, three against, and one abstention.