Newport company’s plan to improve productivity and cut gas deliveries given green light

A company’s plan to improve productivity at its Newport factory has been given the go ahead by council planners.

Hollinbrow Precision Products (UK) Ltd specialises in creating metal products from 0.005mm to 3.0mm in thickness for use in various markets including automotive.

The company based at Ni Park had applied to install a nitrogen storage tank onto a concrete base to replace a less efficient way of getting the gas onto the site.

Nitrogen gas makes up some 78 per cent of the Earth’s atmosphere, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US.

Planning agent Central Design Consultants, based at Sedgley, near Dudley, had told planners that nitrogen gas is used in laser cutting.

The company had been receiving nitrogen with portable gas vessels linked together on a mobile stillage.

“By installing a bulk nitrogen gas vessel the applicant business will enhance productivity to meet their client needs,” the agent wrote.

It will also reduce the number of vehicles making deliveries.

The agent concluded: “In summary the proposal is to minimise disruption to production which in turn will ensure UK manufactured end products remain cost efficient within a market that is being flooded with inferior quality shims from foreign markets.”

The company had been told that its plans were not permitted development and needed an application to be lodged.

Planners have now ruled that the proposals are acceptable and remain in keeping with the character and appearance of the site and its surrounding area.

“By virtue of the nature of the proposal, the works are also not considered to result in significantly detrimental harm upon the amenity of neighbouring sites or uses,” planners wrote.

Planners added that no comments or objections had been received from neighbouring properties.