Silverlake seeks legal recognition for long-standing land use
A series of planning applications has been submitted to Hampshire County Council seeking to confirm the lawful use of land at a car recycling site in Shedfield, which the company says has been in continuous operation for more than a decade.
The five applications ask the council to recognise the use of the land as lawful under planning rules, which would prevent any future enforcement action at Silverlake Automotive Recycling centre located off Botley Road.
Four of the bids relate to individual buildings: the workshop, door and panel store, tyre bay and the quality control building, and parts store, each seeking confirmation that the structures are legally established. A fifth application seeks to regularise the use of the land itself, confirming it has been continuously used for motor salvage operations for more than ten years.
Documents submitted to the council indicate the land has been in continuous use since at least September 2014, including for staff parking and operational yard space. Silverlake says aerial photographs and a statutory declaration from its managing director demonstrate uninterrupted activity, meaning the use is now lawful under national planning rules.
If approved, the Lawful Development Certificates would formally confirm the legality of the land and buildings, preventing the council from taking enforcement action in the future. The applications come amid ongoing local concern over the scale of Silverlake’s operations and the plans to expand the site.
Residents and Curdridge Parish Council have previously raised objections regarding traffic, noise, and the impact on the rural character of the area. More information can be found on the Hampshire County Council planning portal.