More than 100,000 tonnes of waste could be processed at a High Wycombe rubbish tip after the council backed plans to build a new biowaste transfer station this morning.

The new single-storey station at High Heavens Recycling Centre in Clay Lane could welcome 107,306 tonnes of waste per year by 2038, as the population across Bucks continues to rise.

Today (July 2), Bucks County Council’s development control committee gave plans the green light.

However there is still another hurdle yet to clear, as the proposals will be presented to the department of communities, housing and local government for final approval.

As well as the new waste building, the plans include the refurbishment of the existing BCC office and a 26-space car park.

The development will change the way the rubbish dump operates – as green and bulky waste will be processed under one roof, rather than three separate outdoor locations within the site.

Processing the waste inside is expected to reduce dust, noise and odour emissions.

The site is located within the AONB and Green Belt, however the contractors insist the plans present the “very special circumstances” required to develop protected land – such as the need to sustainably manage waste and the benefits of managing waste inside a building.

BCC officer, Catherine Kelham, admitted there would be a “short term impact” on the protected land as construction take place, prompting calls to plant greenery around the building.

Cllr Barbara Gibbs said: “I noticed that Natural England suggested if this were to be granted permission, there should be lots more green planting around the buildings to soften the outlines and make them more acceptable more quickly, because in the short term there is a problem with the AONB, even though longer term there isn’t.”

Ms Kelham confirmed a landscaping and ecological management plan will be required as part of the development to ensure its impact on the Green Belt is reduced.

The development would also see an increase in HGV traffic to and from the site, however this is set to be limited to 128 two-way journeys per day.

BCC received one objection to the plans from a resident, who raised concerns over increased noise and pollution on Cressex Road for nearby residents.

However Ms Kelham added Wycombe District Council’s environmental health officers confirmed the pollution from HGVs would be “negligible”, while BCC highways insisted the roads roads will be able to cope with the increase in traffic.