PLANS for an asphalt plant “as tall as five double-decker buses” to be built in the York Green Belt have been turned down.

Tynedale Roadstone Ltd applied for planning permission to build the structure at Hessay Industrial Estate. The site would produce asphalt for surfacing companies.

But City of York Council officers said the proposals should be refused because the site is in the Green Belt.

A number of residents objected to the plans at a council meeting on Thursday.

Farmer Roger Hildreth said his family has farmed the land in the area for 130 years and raised concerns about the effect of the plant on his dairy herd. He said: “If the proposed application is built it will result in our farm closing. It’s one of only two dairy farms in York.”

Resident Steve Mills said: “It’s amazing that the applicant paints a completely unrecognisable picture of their proposal and of Hessay. This development is five double-decker buses tall.”

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy also spoke against the application, saying it would have a “significant and detrimental impact” on the community.

But Anthea Tate, the agent for the applicant, said the scheme had been recommended for approval in August 2017, although it was never discussed or decided on by the council’s planning committee.

She said: “This proposal will see a significant £3 million investment and provide eight to 10 permanent jobs.

“The committee report today gives a single ground for refusal, which is inconsistent with officers' historic reasoning on the point. There is no evidence to support this, we think this is unreasonable and unjustified.”

Cllr Janet Looker, a member of the planning committee, said it was unclear why an industrial development could not be built on an existing industrial site.

She said: “I do find it odd that there was a recommendation to approve it a couple of years ago. It’s an industrial estate next door to a sewage works. I will abstain on this one, I am not persuaded.”

Cllr Nigel Ayre said: “It does come down to the Green Belt issue and very special circumstances, and that is the robust reason for refusing the application. It will have a detrimental impact on the Green Belt.”

The councillors on the planning committee voted for the application to be refused and the result was met with applause from some members of the public.