Plans to replace burned-down industrial building in Herefordshire
The Paragon Laundry building expected to be built like-for-like if plans go ahead
Plans are under way to replace a Herefordshire industrial building destroyed by fire two years ago.
Robert Stevens has applied for planning permission to rebuild what was the Paragon Laundry on the Overross industrial estate north of Ross-on-Wye on a like-for-like basis.
The resulting metal-and-blockwork-clad building would then “be available to provide employment opportunities and help support Ross-on-Wye’s economy”, his application says.
The previous workplace, run by national firm Clean Linen Services, had stood for 19 years and employed around 120 workers, working on a near round-the-clock basis laundering for hotels and restaurants in the area.
Clean has since relocated to a nearby premises on the estate, and confirmed it is not involved in the redevelopment of its previous site.
Thankfully no one was injured, nor were neighbouring buildings damaged, in the fire of May 2 2022, which took the assistance of neighbouring fire services to put out.
The replacement building would measure 60 by 31 metres, with a mezzanine floor giving a floorspace of nearly 2,400 square metres, and a maximum ridge height of 10 metres.
Ross-on-Wye town council has backed the new building, but asked that noise from it should be reduced in comparison with its predecessor, while lighting “should be warm in colour, with minimal overspill”.
Similarly, neighbouring Brampton Abbotts & Foy group parish council said its parish previously “suffered as a result of both noise and light pollution from the site”.
It felt the off-white colour of the previous building “was not appropriate, and this planning application provides the opportunity to ensure that a more camouflaged effect is achieved”, it added.
Herefordshire Council planners expect to decide on the application by June 17.