A LONGTOWN haulage firm is hoping to build a new wagon wash facility at its Townfoot site.

Wm Armstrong Longtown has applied to Cumberland Council for permission for the facility, which includes a canopy, at the 450 square metre site.

It is proposed that it would be placed at an part of the site which is currently used to house the company's haulage vehicles.

According to the planning application, the walls would be made from vertical metal cladding in goosewing grey with concrete blockwork and the roof would be made from trapezoidal roofing in goosewing grey.

The application states: "A sustainable wash facility for livestock transport vehicles. The facility will run on recycled water collected from the roof.

"The facility will also collect the water when the wash is in operation, this will be achieved through a sloping concrete floor which will divert the water back into the collection system where it will then be filtered and cleaned for future use.

"The facility will also collect solid waste from the haulage vehicles, this will also be collected and stored in a separator tower and later transported to an off-site facility."

The site, which is located off the A7 at Longtown within a quiet industrial complex with both the River Esk and the M6 nearby, is currently used for the storage of wagons.

A planning document states: "The appearance of the building will be of a high-quality modern finish. The elevations will consist primarily of vertical composite cladding as well as transparent cladding that will allow natural light to pass through.

"The use/positioning of materials within the design has been carefully chosen to minimise the building's prominence, the break between materials allows for a softer aesthetic and the distinction/separation between front and rear access."

The report summarises that the proposed facility will enable wagons carrying livestock to be maintained to a high standard and cleaned to Animal & Plant Health Agency - C&D requirements.

It adds: "In addition, the new facility will increase the company's energy efficiency and reduce its overall fuel consumption by eliminating the need to travel to external facilities to carry out the cleaning and disinfection process."