Meeting: Planning Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 24/07/2008 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A2 Applications to be determined by the County Council (a) City of Durham: Change of use to Recycling Recovery Facility at the former National Coal Board Building, Tursdale, for Greencycle Plc (Retrospective Planning Application) Wear Valley District: Composting of pre-shredded green waste at former Scoby Scaur Waste Disposal Site, Newfield, near Willington for Premier Waste Management Limited Teesdale District: Composting of pre-shredded green waste at Bolam Quarry, Bolam for Premier Waste Management Ltd
FOR PLANS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS REPORT PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED PDF OR HARD COPY RECORDS HELD AT COUNTY HALL, DURHAM
Purpose of the report: To enable the Committee to determine applications for planning permission which have been received in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
City of Durham District: Change of use to Recycling Recovery Facility at the former National Coal Board building, Tursdale, for Greencyle Plc, (Retrospective Planning Application).
Background
1 The applicant is a national waste recycling firm specialising in household waste recycling and the diversion of materials away from landfill. The firm has secured kerbside contracts to collect waste from Chester-le-Street, Durham City, Derwentside, Easington and Sedgefield Councils. Recyclate recovery operations, to which this planning application relates, commenced at Tursdale Business Park on the 1st April 2008.
The Site
2 The site is part of a large existing industrial unit located towards the centre of Tursdale Business Park (see attached plan) and has a floorspace of approximately 8,000 square metres. The building was unoccupied prior to the commencement of operations by Greencyle Plc but was formerly used by the National Coal Board for heavy engineering purposes. The building is accessed via the existing industrial estate onto the A688 road.
The Proposal 3 The development involves the use of the existing building as a material Recycling Receiving Facility (RRF) that accepts collected household recyclables in both separated and co-mingled form.
4 The site accepts paper, cardboard, cans and plastics. Collected material is brought to the site using the company’s kerbsider vehicles. The material is weighed using one of three weighbridges including one recently constructed in the outside yard, and then stored in a series of bays located within the building. Co-mingled material which needs to be sorted is tipped and divided using a combination of mechanical and hand manual processes.
5 The materials are then baled (glass is placed in appropriate containers) and stored on site before final transportation to recycling centres. The majority of the recyclate is sent for processing at recycling facilities in the UK with the remainder being exported around Europe and Asia.
6 Based on the current volumes of material received at the site it is expected that approximately 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of material would be processed per annum. Recyclables are received by vehicle between approximately 9am and 9.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on a Saturday. Greencycle operate 18 kerbsiders and 4 small box tippers from the site. These are parked at the site overnight and leave on collection rounds on a daily basis from 6am. In total this would involve an average of 180 vehicle movements per day (90 in / 90 out). Processing operations are carried out on a 24 hour basis within the building although most vehicle movements take place within the core working hours of 8.00 to 6.00pm
7 Approximately 117 full-time jobs have been created as part of the development. Included within this figure are 34 members of staff that transferred from the company that previously carried out the waste contract on behalf of the District Councils.
Consultations and Representations 8
City of Durham District Council (consulted 7 April 2008) view is not yet available.
9
Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council objects to the proposals and has raised a number of concerns and perceived discrepancies in the application. These can be summarised as:
I. Concern that the application is made retrospectively.
II. It is questioned whether vehicle movements associated with the operation at times when significant commuter traffic is on the public road adjacent to the site warrants the construction of a mini roundabout at the entrance to the Tursdale Business Park. The Parish Council also note some discrepancies between the expected volumes of material to be received at the site and expected traffic movements.
III. No predictions are given in the documentation about the anticipated noise levels associated with glass shattering during the recycling process and whether sound proofing is required to minimise noise intrusion. It is also noted that ambient noise levels are not provided for vehicles using the site after 6.00pm.
IV It is queried whether there is a need for outside storage to deal with the amount of recycled material and whether the company has given serious consideration to the risk of arson given the materials involved at the site.
Comment: A letter has been sent to the Parish Council that seeks to clarify and address as appropriate the issues raised. Paragraphs 21 and 22 of the report consider traffic volumes and the Head of Highway Management’s comments in relation to the need for a new roundabout. The Environmental Health Officer at City of Durham Council has no objections to the proposal in terms of noise.
10
Cornforth Parish Council (consulted as neighbouring parish 7 April 2008) has not commented.
11
Coxhoe Parish Council (consulted as neighbouring parish 7 April 2008) has not commented. 12
The Environment Agency has no objection to the proposed change of use from a planning perspective and notes that the applicant has received an exemption for the activity from the licensing department of the Environment Agency. 13 The application has been advertised on site, in the press and neighbouring users on the industrial estate and nearby residents were notified by letter. No representations have been received.
Planning Considerations Policy Issues 14 Section 38 (6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that the determination of planning applications should be made in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Relevant policies are contained in the County Durham Waste Local Plan (April 2005) [WLP] and the City of Durham District Local Plan [DLP] (Adopted 2004).
15 PPS:10 Planning for Sustainable Waste Management provides advice and guidance in relation to more sustainable waste management, moving the management of waste up the ‘waste hierarchy’ of reduction, reuse, recycling and composting and only disposing as a last resort.
16 Though not a planning requirement there is a County Durham Local Area Agreement Target that 35% of all household waste generated in the County will be recycled or composted by the end of 2008/09. The Durham County Waste Management Strategy also notes the need for Local Authorities to increase their kerbside collections both in the number of properties served and the range of materials collected to achieve the recycling target of 30% by 2010.
17 Policies W36 and W38 of the WLP support proposals for the recovery and recycling of inert waste materials provided that they can be located on land identified for general industrial use or on previous development land in sustainable locations and fully contained within well designed buildings. Policy W33 requires waste developments to minimise any harmful impacts arising from operations. 18 DLP Policy EMP7 seeks not to prejudice the physical development of the future regional rail freight interchange proposed at Tursdale and to safeguard part of the prestige and industrial business site which abuts Leamside Line for the first phase of the rail facility. The remaining part of the allocation, including Tursdale Business Park, is reserved for future development of the Rail Freight Terminal beyond the current Plan period. The site is covered by the Plan allocation but as it involves use of an existing building would not prejudice any future proposals.
Residential and Visual Amenity 19 The nearest residential properties are located on Ramsey Street to the east of the industrial estate and approximately 110m from the existing building. Although the building can be seen from the majority of these properties it is largely screened by mature trees on the periphery of the industrial estate and an existing bund between Ramsey Street and road A688.
20 Given the location of the operations within an existing industrial unit, distance from residential properties and intervening screening, there would not be any direct affects on the amenity of surrounding residents and very little visual impact outside the industrial estate generally. The City Council’s Environmental Health Officer has no objections to the proposal and notes that the hours of operation and the loading and unloading of vehicles should be such so as not to cause a nuisance. Limits on specific activities can be regulated by planning conditions should permission be granted.
Traffic and Access 21 The industrial estate benefits from direct access to the A688 and is well connected to the strategic road network including the A1(M), (approximately 1 mile from Junction 61) and has a protected right turn lane for those vehicles arriving southbound on the A688. Current operating data indicates that an average of 66 vehicles leave and return to the site each working day (132 in total). It is predicted that this figure would increase to an average of 90 per day in and 90 out (180 in total). Whilst this would involve increased use of the junction it would be within the design capacity and should not give rise to road safety issues.
22 The Head of Highway Management is therefore satisfied that the vehicle numbers involved would not have a significant impact in traffic terms. The provision of a mini roundabout at the junction is not supported by the Head of Highway Management as this would be unsafe on a high speed road such as the A688.
Recommendation and Reasons 23 National strategies and planning policies encourage the aim of recycling and the proposal would accord with Policies W36, W38 and W33 of the County Durham Waste Local Plan. The development would also provide a significant contribution to the wider objective of dealing with household waste in a responsible way in particular the Local Area Agreement Target of recycling 35% of all household waste by 2008/09. This will increase over time and an appropriate range of facilities needs to be in place to deliver recycling requirements. 24 In detailed terms the development takes place within an existing building that has had an established general industrial use over many years. It has brought the building back into a productive use and generated new employment. From an operational viewpoint I consider that the recycling activity is being conducted in a manner that does not adversely affect residential or visual amenity, and the scheme does not impose unacceptable new pressures on the industrial estate access or the adjacent road network. Whilst accepting that the scale of operations may change to an extent, on site working and vehicle movements can be controlled by planning conditions. I therefore conclude that the development is acceptable in planning terms and
recommend that:
(i) Planning permission be granted for the material Recycling Receiving Facility for the following reason:
The use of the building would not be unduly obtrusive or adversely impact on the local community or environment, nor would it negatively impact on the surrounding road network. The proposal accords with Policies W36, W38 and W33 of the County Durham Waste Local Plan relating to the location of material Recycling Receiving Facilities and appropriate environmental mitigation measures, and Policy EMP7 of the City of Durham District Local Plan in relation to Tursdale Business Park.
(ii) Greencycle Plc are advised of the Planning Committee’s concern that the change of use of the building commenced without the benefit of planning permission and is reminded of the need to clarify and follow planning requirements about developments it intends to carry out.
No Departure Background Papers: Planning application forms and plans dated 4 April 2008 and email from Greencycle to Durham County Council 23 May 2008. Consultation letters and responses and other correspondence on the application file CMA/4/38
Contact: John Byers Tel: 0191 383 3408
Local Members: Councillors Blakey and Williams |
City of Durham District: Retrospective Planning Application for the change of use to Recycling Receiving Facility (RRF) at the former National Coal Board building, Tursdale, Durham for Greencyle Plc Wear Valley District: Composting of pre-shredded green waste at former Scoby Scaur Waste Disposal Site, Newfield, near Willington for Premier Waste Management Ltd.
Introduction 1 This proposal is one of three submitted planning applications submitted for the composting of pre-shredded green waste at closed landfill sites managed by Premier Waste Management Ltd. The other two locations are Bolam Quarry, Bolam and Coxhoe Quarry, Coxhoe. The proposals are for a temporary five year period and are intended to secure increased capacity for the composting of green waste and to take some pressure off Joint Stocks Quarry, Coxhoe, the Company’s main site for this activity, which is already at full capacity and expecting a large influx of material over the summer months.
2 The Company is currently considering other options to meet the need for green waste composting facilities in the County. These include an extension of the existing composting area at Joint Stocks and the development of larger, purpose built facilities for these operations. It will take some time to bring forward a new site or sites and the current proposals are intended to act as a stop gap until a more permanent solution is found.
3 The Environment Agency granted exemptions from waste management licensing controls (under Paragraph 12 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994) for the composting of green waste at each of the sites over two years ago and it is understood that these operations have been taking place since then, although this is not currently occurring. Planning permission was not sought as the Company believed that the activities were ancillary to the current agricultural use of the land. It is the view of the Planning Authority that this is not the case and the applications have been submitted to seek planning permission to allow composting operations to continue on site.
Planning History 4 The former Scoby Scaur Waste Disposal Site was operated by Durham County Waste Management Company. Tipping ceased in May 1998 and the site has been restored to agricultural use. The adjacent Todhills (Cobey Carr) Waste Disposal Site has recently ended tipping and is currently undergoing restoration. As part of the restoration, planning permission was granted in March 2000 for a compound containing equipment to generate electricity from landfill gas emanating from the site. Also in operation, just east of the application site is the Todhills Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) which has planning permission for its current use until 2012.
The Proposal 5 The development involves stockpiling pre-shredded green waste materials in windrows on 0.64 hectares of land located on the east side of the former landfill site not far from the Todhills HWRC (see attached plan). The material would be delivered by 40 tonne HGVs from Joint Stocks Landfill site (7 miles away) and would consist of soils and garden waste originating from household recycling centres within County Durham.
6 The material would be deposited directly on the land and laid out in rows measuring up to 75 metres in length and 4 metres in height, depending on quantities available. The green waste would be turned every two weeks by a loading shovel, to ensure that the composting process is carried out successfully. A screening procedure would also be undertaken during the turning process to remove any oversize material. The composting operation is expected to be completed within a 12 weeks period, after which the resulting compost would be spread on the former landfill site. It is anticipated that about 1,000 m3 of green waste material would be processed every 12 weeks, which would amount to a maximum of 5,000 m3 (approximately 4,000 tonnes) per annum.
7 Approximately 72 vehicle movements to and from the site are anticipated every 12 weeks in association with these activities. The level of movement and activities would vary according to the cycle of operations. The deposit of waste is likely to occur over a period of 14 days (average 4 vehicles in and out daily) although this could vary between 2 days (25 vehicles daily) and 1 month (approximately 2 vehicles daily). In general, the proposed hours of working would be between 07.30 and 16.30 Monday to Friday.
Consultations and Views Received 8
Wear Valley District Council has no objections to the proposals subject to further information as to the locational breakdown of activities on the site, measures to deal with odour and vermin issues and details of a suitable landscaping scheme.
Comment: Approximate dimensions of the windrows are detailed in paragraph 6 above but the applicant has stated that providing a breakdown of the exact layout of activities would be difficult as it would vary throughout the year depending on season and the amount of material to be composted. With respect to odour and vermin issues, see paragraph 18 below. The need for a landscape scheme as part of the works is considered unnecessary, given the type of activity (green waste composting) the nature of the site and surrounding environment and the intended timescales for operations (paragraph 20 below provides a more detailed account of landscape issues).
9
Spennymoor Town Council has no objections to the proposal.
10 The
Environment Agency has no objection to the development as proposed, but has requested that a condition be attached to any permission granted to ensure that the storage of waste materials is restricted to within the red line application boundary due to the close proximity of flood zones to the north. It is also requested that no spreading of compost takes place within any areas of flood risk. As part of the waste management licence / exemption process, the applicant has been asked to carry out an environmental risk assessment to address any environmental concerns within the remit of the Agency.
11
Natural England (Government Team) notes that the application has not provided any information with regards to designated sites or protected habitats and species and that there is a possibility that the site may be used by breeding birds. As such it is suggested that the Planning Authority may wish to attach an informative on any planning consent to make the applicant aware that such species may be present and that legal protection is to be afforded to them.
Comment: An informative alerting the applicant to the possibility of ground nesting birds, especially during the main breeding period (1 March and 1 August) can be attached.
12
Natural England (Geology, Landscape and Soils Team) does not raise objections to the proposal but has made some observations on a number of general agricultural, soil resource protection and associated reclamation considerations, which have been passed onto the applicant.
13
Durham Bat Group has expressed concern over the proposals stating that the application site is close to the River Wear which is an important feeding ground for bats. Any leachate resulting from the composting activities could have a damaging effect on the water quality, which in turn would impact on the ability of the river to provide food for bats.
Comment: As stated in paragraph 10 above, the Environment Agency has requested safeguards, including a risk assessment from the applicant to deal with potential leachate issues.
14 The application has been advertised on site and in the local press. No representations have been received.
Planning Considerations Waste Policy 15 National waste planning guidance is reflected in PPS 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management, which introduced the concept of a waste disposal hierarchy, wherein landfill is regarded as the least preferable disposal route, particularly where waste can be used as a resource through composting.
16 The County Council’s adopted County Durham Waste Local Plan [WLP] recognises that composting as a process removes a significant and potentially polluting element from the waste stream and also reduces demand for peat and other soil improvement products for land reclamation. Policy W42 provides opportunities for outdoor composting facilities in particular where the proposal can be satisfactorily located on previously developed land, makes beneficial use of the composted product as part of a reclamation proposal and the processing of waste remains appropriate in scale to an existing primary use. In so far as the development would utilise the compost to upgrade the condition of land on a former landfill site that would benefit from improvement it would be in line with this policy requirement. WLP Policies W9, W31 and W33 relating to landscape character, environmental and neighbourhood protection are also of relevance.
Local Amenity 17 The Environment Agency advised in a policy statement in August 2001 (also reflected in the WLP) that new composting facilities should not be located within 250 metres of a workplace or curtilage of a dwelling unless a risk assessment demonstrates acceptability. The nearest houses to the proposed composting area are located over 380 metres to the south, on the other side of the Todhills landfill site. 550 metres to the east of the site is Todhills Farm and Brickworks, and Willington is located over 750 metres to the north and west.
18 The application site would be used to compost green waste only and should not give rise to litter, odour and vermin problems. Nevertheless, mitigation measures would include litter picking should any waste batches inadvertently contain other materials, turning and screening of the compost at low wind speeds to prevent odours, and monitoring for any signs of vermin activity. At the request of Wear Valley District Council’s Environmental Health Officer (EHO), the applicant has agreed to take a more pro-active approach to possible vermin problems by employing a competent pest control company to undertake annual on-site inspections at a time of year when vermin activity would be highest. The EHO is satisfied with the mitigation measures to be employed, and their provision can be covered by planning condition.
19 Given the nature and scale of the proposals, the degree of separation from residential property and mitigation measures proposed, it is unlikely that composting operations would have any adverse impacts on the amenity of the area or the wider environment.
Landscape and Nature Conservation Issues 20 The application site is located in open countryside within an Area of High Landscape Value that follows the line of the River Wear. The Scoby Scaur site rises up gently from the river but is largely dominated by the more elevated Todhills landfill site (undergoing restoration) when viewed from the north. The boundary of the Scoby Scaur site is planted and there is a block of trees around the HWRC, which flanks the eastern edge of the application site. The area where windrows would be placed is therefore not particularly prominent and partially screened from general views. Although the windrows would be raised features on the restored site, they would not be obtrusive nor diminish the landscape value of the immediate or wider surroundings.
21 No statutory nature conservation designations affect the site, although there is a County Wildlife Site located directly north of Scoby Scaur, which has been designated due to its quality as a wetland area. The County Council’s ecological advisor has raised some concerns regarding leachate but is satisfied that the Environment Agency has set limits to the spreading of compost away from flood zone areas.
Public Rights of Way 22 A public right of way cuts across the south west corner of the Scoby Scaur site running in an east-west direction. The path is fenced from the surrounding fields and users of the public right of way would be largely unaffected by the proposed operations except during periods when the compost is to be spread on the land and the field gate across the path is open. However most of the south west corner of the site falls within a flood risk area and no spreading of compost would take place here.
Traffic and Access Considerations 23 The site is accessed via a surfaced road just off the hairpin bend at Cobey’s Carr Lane that is used in association with the HWRC. The visibility distances for vehicles turning onto and off Cobey’s Carr Lane are approximately 100 metres in both directions. The surfaced road veers right into the HWRC but HGV’s would continue straight ahead to the application site along an unmade track. Vehicle movements associated with the operations are fairly low and can be acceptably catered for by the site access and local road network. There is no objection to the proposal on highway grounds.
Recommendation and Reasons 24 National strategies and planning policies encourage the aim of recycling and composting. The proposal would make an important contribution to recycling targets in the County and help to divert green waste going to landfill. The proposed development accords with WLP policies, and would have limited affects on the character or appearance of the area and local residents, given the location of the site, infrequent vehicle movements, and proposed mitigation measures that are to be put in place.
25
Accordingly, I
recommend that planning permission be granted for the proposed development subject to appropriate conditions to cover time limits and to mitigate any potential environmental effects, for the following reason:
The proposals would contribute to targets associated with the recycling and re-use of waste materials in accordance with national and local strategies and given the scale, location, and nature of operations the proposals would not give rise to significant visual, amenity, highway or environmental concerns. The development would accord with Policies W9, W31, W33 and W42 of the County Durham Waste Local Plan.
26 As the development is intended to be temporary the applicant be advised that the Planning Committee expects that every reasonable effort is made to identify and develop suitable alternative sites for green waste composting within the period specified by this consent.
No Departure Background Papers
Planning application forms and certification accompanied by letter from Premier Waste Management Ltd to Durham County Council dated 7 March 2008 and supporting statement. Consultation letters, responses and other correspondence on the application file CMA/3/26.
Contact: John Byers Tel: 0191 383 3408
Local Members: Councillors Burn and Taylor |
Teesdale District: Composting of pre-shredded green waste at Bolam Quarry, Bolam for Premier Waste Management Ltd.
Introduction 1 This is the second planning application for the composting of pre-shredded green waste at closed landfill sites managed by Premier Waste Management Ltd. The proposals are intended to secure increased composting capacity and take some pressure off at Joint Stocks, the Company’s main site for this activity.
Planning History 2 Teesdale District Council granted planning permission for waste disposal by landfilling in Bolam Quarry in 1974. Tipping ceased in March 2003 and final restoration was completed in 2004 using sub-soils only. Planning permission was granted in June 1999 for a compound containing equipment to generate electricity from landfill gas. This activity continues to take place.
The Proposal 3 The development involves stockpiling pre-shredded green waste materials in windrows on an area of land measuring 0.48ha located to the south east of the former landfill site (see attached plan). The green waste material would be delivered by 40 tonne HGVs from Joint Stocks landfill site and would consist of soil and garden waste originating from household recycling centres within County Durham.
4 Once deposited the material would be turned every two weeks by a loading shovel, to ensure that the composting process is carried out successfully. A screening procedure would also be undertaken during the turning process to remove any oversize material. The composting operation would take place directly on the land and is expected to be completed within 12 weeks, after which the resulting compost would be spread on the former landfill site.
5 It is anticipated that up to 1,000m3 of green waste material would be processed every 12 weeks. This would amount to a maximum of 5,000m3 (approximately 4,000 tonnes) of green waste material per annum. Temporary permission is being sought for a period of 5 years. The proposed hours of operation are 7.30 - 16.30 Monday to Friday.
6 The operations are exempt from waste licensing controls, because of the quantities of material involved and the fact that the compost would be spread on site. However, the applicant will be required to undertake a risk assessment of site specific pollution risks resulting from the waste as part of the licence exemption.
Consultations and Views Received 7
Teesdale District Council (consulted 17 March 2008) view is not yet available.
8
Bolam Parish Council has no objections to the application but requested that any effects of HGV movements should be minimised, including restricting them to certain times in order to reduce impacts on local residents. It was also suggested that screening should be put in place to prevent any undue noise and smell.
Comment: See paragraph 23-24 below regarding HGV movements and paragraph17 regarding screening against noise and smell.
9
Etherley Parish Council (consulted 17 March 2008) has not commented on the application.
10 The
Environment Agency has no objection to the development as proposed, and notes that waste licensing/exemption implications are currently being addressed by its waste licence permit team.
11
Natural England (Government Team) state that the application has not provided any information with regards to designated sites or protected habitats and species and note that there is a possibility that the site may be used by breeding birds. As such it is suggested that the Planning Authority may wish to attach an informative on any planning consent to make the applicant aware that such species may be present and that legal protection is to be afforded to them.
Comments: The relevant informative can be attached to any consent.
12
Natural England (Geology, Landscape and Soils Team) does not raise objections to the proposal but has made some observations on a number of general agricultural, soil resource protection and associated reclamation considerations.
13 The application has been advertised on site and in the local press. 11 letters and a petition have been received from residents of Bolam objecting to the scheme. These raise the following concerns:
§ The possibility that up to 50 HGV movements could take place in one day is of concern and considered excessive. It is queried whether HGV movements can be accurately monitored.
§ The noise and vibration impacts caused by lorry movements to and from the site and from HGVs accelerating, decelerating and reversing, as well as congestion and mud on the road leading to an increased risk of accidents would create an unacceptable level of disruption in a quiet rural location.
§ The unclassified road leading to the site is considered to be too narrow and is in a state of disrepair, despite assurances from the County Council that it would be repaired in the future. The ability of this road to withstand the level of HGV movements proposed is seriously doubted.
§ The B6275 just leading into Bolam village is not considered to be a safe route and has been the scene of a number of accidents.
§
The planning application fails to identify the existence of public rights of way across the site and on the access route leading to the site. There is concern over the safety of users of the public right of way along the HGV access route.
§ The composition of the waste material is queried and whether there can be any guarantees that it will in fact just be green waste. Previous ‘green waste’ dumped at the site was in fact contaminated with old shoes, plastics and other household rubbish.
§ The additional HGV traffic generated will increase the carbon footprint.
§ The waste which would be sited on the elevated surface of the former landfill site would be intrusive.
§ The impacts of litter being blown around, odours emanating from the waste and increased vermin activity would cause nuisance and distress to local residents and possible undesirable health effects. Aspergillus Fumigatus is a fungus commonly found in compost and the spores may trigger serious infection in the lungs.
§ Upon completion of the tip, flooding problems increased and there is fear that additional waste activities may exacerbate flooding problems on the site.
§ There is concern over future intentions for the site and whether the introduction of green waste would be the thin edge of wedge. There is also the issue as to whether Premier Waste Management would operate the site appropriately.
§ Disappointment that the site is to be re-opened again for further waste related activities. The residents of Bolam have endured more than their fair share of waste disposal with the “un-pleasantries” and inconveniences that come with it.
§ Both the site and the village have just started to recover from previous operations, with wildlife starting to use the site (observation that skylarks have been nesting on the site) and Bolam village is now being considered for conservation area status. There is concern that the new proposals will impede these improvements.
§ The applicant should wait until a larger, more suitable site is found instead of inflicting an industrial scale operation in this rural area.
§ The Planning Committee should visit the site before any permission is granted.
Comment: Highways issues and HGV movements are considered in paragraphs 23-24 below. Public rights of way issues are dealt with in paragraph 17 below. Mitigation measures for litter, odour and noise are covered in paragraphs 21 and 22 below. With regards issues of flooding, the Environment Agency has not highlighted this as an issue in their response. Permission is being sought for a temporary 5 year period and there are no intentions to import any other forms of waste to the site other than green waste. Although composting is a continuous activity, it is mostly passive and activities are limited. It is not considered that the new proposals would be equivalent in terms of impacts to the previous waste disposal site use.
Planning Considerations Waste Policy 14 National waste planning guidance is contained in PPS 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management that introduced the concept of a waste disposal hierarchy, wherein landfill is regarded as the least preferable disposal route, particularly where waste can be used as a resource such as composting.
15 The County Council’s adopted County Durham Waste Local Plan [WLP] recognises that composting as a process removes a significant and potentially polluting element from the waste stream and also reduces demand for peat and other soil improvement products for land reclamation. Policy W42 provides opportunities for outdoor composting facilities in particular where the proposal can be satisfactorily located on previously developed land, makes beneficial use of the composted product and the processing of waste remains appropriate in scale to an existing primary use. WLP Policies W9, W31 and W33 relating to landscape character, environmental and neighbourhood protection are also of relevance.
Local Amenity 16 The Environment Agency advised in a policy statement in August 2001 (also reflected in the WLP) that new composting facilities should not be located within 250 metres of a workplace or curtilage of a dwelling unless a risk assessment demonstrates acceptability. The nearest houses to the proposed composting area are over 450m to the south and north of the site. These are Moresby House (located on the north west perimeter of Bolam village) and Lough House respectively. Land directly bordering the site is currently used for grazing.
17 The site would be used to compost green waste only and should not give rise to potential litter, odour and vermin problems. The operations appear to have been taking place on some basis for over 2 years and neither the applicant, the Planning Authority or Environment Agency is aware of any complaints. Given the scale of the proposals, the specific type of waste, the limited working period, the degree of separation from residential property and mitigation measures proposed, it is not considered that composting operations would have any significant effects on the amenity of the area or environment.
18 The Environmental Health Officer at Teesdale District Council has no objections to the application.
Landscape and Nature Conservation Issues 19 The site has a raised profile from previous landfilling and suitably blends with the surrounding landscape, including the Area of High Landscape Value to the south and west. The site is intermittently screened by clusters of trees and hedgerows and the composting heaps would not represent an overly alien presence in this rural setting. It is not considered that the formation of windrows would dramatically or adversely alter views of the site or the landscape value of the surrounding area.
20 No statutory nature conservation designations affect the site or surrounding land. However, the County Council’s ecological advisor has noted that Dingy Skipper butterflies have been recorded adjacent to the former landfill site. The butterflies are a priority species for conservation in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and to prevent any disruption or disturbance to the species or their habitat, it is requested that a buffer zone of several metres is put in place along a section of the western boundary to prevent the spreading of compost in the area directly adjacent to the butterfly habitat.
Public Rights of Way 21 A public right of way runs along part of the access route leading to the site and as such, users of the route would experience the effects of lorry traffic on days when waste material is delivered to the site. HGV operators and pedestrians would have to exercise caution whilst using this route for accessing the site. Although use of the route would be on an intermittent basis, an informative could be attached to any permission granted, alerting the applicant to this issue.
22 A bridle path running through the centre of the site was diverted in the 1970s in association with the landfill operations to follow a new line along the southern and western boundaries. This diversion is no longer usable or necessary and work has begun to reinstate the original route through the centre of the site. This has involved providing a gravel surface and fencing on both sides of the path. Four gates along the fence line have also been installed, two on each side in order to allow farm vehicles to cross the site. Users of the bridle path would need to be afforded right of way and should permission be granted, the applicant would need to be informed of this protocol during times of compost spreading.
Traffic and Access Considerations 23 The site is accessed via the haul road which previously gave access to the waste disposal site. This is a surfaced track leading from the road C25 and the unclassified road, Crag Lane, situated just north of Bolam village. As this was the previous access route to the waste disposal site, it is considered that it would be suitable for the traffic levels associated with this proposal.
24 Overall vehicle movements associated with the operations are fairly low although there may be levels of more intensive activity. The highest daily concentration of vehicles would occur if the material is to be delivered during a period of only two days (25 in and 25 out per day). However it would be lower than this if the average deposit period of 14 days is used. The other vehicular movements involving the delivery of the loading shovel are not significant. Traffic levels associated with the operations are considered acceptable and there is no objection to the proposal on highway grounds from the Head of Highway Management.
Recommendation and Reasons 25 The proposal would make a useful contribution to recycling targets in the County and help to divert green waste going to landfill in line with national strategies and planning policies in the WLP that encourage recycling and composting.
26 In detailed terms the development would take place on a former landfill site that was subject to an old planning permission with minimum restoration requirements and would benefit from soil improvement. The site is relatively remote and the use would involve the delivery of material from Joint Stocks in central Durham. However vehicle movements would be fairly infrequent overall. Whilst there is strong local feeling in the village about continuing waste related operations at Bolam these have been taking place in practice and without complaint and the nature and scale of operations and location of the site are such that there would not be a significant impact on local amenity.
27 In these circumstances and given that the development would be an interim arrangement until permanent facilities are developed as part of an integrated waste strategy for the County I consider the proposal acceptable in planning terms. Accordingly, I
recommend that planning permission be granted for the proposed development subject to appropriate conditions to mitigate any potential environmental effects, for the following reason:
The proposal would contribute to targets associated with the recycling and re-use of waste materials in accordance with national and local strategies and given the scale, location, and nature of operations the proposals would not give rise to significant visual, amenity, highway or environmental concerns over the timescale envisaged. The development would accord with Policies W31, W33 and W42 of the County Durham Waste Local Plan.
28 As the development is intended to be temporary the applicant be advised that the Planning Committee expects that every reasonable effort is made to identify and develop suitable alternative sites for green waste composting within the period specified by this consent.
No Departure Background Papers
Planning application forms and certification accompanied by letter from Premier Waste Management Ltd and supporting statement. Consultations, responses and other correspondence on application file CMA/6/35.
Contact: John Byers 0191 383 3408
Local Members: Councillors Fergus and Richardson
Attachments
Item 2a Greencycle, Tursdale.pdf;
Item 2a Scoby Scaur - Green Waste.pdf;
Item 2a Bolam Quarry - Green Waste.pdf