Market Appraisal
Proposed Restoration at Irchester
Prepared by
For
Mick George Limited
July 2017
[M0009/J00238/MA-V1]
© 2017 This document is the Copyright of Integrated Skills Limited and must not be copied, adapted, used or reproduced in whole or in part without their express written authority
Market Appraisal Irchester Restoration
DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET
Client Mick George Limited
Project Irchester Restoration
Document Title Market Appraisal
Document Reference M0009/J00238/MA-V1
Prepared by Reviewed by Reviewed by
NAME NAME NAME ORIGINAL A R Crooks P H W Scott DATE SIGNATURE SIGNATURE SIGNATURE
31.03.2017
Integrated Skills Limited, 2nd Floor, Bell House, 32 Bell Street, Romsey, SO51 8GW Tel. No. 02380 737 983 / Email: [email protected] web site: www.integrated-skills.com
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 1
General Setting ...... 1 Operational Considerations ...... 1
2. PLANNING POLICY 3
Development Plan ...... 3
3. WASTE DATA 4 Waste Imports ...... 7
4. WASTE ARISINGS AND GROWTH 8
Infrastructure Projects ...... 8 Summary ...... 9
5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 10
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Integrated Skills Limited has been commissioned by Mick George Limited (MGL) to undertake an assessment of the market conditions to support a planning application to import inert waste to restore land at Irchester.
1.2 MGL are currently operating the Ringstead Grange limestone quarry which permits the importation of inert fill materials to aid restoration at the site. The planning permission was implemented in May 2014, with limestone extracted and exported from the site in May 2015 and inert fill imported from August 2015. The average inert importation figure was originally estimated to be 100,000m3 per annum but in 2016 alone, some 317,000 tonnes of material was imported to the site; some of this was placed within a landscaping area to the west of the mineral extraction area whilst the remainder was placed within the worked out sectors of the quarry.
1.3 The Ringstead Grange Quarry is currently physically limited as to how much inert waste can be imported due to limited current void space and an application will be made in the fullness of time to modify restoration contours to enable more material to be imported to that site. However, in the meanwhile, consent is being sought to place inert waste (which would otherwise be destined for Ringstead Grange) into the Irchester scheme.
1.4 It is proposed to import inert waste to the Irchester site at a minimum rate of 125,000 cum (equivalent to approximately 190,000 tonnes per annum) over a three to four year period. This will enable sufficient time for void space to be created at the Ringstead Grange quarry and for an application to be processed to enable infill rates to be increased at that site to 125,000 cum per annum (by amending previously approved restoration contours)
1.5 This report provides a review of current and emerging local waste planning. It sets out the findings of a market appraisal to determine the current inert landfill capacity within the county and also whether sufficient quantities of inert material will be available to restore the site. It looks at the predicted capacity, operational capacity and the likely sources of inert waste material.
1.6 Northamptonshire Council is responsible for preparing the planning policy for minerals and waste. The Minerals and Waste Local Plan sets out the strategy, policies and locations for minerals and waste development in the county to 2031. The plan was adopted on 1 October 2014. The plan has been recently updated with the new plan being adopted on 1 July 2017.
General Setting
1.7 The site is in the district of Wellingborough, within the county of Northamptonshire.
1.8 The site is located south of Irchester Country Park. It is bordered to the north by the B570 road. The A509 lies to the west. Fields lie to the south and east.
Operational Considerations
1.9 Mick George Limited operate several waste recycling facilities in and around Northamptonshire. They also operate Ringstead Quarry, a permitted limestone quarry located in Northamptonshire.
1.10 Ringstead is an operational limestone quarry, with permission for importing inert waste for restoration. Planning permission was granted on 21 December 2012.
1.11 The excavation works have commenced at the site, and it is intended to continue with the extraction of limestone to create sufficient void space enable the importation of inert waste to
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commence. Therefore, there will be limited importation into Ringstead over the next 2-3 years. During this time, Mick George will use the waste to restore the Irchester Site.
1.12 Recent throughput data shows that 71,000 tonnes were deposited into Ringstead in 2015 (August – December). In 2016, this increased to 317,000 tonnes.
1.13 The waste market area for Irchester will be from the same sources as for Ringstead, the majority of which being located south of the A14.
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2. PLANNING POLICY
2.1 This section provides an overview of relevant planning policy in terms of planning for future capacity requirements for residual waste in the area.
Development Plan
2.2 The Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) was adopted on 1 July 2017 and provides the strategy, policies and locations for minerals and waste development in the county to 2031.
2.3 With reference to MWLP, it is acknowledged that disposal, whilst being the least preferred option, is one that must be adequately catered for. Proposals for waste disposal must ensure that only residual wastes are disposed and “must also robustly justify a need for the facility and specifically address the indicative capacity requirements and the intended catchment area.”
2.4 Mick George Limited operate a network of facilities in and around Northamptonshire, including recycling facilities. The operations ensure that only residual waste will be deposited in landfill sites. For inert waste the typical catchment area will be 20 miles. It is not economically viable to transport inert waste longer distances.
2.5 Policy 10 of the MWLP identifies the waste management needs of the County over the plan period with policy 11 supporting the location of facilities within the central spine of the county. This site is located within the central spine.
2.6 Policy 14 of the MWLP sets out the indicative waste disposal capacity requirements during the plan period. The supporting text sets out the inert waste disposal will normally be at currently worked mineral extraction sites to enable the restoration of those sites. It goes on to support the restoration of existing mineral sites or those allocated for mineral extraction. “New sites should not be permitted where this does not involve restoration of former mineral workings. However, there may be occasions when this is not practicable. In such cases proposals will need to show that significant amounts of material are not being diverted away from, and would not prejudice restoration of, mineral sites.”
2.7 It states that for inert fill or recovery, provision should be made to meet the indicative capacity requirement of 160,000 tonnes per annum at 2021 and 2031. It therefore adopts an approach that the available inert capacity required throughout the plan period will be 160,000 tonnes per annum.
2.8 Policy 16 of the MWLP states:
“Proposals for the disposal or recovery of inert waste, where this does not relate to the restoration of a committed or allocated site for minerals extraction, must demonstrate that:
it will not prejudice the restoration of mineral sites, and
there is clear engineering, agricultural, landscape or recreation amenity justification for the development.
2.9 This policy is relevant insofar as the site is not a committed or allocated site for mineral extraction. It must be demonstrated that it will not prejudice the restoration of mineral sites and there is a clear justification for the development. This report deals with the first part of the policy. The Planning Statement sets out the justification of the project.
2.10 No inert waste disposal facilities have been allocated in the MWLP.
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3. WASTE DATA
3.1 The site at Irchester has been previously worked for ironstone and was restored, although the restoration created a valley shaped feature. The proposed scheme seeks to provide a revised restoration profile and therefore in accordance with policy 14, consideration of this development on other mineral sites requiring restoration must be considered. The site at Irchester is not a committed or allocated site for mineral extraction and therefore policy 16 also applies.
3.2 For both policies, it must be demonstrated that the development at Irchester will not prejudice the restoration of existing mineral sites.
3.3 With reference to the Waste Annual Monitoring Report, dated January 2016, it states that at the end of 2015 the permitted inert landfill capacity void was 1.03Mt. It goes on to state that there is “spare capacity for inert and hazardous landfill but there is no space capacity for non-inert landfill. However, the situation on the ground is currently showing a different story. Although figures show that non-inert landfill is running out, the site at Weldon which had permission until 2026 has closed permanently due to lack of demand.”
3.4 In the MWLP, the current capacity is given as 0.87Mtpa as at January 2016. This implies that the capacity was reduced by 160,000 tonnes during 2016.
3.5 This suggests that the data may not accurately reflect the real situations.
3.6 The MWLP sets out the waste arisings data for the plan period. For inert waste this is set at a constant rate of 1.35Mt per year. With reference to the EA’s Waste Interrogator data for 2015, the amount of inert waste being managed in the county was 1.45Mt.
3.7 With refence to the MWLP, a list of all landfill sites which will contribute to the provision of inert disposal/recovery capacity throughout the plan period is provided. Table 1 below presents those sites together with up to date information on permitted end dates and also provides a commentary on the operational status of the site. This has been taken from planning documents as well as from the Waste Interrogator 2015.
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Table 1 – Inert Landfill Sites in the County
Site Planning Permission End Date Received Waste 2015
Yes/No
Astwick Quarry 31/12/215 No
N/A Can only receive waste from Redrow Barton Seagrave Homes development at Barton Cricket Club Seagrave
Chacombe Hill Farm No - Only required 4,500m3
Churchfield, Oundle 3 years from commencement No - Only required 21,000m3.
Collyweston 31 December 2018 Yes
Land North of 31/07/2018 No – Only required importation of Eaglethorpe engineered clay.
Earls Barton Quarry 8 Years from date of No commencement
Land West of Earls 27 August 2023 No Barton Quarry,
Harley Way 31/12/2029 No
Harlestone Quarry 31 December 2016 (now Yes extended until 31 December 2021)
The Boughton Estate 14 February 2020 Yes (Long Drowpits)
Passenham Quarry September 2022 Yes
Pitsford Pond/Quarry N/A No
Princewood Road 7 years from date of No commencement
Pury End Quarry 31 December 2018 Yes
Sywell Shooting Club 07/01/2013 No
Ringstead Quarry 2029 No
Stonehill Quarry 2017 Yes
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3.8 The waste return data suggests that there were five operational inert landfill sites in 2015. These are located in the northern and southern parts of the county, with Harlestone and the Bougton Estate being in the central region. That Annual Monitoring Report for 2015 set out that the annual permitted capacity for inert landfill is 1.03M tonnes. However, with reference to the above table, many sites are not receiving inert waste or have permanently closed.
3.9 Non-inert landfill sites are presented in Table 2.
Table 2 – Non-Inert Landfill site in the County
Site Annual Input 2015* Operational Life
Cranford 68,247 31/10/2017
Rushton 47,410 30/09/2030
Sidegate Lane 120,316 31/07/2017
Weldon 0 28802/2026
*Based in Waste Interrogator for 2015
3.10 During 2017, two sites are due to close. These managed a combined volume of nearly 190,000 tonnes of inert waste. As stated previously, Weldon has permanently closed. Therefore, Rushton will be the only operational non-inert landfill site in the county from October 2017.
Waste Arisings
3.11 In terms of waste arisings, the MWLP sets out the following methods for managing inert waste:
Total Arisings CD&E waste 1,350,000 tonnes per annum Inert Recycling 740,000 tonnes per annum Recovery 160,000 tonnes per annum Other Recovery 100,000 tonnes per annum Disposal to Non-Inert Landfill 340,000 tonnes per annum Inert Recovery/Landfill 160,000 tonnes per annum
3.12 It must be noted that whilst recovery and inert recovery/landfill has been duplicated, the tonnage has not been double counted.
3.13 The MWLP assumes 340,000 tonnes of inert waste will be deposited at non-inert sites. With reference to the data, this is an over estimation as in 2015, 235,000 tonnes was used at non- inert sites. From 2017, there will be only one non-inert landfill site and this is to be restored by 2029.
3.14 The EA’s Waste Interrogator for 2015 shows 1.45Mt of inert waste was managed in the county. Of this, 972,157 tonnes of waste was deposited at inert and non-inert landfill sites, or deposited on land for recovery purposes.
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3.15 The MWLP assumes that 160,000 tonnes of waste per year is used for recovery/disposal. With reference to the data above, this is an underestimation of the current position.
Waste Imports
3.16 The amount of waste being deposited at inert sites in the county can be established from data collected by the EA. The EA’s Waste Interrogator has been used to established the amount of inert waste being deposited in Northamptonshire sites (including land recovery). With reference to the 2015 data set, 1,119,022 tonnes of waste was deposited at sites in Northamptonshire. Of this, approximately 78% originated within the county. Table 3 shows the breakdown of inert waste imported by county.
Table 3 – Sources of Inert Waste Deposited in Northamptonshire (Data Includes recovery and used in construction)
Source Tonnage
Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes 79,531
Cambridgeshire 32,780
Leicester UA and Leicestershire 56,473
Lincolnshire 26.280
Northamptonshire 872,298
Oxfordshire 15,550
Rutland UA 17,840
Bedfordshire 699
London and other 30,750
TOTAL 1,119,022
3.17 The data shows that approximately 250,000 tonnes of inert waste was imported into the county.
3.18 In terms of waste arisings, a significant amount of waste is being managed through inert landfill disposal. Approximately 250,000 tonnes of waste is being imported each year for inert disposal and combined with the closure of Weldon landfill site and the impending closure of Cranford and Sidegate Lane landfill sites, will increase the amount of inert waste that needs to be managed elsewhere.
3.19 Therefore, more inert waste is being managed in the county than estimated in the MWLP and with non-inert sites closing, more inert waste will need to be managed at other sites.
3.20 It is considered that the diversion of inert waste from Ringstead to Irchester will not prejudice the restoration of other existing mineral sites.
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4. WASTE ARISINGS AND GROWTH
4.1 Whilst the works at Irchester will provide an alternative site to Ringstead, it is useful to provide the market area from which the waste will be sourced. Typically, the market area will be defined by travel distances between the source and the restoration site. Based on Mick George’s existing operations, it is expected that most of the waste will be sourced within a 20 mile radius.
4.2 The site is located within Wellingborough. There is a joint planning unit with Corby, Wellingborough, Kettering and East Northamptonshire.
Table 3 – Summary of Future Development Targets
Authority No of Houses Document Reference required
North 40,000 North Northamptonshire Joint Northamptonshire Core Strategy 2011-2031
Corby Borough 14,200 North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy 2011-2031
East 8,400 North Northamptonshire Joint Northamptonshire Core Strategy 2011-2031
Kettering 10,400 North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy 2011-2031
Wellingborough 7,000 North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy 2011-2031
4.3 Based on the above requirements, there is a need to construct up to 80,000 new homes and has set targets to create over 62,000 new jobs.
Infrastructure Projects
4.4 The following strategic sites which are close to Irchester have been allocated in the plan:
Rushden East Sustainable Urban Extension
Land at Nene Valley Farm, Northampton Road, Rushden
4.5 The following key strategic infrastructure projects have been identified:
Improvements to A45/A6 Higham Ferrers/Rushden junction
Isham Bypass, Wellingborough
A14 Junction 10a, Kettering
Tresham College, Wellingborough
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A43 (Phase 3) Northampton to Kettering
A45 Stanwick to Thrapston
Summary
4.6 There are several major infrastructure projects, with new housing, employment land, transport infrastructure and ancillary development such as schools and community facilities proposed. Such development will generate CD&E arisings within the market area of Irchester.
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5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
5.1 This report has reviewed the Waste Local Plan to assess the future needs for inert waste disposal within the county.
5.2 The assessment has shown that the amount of inert waste arisings has increased significantly.
5.3 The Company currently operate the Ringstead Grange Quarry and that had an estimated importation figure of 100,000m3 per annum. However, in 2016 along some 317,000 tonnes (211,000 cubic meters assuming 1.5 tonne per cubic metre) was imported to that site. Whilst sufficient void is created at Ringstead, an alternative site at Irchester is proposed to accept this waste which will also improve the land to a beneficial after use.
5.4 The report has reviewed the sites identified by the council that provide capacity for inert waste disposal. Whilst many of these sites are permitted, data from the Environment Agency has identified the sites which are currently active in terms of receiving inert waste. Therefore, the need for Irchester should be considered in terms of the current operational sites which are providing actual capacity.
5.5 The data has shown that more waste is being managed through inert disposal and recovery than set out in the MWLP. As policy only permits the disposal of inert waste that cannot be recycled, this demonstrates that there has been a recent increase in those arisings which require disposal.
5.6 Significant growth is planned in this part of the county for houses and other major infrastructure projects which will continue to generate inert waste throughout the plan period.
5.7 Whilst Irchester is not considered to be an existing mineral site requiring restoration, the assessment has shown that the diversion of waste from Ringstead Quarry to Irchester will not prejudice the restoration of other mineral sites.
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