Energy Plant & Reclamation Scheme
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Bersham (Glenside) Ltd ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME Bersham Colliery, Rhostyllen, L14 3EG Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report SEPT 2019 CONFIDENTIAL Bersham (Glenside) Ltd ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME Bersham Colliery, Rhostyllen, L14 3EG TYPE OF DOCUMENT (VERSION) CONFIDENTIAL PROJECT NO. 70054016 DATE: SEPT 2019 WSP 1 Capital Quarter Tyndall Street Cardiff CF10 4BZ Phone: +44 2920 769 200 WSP.com CONFIDENTIAL QUALITY CONTROL Issue/revision First issue Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Date 25.09.2019 Prepared by Rebekah Thompson Signature Checked by Jack Pugsley Signature Authorised by Gavin Lewis Signature Project number Report number File reference ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME CONFIDENTIAL | WSP Project No.: 70054016 SEPT 2019 Bersham (Glenside) Ltd CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 CONSIDERATION OF EIA REGULATIONS 3 3 SITE LOCATION AND CONTEXT 7 4 CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT 8 5 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ASSESSMENT 10 6 CHARACTERISTICS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS 23 7 CONCLUSION 32 TABLES Table 2-1 – Schedule 2 of the 2017 Regulations 3 Table 2-2 – Regulation 6 (2) of the 2017 Regulations 5 3 * Table 5-1 - Annual Mean NO2 Concentrations (µg/m ) 10 Table 5-2 - Scheduled Monuments within the 500m Study Area and outside of the Red Line Boundary 12 Table 5-3 - Grade II* Listed Buildings within the 500m Study Area and outside of the Red Line Boundary 12 Table 5-4 - Grade II Listed Buildings within the 500m Study Area and outside of the Red Line Boundary 12 Table 5-5 - Non-Designated Heritage Assets within the 500m Study Area and outside of the Red Line Boundary 13 Table 5-6 - Non-designated Heritage Assets within the 500m Study Area and Inside the Redline Boundary 14 Table 5-7 - Geology 17 Table 5-8 - Sensitive Receptors within 0.5km from the scheme proposals 18 ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME CONFIDENTIAL | WSP Project No.: 70054016 SEPT 2019 Bersham (Glenside) Ltd Table 5-9 – Bus Services 19 Table 6-1 – Potential Environmental Impact Summary Table 24 FIGURES Figure 3-1 Location of Proposed Development 7 Figure 5-1 - Public Right of Way though the Site 20 Figure 5-2 - Environmental Constraints Map 21 ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME CONFIDENTIAL | WSP Project No.: 70054016 SEPT 2019 Bersham (Glenside) Ltd 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 1.1.1. WSP have been appointed by Bersham (Glenside) Ltd to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion for a new circa 30MW energy plant (the Proposed Development) to be located on the existing, disused colliery site in Rhostyllen. 1.1.2. The Site of the Proposed Development is located at the Bersham Bank Colliery Tip, Rhostyllen, Wrexham, immediately south of Rhostyllen. The Site is bounded by Glan yr Afon brook on its northern boundary, Bersham Enterprise Centre to the east of Plas Grono Road, railway line to the south and the A483 to the west. 1.1.3. The Site area is circa 13 hectares (13,000 m2) within the red line boundary. As shown on the plans submitted with this report, the energy plant is located within the south-western corner of the Site. The Proposed Development will provide an innovative method of on- site reclamation and additional benefits in the processing of the existing colliery spoil material on-site (a secondary resource), enabling both on-site sustainable energy generation, reclamation of the Site and the production of brick/blocks using the excess material. The plant would remain in situ for until the on-site resource, the colliery spoil (an alternative and sustainable source of fuel) has been depleted, approximately 27 years, as well as other sustainable fuel sources. 1.1.4. Plans submitted with this enquiry illustrate that the energy plant would have the following indicative dimensions: Maximum width: 232.50m Maximum length: 119.50m Height of flue above ground level*: 21.0m *Ground levels are likely to be altered as part of proposed development. 1.1.5. The energy plant would use the calorific combustible material within the colliery spoil to generate energy which would otherwise be left on or exported from the Site. Furthermore, the energy plant would include additional processes, including the production of concrete blocks from the waste generated during the energy generation process. The output of the energy plant is variable and can be up or down graded but is intended to be 30MW at this stage. Finally, the Site benefits from direct, onsite access to an electricity substation. 1.1.6. In line with Policy EC16 of the Wrexham County Borough Unitary Development Plan, the Proposed Development seeks to reclaim and restore the site for a beneficial use. ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME CONFIDENTIAL | WSP Project No.: 70054016 SEPT 2019 Bersham (Glenside) Ltd Page 1 of 32 1.2 BASELINED POSITION 1.2.1. The Site benefits from an extant planning permission for the extraction of the former colliery spoil tip, including the processing of the material. Mitigation measures in respect of noise, dust, ecology, highways and other effects have previously been assessed and agreed with the LPA. Accordingly, the key consideration is whether the energy plant would affect the existing environmental mitigation measures proposed and what additional measures may be required. 1.2.2. To note, the extant planning permission does not state or specify the methods of reclaiming and processing the spoil material. As such, the Proposed Development recognises this gap in the processing of the spoil and considers the technological advances made since the original planning permission was granted. The Proposed Development proposes a sustainable option for the reclamation of the material at the Site, including using it to generate electrical energy which will be connected to the National Grid and the production of building materials. 1.2.3. Given the compelling national need for the additional capacity within the electricity generating network, it is considered that any potential adverse local impacts, which could be appropriately mitigated, would be outweighed by the energy benefits of a project for which a presumption in favour is established in the Energy National Policy Statements and PPW10. ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME CONFIDENTIAL | WSP Project No.: 70054016 SEPT 2019 Bersham (Glenside) Ltd Page 2 of 32 2 CONSIDERATION OF EIA REGULATIONS 2.1 LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS 2.1.1. On 16th May 2017, the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017 (“the 2017 Regulations”) superseded the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2016. The main changes to the 2017 Regulations were focused on: Screening, Environmental Statements; Publicity and consultation; and Decision making. 2.1.2. With regard to this Environmental Screening Report and request for screening a number of changes were made to the 2017 Regulations. These include, but are not limited to, the process of screening “schedule 2” development. The changes included what information the applicant must submit with a screening request (regulation 6) and what the Local Planning Authority (LPA) must take into account when making a screening opinion (Regulation 5). The 21-day period for making an opinion remains. However, where an extension is agreed, the maximum time before an opinion must be given is 90 days. 2.1.3. The 2017 Regulations define “EIA development means development which is either: Schedule 1 development; or Schedule 2 development that is likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location”. 2.1.4. The thresholds for Schedule 1 development generally relate to major projects which, by virtue of their scale, location, appearance or the type of activity, have the potential to impact on the environment. These types of project are specifically defined in the 2017 Regulations and automatically require EIA. 2.1.5. The Proposed Development does not fall into Schedule 1 development. Consequently, the Site must be considered under Schedule 2. 2.1.6. It is considered that the Proposed Development falls within a category of development in Schedule 2, specifically Section 3. Energy Industry, as noted in Table 2-1 below: Table 2-1 – Schedule 2 of the 2017 Regulations Column 1 Column 2 Description of Development Applicable thresholds and criteria The carrying out of development to provide any of the following – 3. Energy Industry (a) Industrial installations for the production of The area of the development exceeds electricity, steam and hot water (unless included 0.5 hectare. in Schedule 1). ENERGY PLANT & RECLAMATION SCHEME CONFIDENTIAL | WSP Project No.: 70054016 SEPT 2019 Bersham (Glenside) Ltd Page 3 of 32 2.1.7. The Proposed Development exceeds the 0.5ha thresholds noted in Table 2-1 (the EIA boundary is approximately 13ha). The following screening exercise considers the proposal against the selection criteria identified within Schedule 3 of the 2017 Regulations and will outline any likely level of impact as a result of the development so to allow a decision to be made as to whether the proposed comprises EIA development and would require an Environmental Statement. 2.1.8. The selection criteria for screening Schedule 2 development within the 2017 regulations includes: Characteristics of development 1. The characteristics of development must be considered having regard, in particular, to— a) the size and design of the development; b) the cumulation with other existing development and/or approved development; c) the use of natural resources, in