PLANNING APPLICATION FOR A BULKING FACILITY FOR RECYCLED AGGREGATES

AT

THE OLD ANGLIAN WATER SEWAGE WORKS, ROAD,

BY Northampton Waste Management Limited

PLANNING STATEMENT

August 2009

Mrs Gill Pawson BSc MA MRTPI MCIWM GP Planning Limited Registered Number 6019666, Registered Office Mill House, Long Lane, East Haddon, , NN6 8DU

1 Proposals

1.1 The application is for permission to carry out open air storage and bulking up of hardcore, and construction and demolition wastes for creation of recycled aggregates for up to 25000 tonnes per annum at the former Anglian Water sewage works site on the Northampton Road, between Blisworth and Milton Malsor. No processing is proposed. The submission includes the following documents:

• The site location is shown on plan GPP/JS/B/09/01; • The application boundary is shown on site plan GPP/JS/B/09/02; • The detailed site layout and indicative landscaping is shown on GPP/JS/B/09/03 • The site layout in relation to the EA Flood Map is shown on GPP/JS/B/09/04 • Views of the site are included in Appendix 1; • Information on flood risk is included in Appendix 2. • Correspondence relating to the use of the access is included in Appendix 3.

1.2 An area of the former sewage works site, outlined in blue on plan GPP/JS/B/09/02, is currently shown on the EA flood map as in Flood Zone 2 and 3 (See GPP-JS-B-09- 04); this area has been excluded from the current application to avoid flooding concerns. It is believed that the flood map may exaggerate the area that does flood: Separately to this application a flood map challenge will be conducted, and subject to the successful challenge a second application would be submitted to extend the area to be used, and to add processing of the construction and demolition waste to produce recycled aggregates to the use presently proposed.

1.3 The planning application comprises the following elements:

• Reinforcement of existing access road, and modernisation of access. • Repair of the existing hardcore pad to bring it up to the standard required for the storage of construction and demolition waste and recycled aggregates. • Creation of perimeter bund, to be planted with trees, to provide a degree of security for the site. Fencing of site to the eastern and northern boundaries to screen road users, residents and the garden centre, and provide a degree of security.

2 Site history

2.1 The site has been used since at least 1952 as sewage works. Now disused, the applicant has agreed to purchase the site with a view to using it in the longer term for small scale aggregates recycling and the overnight parking of their plant and machinery (both of these will be subject to a further planning application), and in the short term to bulk up and store recycled aggregates and construction and demolition wastes as the raw material for recycled aggregates (with no processing) on part of the site as detailed in this application.

3 The applicant.

3.1 Northampton Waste Management is a small, locally based company that provides skip hire, inert landfill, and recycling services to the construction industry.

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3.2 In order to facilitate the reuse of recycled aggregates the applicant requires a base for the bulking up of the materials. Having identified the opportunity to purchase the Blisworth site, the applicant is keen to secure planning permission to begin the activity. Longer term (subject to ongoing discussions with the Environment Agency) there will be an application to extend the area of the site to use the full area of land purchased, and to carry out recycling of the aggregates on the site.

4 Planning Policy

Introduction. 4.1 There are a range of planning policies relevant to the consideration of aggregate recycling developments; national strategies and planning guidance, regional strategies and policies and County and District Local Plan policies. Where text is italicised it indicates that it is quoted from the document.

European Landfill Directive 4.2 The Directive required that from the end of October 2007 all wastes that are to be landfilled must have been pre-treated. The recycling of aggregates will reduce the need for landfilling, but residues from the recycling process will count as ‘treated’.

National Policy 4.3 The latest national waste policy is set out in the Waste Strategy 2007, which states that the Government wishes to see future waste management decisions based on the Waste Hierarchy. This states that the most effective environmental solution is to reduce the generation of waste; this is the approach at the top of the hierarchy. At the next level is where products and materials can be used again – re-use; where value can be recovered from waste through recycling or composting this is at the level above energy recovery and at the bottom of the hierarchy, waste which has to be disposed of.

4.4 The key objectives of the revised Waste Strategy are to • decouple waste growth (in all sectors) from economic growth and put more emphasis on waste prevention and re-use; • meet and exceed the Landfill Directive diversion targets for biodegradable municipal waste in 2010, 2013 and 2020; • increase diversion from landfill of non-municipal waste and secure better integration of treatment for municipal and non-municipal waste; • secure the investment in infrastructure needed to divert waste from landfill and for the management of hazardous waste; and • get the most environmental benefit from that investment, through increased recycling of resources and recovery of energy from residual waste using a mix of technologies.

4.5 Planning Policy Statements contain the national guidance on how planning authorities should interpret national strategies and government policy.

4.6 PPS1: Creating Sustainable Communities sets out “the overarching planning policies on the delivery of sustainable development through the planning system19.” It states that “Sustainable development is the core principle underpinning planning”. With regard to waste, this means, local planning authorities should contribute in a variety of ways in meeting national targets for reduction, reuse and recovery of

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materials.

4.7 PPS 10 advises waste planning authorities “in deciding which sites of identify for waste management facilities, waste planning authorities should (i) assess their suitability for development against each of the following criteria: - the extent to which they support the policies of this PPS; - the physical and environmental constraints on development, including existing and proposed neighbouring land uses; - the cumulative effect of previous waste disposal facilities on the well-being of the local community, including any significant adverse impacts on environmental quality, social cohesion or economic potential; - the capacity of existing and potential transport infrastructure to support the sustainable movement of waste, and products arising from resource recovery, seeking when practicable and beneficial to use modes other than road transport. (ii) give priority to the re-use of previously developed land and redundant agricultural and forestry buildings and their curtilages.

Regional Policy 4.8 The Regional Spatial Strategy for the Regional Plan, March 2009, has as one of its Core Objectives the following:

To protect and enhance the environment through: ‘reducing the amount of waste produced and increasing the amount recycled or otherwise beneficially managed’

Local policy is to be found in the Northamptonshire Waste Local Plan adopted 2006.

4.9 Policy 4 Development of Local Waste Facilities Proposals for waste development to provide local facilities (those dealing with 50,000 tonnes or less per annum of non-hazardous waste) will be permitted if it can be demonstrated they will contribute to a sustainable waste management system for Northamptonshire. Such development should comply with one or more of the following: - be located on existing or designated industrial land; - be on derelict, despoiled or brownfield land or building; - contribute to agricultural diversification or to rural regeneration; - be a former or existing mineral working or waste management facility; - be on a site linked to rail or water transport; - be a part of and specifically serve one of the identified Strategic Development Areas at , Rothwell/Desborough, and Wellingborough East (or any other urban extension of over 1,000 dwellings).

4.10 Policy 17 Waste Transfer, Recovery and Recycling Development proposals in which the primary activity is the physical handling, transfer, recovery and/or recycling of waste (including household waste recycling centres, inert recovery and recycling centres, materials recovery facilities (MRF), waste transfer stations, scrapyards and metal recovery operations will be required to: i. demonstrate that the development will assist the efficient collection and recovery of waste materials

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Compliance with policy

4.11 The proposal complies with national and regional waste policies and strategies for the diversion of construction and demolition waste from landfill and the facilitation of its re-use.

4.12 The choice of the site will provide a local facility to serve the local area, occupying an area close to the south of the town of Northampton.

4.13 The site is previously developed land, and will secure jobs in the rural area, helping to meet targets for recycling and treating waste in the area in which it arises.

5 Mitigation of environmental impacts

Traffic 5.1 There will be a modest increase in traffic associated with this proposal, but this will be mitigated by an associated application for a reduction in the speed limit on the road. Following discussions with the Highways Authority, the applicant has secured support for use of the access provided traffic speeds are restricted to 50mph. Correspondence relating to this is included in Appendix 3

5.2 The recycling activities and vehicle parking will add the following number of movements;

25000 tonnes per annum 48 working weeks at 5.5 days per week = 264 working days Materials to be imported at an average of 15 tonnes per load Average number of deliveries per day = 1000/264 = 6.3 (7) Generating approximately 14 movements per day (approximately one delivery every hour as a maximum rate)

It must be stressed that this is a maximum volume; the actual anticipated volume is likely to be significantly lower.

Landscape and Visual Impact. 5.3 The site is situated in an area of landscape defined in the Northamptonshire Landscape Character Assessment as the UNDULATING HILLS AND VALLEYS, and within the sub area 13b and Daventry. The following description is offered in the LCA.

The Bugbrooke and Daventry Character Area is the most extensive area of the Undulating Hills and Valleys character areas and occurs on the western and southern side the Broad River Valley Floodplain. It extends from the western county boundary, around the eastern edge of Daventry, to the south- western edge of Northampton. Whilst this undulating landscape has a pronounced series of hills and valleys to the west, to the south and east it becomes more subtle due to its proximity to the River Nene and its floodplain. Views along the undulations are generally long and open, although landform and vegetation frequently limit more extensive, panoramic views.

Land cover in the area is a combination of both arable and pastoral farmland in

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fields of varying size. There is, however, a predominance of improved pastures with grazing cattle and horses surrounding the settlements dispersed through the character area, and often on steeper slopes such as those around Borough Hill. Woodland is limited to small, predominantly broadleaved woodland copses sparsely scattered throughout the area and becoming less frequent south of the River Nene. A number of well treed field boundaries also contribute to the overall woodland cover and often emphasise the undulating landform.

Industrial heritage features are also evident in the Bugbrooke and Daventry Undulating Hills and Valleys, including significant sections of the and large stretches of both dismantled and working railways.

5.4 The area surrounding the application site broadly conforms to the character as identified in the summary above, being located in an area of largely pastures and grazing land, adjoining the railway embankment, and with views interrupted by treed hedge lines and subtly undulating landform. However, the site itself is of limited landscape value; the proposals are for use of previously developed land adjoining the 10m plus railway and embankment, and whose closest neighbour is a plant nursery. No permanent structures are to be added to the site, beyond fencing and an earth bund for security purposes.

5.5 The site is largely screened from the road by hedgerow and distance, whilst the terraced houses which are closest to the site are sited with their main elevations aligned to face north/south, therefore they have no direct view of the site, which lies over 100m to the west.

5.6 The proposed security bund along the western and southern boundaries will be planted with native trees and shrubs, to enhance the habitat value of the site. A detailed planting scheme will be submitted for approval in the event that planning permission is granted for this activity

Flood Risk Assessment 5.7 The site is not at risk of flooding, as it is outside the area identified on the Environment Agency detailed flood map.

5.8 No additional roof area is proposed for the development, and no additional impermeable surfaces within the yard. The additional width provided in the access road represents a small increase in impermeable area, but will not materially affect the rate of runoff. No formal Flood Risk Assessment is submitted for this application; See Appendix 2 for details.

Groundwater and surface water protection 5.9 The site is not within a groundwater protection zone. No materials to be handled will contain contamination, as they will largely have been pre-sorted prior to delivery to the site, and therefore there is only a very low risk of contamination of surface water.

Nature and archaeological conservation 5.10 There is no known archaeological interest at the site. The previous use of the land means that there are no plants of nature conservation interest. There are no known

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badger setts or habitats likely to contain other protected species.

Air emissions 5.11 There will be no air emissions associated with the development. The materials to be handled are solely aggregates, and as such will not be subject to contamination which could cause such emissions.

Odour, dust, litter and pests impacts. 5.12 The materials to be handled will not generate odour or attract pests as they will mostly have been pre-sorted prior to collection and delivery to the site. Litter may arise from the waste, but will be contained by the proposed perimeter bund and fence. Any litter that collects around the site will be collected and disposed of, off- site. Dust is unlikely to be associated with the activity, as it is simply a storage activity, but should dust become an issue a water bowser will be brought to site and used to dampen the aggregates stockpiles. The nearest housing is over 130m away to the east, and the nursery 85m to the north; therefore it is unlikely they will experience any adverse levels of odour, dust, litter or pests.

Noise impacts 5.13 Noise from proposed activities will be minimal; the noise associated with the movement of vehicles, and the tipping and loading of the aggregates will only take place on a sporadic and infrequent basis. Therefore, no detailed noise assessment has been carried out. Hours of operation are proposed that will ensure that the nearest residents do not suffer noise disturbance from the operations.

Lighting 5.14 No fixed lights will be needed in the yard, as work here during the dark can be adequately illuminated by headlights on the mobile equipment.

6 Conclusions

6.1 The development complies with national, regional and local policies for the diversion of waste from landfill.

6.2 The waste local plan is identifies former sewage works as suitable for waste uses, and as such this site is considered suitable for the proposed uses. The operations will not have a detrimental impact on the immediate surroundings or the countryside, and facilitate the operation of a local aggregates recycling operation.

6.3 Environmental impacts of the development can be mitigated so that there is very little risk of any adverse impact on the locality.

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Appendix 1

Photographs of the site

View across area for aggregate stockpiles looking west

View across area for aggregate stockpiles looking east

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View to nearest residential neighbours on zoom lens. The site boundary will be fenced to limit any visual intrusion to the single window on the end of the houses facing the site.

View to nearest neighbour, plant nursery on zoom lens. The site boundary will be fenced to limit any visual intrusion to the nursery.

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Access to site from road. Concrete to be repaired where necessary

View of site from access, including existing building.

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Site access from opposite side of road

View north from site access

View south from access.

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Appendix 2.

FRA Requirements.

The application site and its relationship to the Flood Plain, is shown in plan GPP-JS-B-09-04 and is in Zone 1.

PPS25 has the following to say regarding the requirement for FRA, with the element relevant to this site shown in Bold. ‘Site-specific Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs)

E8. At the planning application stage, an appropriate FRA will be required to demonstrate how flood risk from all sources of flooding to the development itself and flood risk to others will be managed now and taking climate change into account. Policies in LDDs should require FRAs to be submitted with planning applications in areas of flood risk identified in the plan. E9. Planning applications for development proposals of 1 hectare or greater in Flood Zone 1 and all proposals for new development located in Flood Zones 2 and 3 (see Table D.1, Annex D) should be accompanied by a FRA. This should identify and assess the risks of all forms of flooding to and from the development and demonstrate how these flood risks will be managed, taking climate change into account. For major developments in Flood Zone 1, the FRA should identify opportunities to reduce the probability and consequences of flooding. A FRA will also be required where the proposed development or change of use to a more vulnerable class may be subject to other sources of flooding (see Annex C) or where the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board and/or other bodies have indicated that there may be drainage problems.

E10. The FRA should be prepared by the developer in consultation with the LPA. The FRA should form part of an Environmental Statement when one is required by the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 as amended.’

As the site is in Zone 1 and is of less than 1ha (0.35ha) in area, there is no requirement under PPS25 for a site specific FRA.

The use, either previously (general industry) or proposed (waste treatment) both fall within the ‘Less Vulnerable’ category as shown below.

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As seen in the table above, ‘Less Vulnerable’ development in ‘Zone 1’ is classed as appropriate.

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Appendix 3.

Access Correspondence.

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