Rainworth Operation Sewage Works
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Fisher German LLP Severn Trent Water Limited Rainworth Operation Sewage Works Planning, Design & Access Statement on behalf of: Severn Trent Water Limited by: Alan Hardwick BSc(Hons) MSc MRTPI 01530 567471 date: September 2013 revision: 001 Severn Trent Water Severn Trent Water Limited (STWL) is a regulated business with statutory responsibilities for the provision of water and sewerage services to over eight million people in an area of 21,000 square kilometres stretching from the Bristol Channel to the Humber, and from mid-Wales to the East Midlands. Severn Trent Water is currently implementing its Asset Management Plan for AMP5 (April 2010 to March 2015), which is the mechanism by which the regulator OFWAT defines in a five year capital expenditure programme for all water companies. Investment during the AMP5 period is in response to a number of key drivers. These drivers include providing a continuous supply of quality water, dealing effectively with waste water, and promoting an effective regulatory regime. Scope of Project / Background This planning statement has been prepared for STWL to support a planning application for the installation of five Kiosks to house a new motor control centre, electrical switch gear and distribution boards at Rainworth Sewage Treatment Works (STW). Rainworth STW serves a current Population Equivalent (PE) of 26,907 however Rainworth is identified within the Core Strategy Options Report as having the potential to accommodate between 500 - 950 new houses by 2026. The STW will have limited capacity to cope with this increased load unless elements of the works are updated. The proposal is to install five kiosks to house a new motor control centre, electrical switch gear and distribution boards within the existing operational site to facilitate this increased load and ensure the likely future increases in demand up to 2026 can be met. This planning application seeks permission for: The erection of 1 Inlet Kiosk (6.00m by 3.00m by 3.925m high) The erection of 1 MCC Kiosk (12.00m by 3.00m by 3.275m high) The erection of 1 Metering Kiosk (3.00m by 6.00m by 3.925m high) The erection of 2 Washwater Booster Pump Kiosk (2.75m by 2.75m by 2.75m high x2) The following development is also proposed but does not comprise part of this planning application as it is considered to fall under the permitted development rights afforded to sewerage undertakers (Part 16, Class A, Part e) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Relocation of Sludge Decant Liquor Pipework Replace existing Meva Step screens with rotating fine screens New Humus desludge actuators Increase current Tertiary treatment capacity Improvements to the site’s wash water system STWL / External Driver The sewage treatment works requires upgrading due to on-going required capital maintenance and replacement of apparatus nearing end-of-life and to facilitate future growth. Site Location / Description Rainworth Sewage Treatment Works is located south east of the town of Mansfield and north of the settlement of Rainworth at OS Grid ref SK 598 310592. The site is accessed via Colliery Lane, a single track road off the A617 which bypasses Rainworth. The site address is Colliery Lane, Rufford, Newark, NG21 0HR. __________________________________________________________________________________________ STW5//R21 2 of 8 The Rainworth Water, a watercourse that is a tributary of the River Maun runs close to the eastern boundary of the STW site. A railway line runs to the eastern boundary of the site. Land surrounding the site is largely agricultural with the settlements of Rainworth to the south and Bilsthorpe to the east. There are also some large pockets of wooded land directly to the north of the site. The nearest residential properties are those located approximately 351 metres to the south west of the proposed kiosk. Existing Use The site is located within the existing operational area of Rainworth STW. Planning History The site has previously had planning permission granted for a new monitoring kiosk in December 2011 (Ref. 11/01723/CMA). Proposed Development / Amount The proposal comprises The erection of 5 No. kiosks, comprising 1 Inlet Kiosk (6.00m by 3.00m by 3.925m high), 1 Metering Kiosk (3.00m by 6.00m by 3.925m high), 1 MCC Kiosk (12.00m by 3.00m by 3.275m high)and 2 Washwater Booster Pump Kiosk (2.75m by 2.75m by 2.75m high). The kiosks are to be positioned on a small concrete plinth. Consultation No formal pre-application advice was requested given the scale of the development proposed and its location with the existing operational area of the STW. Layout The layout of the proposed scheme is identified on the plans as submitted in support of this planning application. The proposed MCC kiosk and one washwater booster pump kiosk will be positioned close to the northern site boundary close to the existing primary and secondary humus tanks located beside the proposed deep bed tertiary filter plant. The proposed metering kiosk is close to the north western site boundary close to the existing primary and secondary humus tanks. The proposed second washwater booster pump kiosk and proposed inlet works kiosk are located to the south of the site. They are in reasonable proximity to the sludge drying beds and two digesters. The kiosks will be located adjacent to other structures within the STW and will be viewed against this existing context. Scale The size of the operational site at Rainworth STW is approximately 8.1ha. The proposed kiosk developments will measure a total of 87.13 sq m in area, and are of the smallest dimensions to accommodate the required apparatus. Landscaping Given the extent of existing landscaping to the site, and the location of the kiosk away from the highway and adjacent to existing buildings, no additional landscaping is proposed. It should however be noted that no trees or vegetation are proposed to be removed as part of the scheme. __________________________________________________________________________________________ STW5//R21 3 of 8 Appearance The proposed washwater booster pump kiosks will be coloured Holly Green (BS4800-14-C39), consistent with the existing structures on the site, to help the new structures blend in with its surroundings. They will be constructed from glass reinforced plastic and will have a double door on the front elevation. The proposed inlet works and metering kiosk will also be coloured Holly Green (BS4800-14- C39), consistent with the existing structures on the site, to help the new structures blend in with its surroundings. They will be constructed from glass reinforced plastic and will have a double door on the side elevation and a single door on the front elevation. The MCC Kiosk will be coloured Holly Green (BS4800-14-C39), consistent with the existing structures on the site, to help the new structure blend in with its surroundings. It will be constructed from glass reinforced plastic and will have a double door on the front elevation and a single door on the side elevation. Further details of this can be viewed on the elevation plans. The size of the proposed kiosk has been kept to a minimum to ensure that it does not have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding landscape. Planning Policy Development proposals are required to comply with relevant development plan policies unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The following policies are considered pertinent to this proposal: National Planning Policy National Planning Policy Framework (March 2012) The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in March 2012 and outlines the Government’s planning policies for England. It identifies sustainable development as the key principle underpinning planning and highlights that there are three dimensions to sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. The document also outlines 12 ‘core planning principles’ including securing high quality design; supporting a low carbon future, including the consideration of flood risk; taking account of the different roles and characters of different areas; and encouraging the effective use of land. In terms of flood risk, the NPPF states that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk. The sequential test should be adopted when considering locations at risk of flooding for development and further information on this is outlined in Technical Guidance to the NPPF. The site is adjacent to Rainworth Heath, and thus paragraph 118 of the NPPF is relevant. It states that local planning authorities should aim to conserve and enhance biodiversity by ensuring that development on land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest likely to have an adverse effect on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (either individually or in combination with other developments)should not normally be permitted. Where an adverse effect on the site’s notified special interest features is likely, an exception should only be made where the benefits of the development, at this site, clearly outweigh both the impacts that it is likely to have on the features of the site that make it of special scientific interest and any broader impacts on the national network of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Paragraph 132 identifies that the significance of a heritage asset can be harmed or lost through development within its setting. However paragraph 137 confirms that new developments within the setting of heritage assets that preserve those elements of the setting __________________________________________________________________________________________ STW5//R21 4 of 8 that make a positive contribution to the significance of the asset should be treated favourably. Technical Guidance to the National Planning Policy Framework (March 2012) Technical Guidance to the NPPF was published in March 2012 to provide additional guidance in relation to development in areas at risk of flooding and mineral extraction.