Minerals | Planning | Geology | Environment
Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended)
APPLICATION FOR THE CONTINUED USE OF THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL SITE AND BUILDINGS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A RANGE OF WOOD FUEL PRODUCTS AND FOR THE IMPORTATION AND PROCESSING OF WASTES TO PRODUCE A RANGE OF RECOVERED FUEL PRODUCTS AT HEADON CAMP INDUSTRIAL ESTATE LADY WELL LANE HEADON RETFORD NOTTINGHAMSHIRE NCC Received 14/07/2017
PLANNING STATEMENT
JULY 2017
On behalf of: Waste to Energy Assets Ltd.
© 2017 Hughes Craven Ltd.
Minerals | Planning | Geology | Environment
Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended)
APPLICATION FOR THE CONTINUED USE OF THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL SITE AND BUILDINGS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A RANGE OF WOOD FUEL PRODUCTS AND FOR THE IMPORTATION AND PROCESSING OF WASTES TO PRODUCE A RANGE OF RECOVERED FUEL PRODUCTS
AT
HEADON CAMP INDUSTRIAL ESTATE LADY WELL LANE HEADON RETFORD NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
PLANNING STATEMENT Received
On behalf of:
Waste to Energy Assets Ltd. NCC 14/07/2017
Report Status: Final Revision: 1.01 Issue Date: 14.07.2017
Hughes Craven Ltd. Sparkhouse, Ropewalk, Lincoln, LN6 7DQ T: 01522 849555 E: [email protected] W: www.hughes-craven.co.uk
This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of Hughes Craven Ltd.’s appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that appointment. Hughes Craven Ltd. accepts no responsibility or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the client for the purposes of which it was originally commissioned and prepared. This report has been prepared with all reasonable skill, care and diligence and any advice, opinions, or recommendations within this document should be read in the context of the document as a whole. Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
CONTENTS Page
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background 1 1.2. The Proposed Development 1 1.3. Supporting Information 2 1.4. The Applicant 3 1.5. Pre-Application Discussions 4 1.6. Environmental Impact Assessment 4
2. SITE DETAILS 2.1. Location 6 2.2. Description 6 2.3. Geology and Hydrology 8 2.4. Planning and Environmental Designations 9 2.5. Site History 9 2.6. Planning History 10 3. EXISTING OPERATIONS 3.1. General 11
3.2. Imported Logs 11 Received 3.3. Production of Dried, Split Logs 11 3.4. Production of Woodchip and Woodchip Briquettes 12
4. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT NCC 14/07/2017 4.1. General 14 4.2. Further Infrastructure Improvements 14 4.3. Solid Recovered Fuel Production 15 4.4. Wood Waste Fuel Production 16
5. OPERATIONAL ISSUES 5.1. Site Layout and Infrastructure 18 5.2. Plant and Machinery 19 5.3. Surfacing and Drainage 21 5.4. Operating Hours 21 5.5. Employment 21 5.6. Boundaries and Security 22 5.7. Lighting 22 5.8. Fire Prevention 23 5.9. Pollution Prevention 23
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
6. MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS 6.1. Transport 24 6.2. Noise 25 6.3. Air Quality 27 6.4. Drainage and Flood Risk 29 6.5. Contaminated Land 31 6.6. Landscape and Visual Impact 31 6.7. Ecology 34 6.8. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 36 6.9. Other Material Considerations 37
7. PLANNING POLICY 7.1. The Development Plan 38 7.2. National Planning Policy Framework 38 7.3. National Planning Policy for Waste 40 7.4. Nottinghamshire Waste Core Strategy 43 7.5. Nottinghamshire Waste Local Plan 49 7.6. Bassetlaw Core Strategy 53 7.7. Bassetlaw Emerging Policy 54
8. CONCLUSIONS 55
APPENDICES Received 1. Plans 0738-5-1 Site Location Plan
0738-5-2 Site Boundary Plan NCC 14/07/2017 0738-5-7 Topographic Survey 0738-5-8 Proposed Site Layout 0738-5-10 Building 1 Elevations 0738-5-12 Proposed Shredding Bays 2. Photographs 3. Plant Details 4. Transport Statement 5. Noise Assessment 6. Air Quality Assessment 7. Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy 8. Geo Environmental Assessment 9. Photographic Viewpoints 0738-5-12 Photo Viewpoint Locations Photographic Viewpoint Records
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 1 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background
The site, which has been formed by the amalgamation of three smaller units, lies within Headon Camp Industrial Estate, a long established industrial complex lying approximately 5km to the southeast of Retford. Former uses include a commercial vehicle scrapyard, steel fabrication and the recycling of paper and plastics.
In total the site extends to 1.6ha. and includes three principal buildings of varied design. These buildings have recently undergone a programme of refurbishment, including the extension of the main building, which, together with improvements to the surrounding hard standing and site infrastructure, have significantly improved and modernised the site.
The northern and southern buildings contain a number of log boilers with the northern building also accommodating shredding and briquetting plant. The central building has been refurbished to provide office and welfare facilities. All of the boilers used on site have been tested and certified by the manufacturers, confirming that they meet emission limits using the specified fuel types (split, dried logs).
The operations currently carried out on site consist of industrial drying of imported wood to
produce various fuel products, including dried, split logs, woodchip and woodchip briquettes. Received
The boilers produce heat in the form of hot water which is pumped to heat exchangers, with fans blowing warm air along external steel ducting which is connected to drying containers. The drying containers are loaded with split logs which are dried by the passage of warm air, with theNCC 14/07/2017 resultant dried logs being either sold off-site or used as fuel within the on-site boilers.
In addition to this, green (i.e. undried) logs are shredded within the northern building to produce woodchip, which is then loaded into purpose built bins and dried in a process similar to that outlined above. When the moisture content has been sufficiently reduced the woodchip is either sold directly as biomass fuel or is used to produce woodchip briquettes.
1.2. The Proposed Development
It is proposed to continue the activities outlined above and to import selected waste materials to be processed using the same plant, machinery and techniques to provide a wider range of fuel products.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 2 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Wastes to be imported will include waste wood and the unrecyclable elements of Commercial and Industrial (C & I) wastes, consisting primarily of wood, plastics, paper and textiles, which would otherwise be sent to landfill/incineration. No putrescible or hazardous wastes will be imported and, in addition to the planning regime, all waste activities will be regulated by the Environment Agency (EA).
The C & I wastes will be processed to produce a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) whilst the wood wastes will be used in the place of virgin woods in the production of woodchip and briquettes. No wastes will be burnt on site, with the boilers being fired by split logs which have been dried on site.
SRF is used mainly as an alternative to fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil or gas) in processes such as the manufacture of cement and the generation of electricity. In order to replace fossil fuels SRF must meet a high specification, including a low moisture content, high Calorific Value, low sulphur and chlorine content, small particle size and no food waste content.
A total of up to 35,000 tonnes of materials (be that imported logs, C & I waste or waste wood) will be processed at the site per year, with the quantities of each type of material varying depending upon prevailing supply situation and the market demand for each fuel type. The drying of this quantity of material will require approximately 10,000 tonnes of logs to be imported
to the site to fuel the on-site processes. Received
Additional built development will be limited to the construction of covered bays to accommodate the shredding of materials, which will be constructed from shipping containers, and further improvements to the site’s infrastructure. NCC 14/07/2017
The proposed development will allow efficient re-use of the existing buildings and create important local employment. The production of fuels from material which would otherwise be sent to landfill will help drive material up the waste hierarchy, reducing disposal to landfill and ultimately helping to meet both waste reduction and carbon emissions targets.
As the development involves the importation and processing of wastes, this Application is being submitted to Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC), as the appropriate Waste Planning Authority (WPA).
1.3. Supporting Information
This Planning Statement provides a description of the site and its surroundings and identifies any planning or environmental designations which could potentially be affected by the Development.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 3 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
It sets out the planning history and outlines the Development, the plant and equipment required and type of volume of materials involved. These factors are then assessed in terms of local and national planning policy.
The potential impact of the Development on the environment and amenity of the local community is assessed and, where necessary, mitigation measures are proposed to minimise any identified adverse impacts.
Although the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 confirms that there is no longer a statutory requirement for Design and Access Statements for waste developments, information contained within this Planning Statement includes aspects which would otherwise form part of a Design and Access Statement.
A range of assessments have been prepared by a team of specialist technical consultants and these are reproduced in full in the Appendices to this Statement. The assessments include:
• Transport Statement, reproduced at Appendix 4. • Noise Assessment, reproduced at Appendix 5. • Air Quality Assessment, reproduced at Appendix 6. • Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy, reproduced at Appendix 7. • Geo Environmental Assessment, reproduced at Appendix 8. Received In addition to these stand-alone reports, a number of additional assessments have been undertaken, the findings of which are contained within this Planning Statement.
Whilst a number of plans are contained within the above assessments, these may have beenNCC 14/07/2017 subject to minor revisions following the completion of the assessments and, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitive plans are contained within Appendix 1 of this Planning Statement.
1.4. The Applicant
The Application is being submitted on behalf of Waste to Energy Assets Ltd., hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’.
Whilst a single planning application is being submitted to cover the site as a whole, activities are undertaken by two separate companies, which have been co-located in order to share infrastructure and plant, thereby achieving significant efficiencies.
The production of wood fuel products is undertaken by Retford Wood Fuels Ltd., whilst all waste processing activities, including the production of SRF, will be undertaken by Retford Waste to Energy Ltd.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 4 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
1.5. Pre-Application Discussions
Nottinghamshire County Council
Following the initiation of works to refurbish the site buildings, it is understood that NCC received reports of unauthorised activity from a members of the public. In order to clarify the situation a site meeting was held between representatives of the Applicant and Enforcement Officers from both Bassetlaw District Council (BDC) and NCC in January 2017.
As a result of this meeting it was confirmed that, whilst no waste related activities had taken place, the proposed future use of the site for waste importation and processing would require consent from NCC rather than BDC.
Further to this a meeting was held with both Enforcement and Planning Officers of NCC to discuss the scope of the required Application. Throughout the preparation of the Application liaison has continued between various NCC officers and the Applicant’s representatives.
Parish Council and Local Residents
During early 2017 the Applicant became aware of various rumours circulating in the local area regarding developments at the site. Following informal site visits from both local residents and members of the Parish Council, a formal site visit, including a guided tour of the plant and all
areas of the site was arranged for representatives of Headon cum Upton, Grove and StokehamReceived Parish Council in March 2017.
Previous to this visit a number of local residents have been to the site and have been provided NCC 14/07/2017 with answers to their questions regarding the existing operations and the proposals for processing waste materials.
1.6. Environmental Impact Assessment
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (‘the Regulations’) set out categories of development which are considered to potentially require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Proposals that are either named in Schedule 1, or described in Schedule 2 by reference to applicable thresholds and criteria, are considered to be EIA development and therefore require an Environmental Statement to be prepared as part of the decision making process.
The Development does not fall into any of the categories included within Schedule 1 however it is considered that it may represent Schedule 2 development. Such development is defined by the Regulations as being that likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size and location.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 5 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Column 1 of Schedule 2 describes the types of development which may be subject to EIA, whilst Column 2 provides a number of applicable thresholds and criteria for the purpose of classifying development as Schedule 2 development.
It is considered that the Proposed Development would fall within section 11b ‘Installations for the disposal of waste’ of Column 1, for which the applicable thresholds in Column 2 are:
(i) The disposal is by incineration; or
(ii) the area of the development exceeds 0.5 ha.; or
(iii) the installation is to be sited within 100 metres of any controlled waters.
The Development does not propose the disposal of any wastes by incineration and does not lie within 100m of any controlled waters. As the Application site exceeds 0.5ha. the proposals are nevertheless deemed to represent Schedule 2 development. Exceedance of the indicative thresholds does not mean that EIA is necessary, but does require that the proposed development be ‘screened’.
Further screening judgment must therefore be made as to whether the proposal represents EIA development and Paragraph 058 (Reference ID 4-058-20150326) of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) provides indicative thresholds to help make this judgment.
The indicative criteria and thresholds in respect of section 11b are confirmed as a capacity ofReceived more than 50,000 tonnes of waste material per year, or to hold waste on a site of 10 ha. or more. It also confirms that sites taking smaller quantities of wastes are unlikely to require EIA. NCC 14/07/2017 As the Proposed Development involves a throughput of less than 50,000 tonnes of waste per year and will take place on a site significantly below the indicated area threshold, it is clear that, whilst the Development is listed in Schedule 2, its scale and potential impacts do not warrant EIA. Accordingly this Application is not accompanied by an Environmental Statement.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 6 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
2. SITE DETAILS
2.1. Location
The site, centred at NGR 475055, 378130, is located within Headon camp Industrial Estate, to the north of Lady Well Lane, Headon, Retford. It lies approximately 5km southeast of the centre of Retford and 1,000m north of the village of Headon. The site falls within the administrative district of BDC and lies within the Parish of Headon cum Upton, Grove and Stokeham.
For details of the site’s location and boundaries, see drawings 0738-5-1 and 2 which, along with all drawings referred to within this Statement, are reproduced at Appendix 1.
2.2. Description
General
The site extends to approximately 1.6ha. and occupies the northwestern section of Headon Camp Industrial Estate. Access from Lady Well Lane is via a concrete roadway, approximately 4m in width, which runs from the public highway through the Industrial Estate and serves a number of properties. In total the Industrial Estate extends to just over 3ha., the greater part of which lies between 48m and 51m AOD. Current land uses include vehicle repairs, joinery and
general storage. Received
The Industrial Estate is set within rolling countryside, which falls to the west and rises to the east. Long distance views of the site are limited by a combination of topography, woodlands NCC 14/07/2017 and intervening hedgerows whilst shorter distance views are limited by neighbouring industrial units and vegetation. A number of wind turbines are located in relatively close proximity to the site.
The number of residential properties within 500m is limited, with four dwellings located close to Lady Well Lane to the southeast, with a further dwelling and Mill Hill Farm lying 275m and 375m to the southwest respectively.
The Application site has been created through the amalgamation of three separate industrial units, and includes three principal buildings of varied design and construction. Its northern and western boundaries are directly with agricultural land whilst its southern and eastern boundaries are shared with adjacent industrial land.
The layout of the site, as at March 2017, is shown on drawing 0738-5-7, though it should be noted that some alterations have occurred since this time. Photographs of the site as at June 2017 are included at Appendix 2, and each area of the site is described in further detail below.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 7 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Northern Area and Building 1
The principal building (Building 1) is located in the northern section of the site, with extensive areas of hard standing to the south, east and west. A row of established, coniferous trees lie along the western boundary and parts of the northern boudnary.
To the west of Building 1 the greater part of the hard standing lies between 48m and 49m AOD, whilst to the east of the building it lies at approximately 50m AOD. In order to contain surface waters a low concrete bund has been constructed along sections of the northern and western boundaries.
Building 1 consists of a steel clad, portal framed structure extending to approximately 2,550m2. This previously accommodated an engineering company specialising in large scale steel fabrications, and was renovated and extended, under Permitted Development rights, in early 2017. Elevations of the building are shown on drawing 0738-5-10.
Roller shutter doors on the southern elevation provide the principal access, with the central area remaining as a single open space which accommodates a briquette plant, stocking and processing areas.
Internal walls separate both the eastern and western sections of the building from the central area, with the peripheral sections accommodating 132 x 130kW wood fired boilers, 9 x 60kW Received wood fired boilers and their associated pipework. Space immediately adjacent to the boilers is reserved for the storage of dried, split logs, which are used as fuel.
The hot water produced by the boilers is pumped to heat exchangers and fans housed withinNCC 14/07/2017 converted shipping containers located immediately to the east and west of the building. Fans located within the containers then blow warm air along steel ducting, to which drying containers can be connected to facilitate the drying of materials.
Southern Area (including Buildings 2 and 3)
The central area of the site is largely open and lies almost entirely under impermeable hard standing. It is screened to the west by established tree planting and is separated from other land uses to the east by steel fencing.
Building 2 consists of a single storey concrete building extending to 66m2 which provides office accommodation and welfare facilities. Immediately to the west of this lies a welfare block and two portable office buildings, stacked on top of each other. Areas to the south of these buildings are set aside for staff and visitor car parking, whilst a weighbridge is situated between Building 2 and the eastern boundary of the site.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 8 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The main HGV access is in the southeastern corner of the site, with a further access along the eastern boundary. The access is currently secured by temporary, heras type fencing and gates however it is proposed that more permanent fencing will be installed once the site is fully operational.
Building 3 lies on the southern boundary of the site and consists of a single storey building of block and steel construction which extends to approximately 280m2. This building houses 21 x 130kW wood fired boilers and 2 x 500kW woodchip boilers.
As with Building 1, these boilers heat water which is pumped to heat exchangers and fans housed within shipping containers located immediately adjacent to the building. The fans blow warm air along steel ducting which is connected by flexible hoses to drying containers, consisting of converted 40ft shipping containers which are used to dry logs.
To the east of Building 3, and adjacent to the site entrance, a cabin has been set aside to provide facilities for security staff.
2.3. Geology and Hydrology
British Geological Survey (BGS) mapping shows the site to be underlain by Triassic mudstones of the Clarborough Member. These beds are characterised by predominantly red mudstones
with subordinate siltstones and thin beds of gypsum/anhydrite/sandstone occasionally present.Received No significant superficial deposits are recorded in the vicinity of the site and no boreholes are recorded by the BGS, either within the site or in its immediate vicinity.
No surface waters are recorded in the immediate environs of the site, with the closest surfaceNCC 14/07/2017 water feature being a small watercourse approximately 180m to the west, flowing from north to south and joining another stream to the southwest of Headon village.
The underlying mudstones are classified as a ‘Secondary B’ aquifer which typically consist of lower permeability layers which may store and yield limited amounts of groundwater due to localised features such as fissures, thin permeable horizons and weathering.
The sites does not lie within a Source Protection Zone and no licenced water abstractions are recorded within 2km.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 9 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
2.4. Planning and Environmental Designations
The site is not covered by any statutory or non-statutory designations.
The closest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Treswell Woods, lies 1,200m to the northeast and consists of mixed broadleaved and yew woodland separated from the site by intensively worked agricultural land. The Woods are also designated as a Local Wildlife Site (LWS).
Other SSSIs within the area include Gamston and Eaton Woods and Roadside Verges SSSI, which lies approximately 2,000m to the west-southwest, and Castle Hill Wood SSSI, which is located 2,250m to the north-northwest.
The closest LWS is Headon Wood and Schoolhouse Plantation, which lies approximately 700m to the southwest of the site and is designated on account of its semi natural deciduous plantation woodland separated by unimproved neutral grassland.
Other LWSs include Brigg Lane, approximately 1,300m to the south, a grass track notable for a good selection of herbs, Beverley Spring, approximately 1,400m to the west, which includes areas of characteristic tall coppice, and Upton notified roadside verges, 1,500m to the south, which are designated on account of their dry grassland and noteworthy flora.
The closest listed structure is The Lady Well (Grade 2) which lies to the south of Lady WellReceived Lane approximately 170m to the southwest of the site. Two listed buildings are recorded within Headon, the Grade 1 Church of St Peter and the Grade 2 Glebe Farmhouse, located approximately 1.0 km and 1.1 km south of the site respectively. NCC 14/07/2017
2.5. Site History
The site was originally developed as a Prisoner of War (POW) camp during World War Two, and historic Ordnance Survey mapping shows that, prior to this time, it remained as undeveloped agricultural land.
The precise date that Camp was redeveloped as an Industrial Estate is unknown however it is likely that this transformation was gradual, with former POW buildings being progressively converted to industrial uses, with the majority having now been demolished and/or replaced.
The Application site has been formed from the amalgamation of three former units on the Industrial Estate as set out below:
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 10 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
• The northwestern 0.7ha., including Building 1, which was formerly used for engineering and the fabrication of steelwork. This use ceased following the operator (Stratton Services Ltd.) entering administration.
• The central and southern 0.5ha., including Buildings 2 and 3, which was formerly used for commercial vehicle breaking and sales. This use ceased following the relocation of the operator (North Notts Trucks Ltd.).
• The eastern 0.4ha., which was formerly used for the recycling of paper and plastics by Paperwaste (Notts) Ltd. This use ceased following a fire at the site.
2.6. Planning History
Owing to the variety of previous uses the Application site has an extensive planning history, with the majority of previous permission granted by BDC.
The earliest planning records for the former engineering site include the erection of an industrial unit for metalworking in 1988 and the subsequent extension of that building in 1993.
The earliest records relating to the former scrap yard include the use of existing buildings for the repair of agricultural machinery in 1978 and the erection of a new building and offices in 1980 and 1982 respectively. During 2011 BDC granted a Lawful Development Certificate for the use of the site as a scrap yard. Received
The former recycling site was granted permission for the retention of the existing buildings for
waste reclamation in 1977, with a further permission being granted to construct a new steelNCC 14/07/2017 framed building and a change of use for waste paper and plastic processing in 1993.
It is understood that the earlier permission was time limited and the later permission was never formally implemented however the site was used for recycling activities until its closure following a fire in 2006.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 11 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
3. EXISTING OPERATIONS
3.1. General
The operations currently carried out consist of the industrial drying of imported wood to produce various fuel products. Imported logs are processed to produce a variety of products, including dried logs, woodchip and woodchip briquettes.
The operations required to create each fuel product are carried out using plant and equipment located within and around Buildings 1 and 3, as shown on drawing number 0738-5-8.
3.2. Imported Logs
All logs used to fuel the on-site processes are supplied by members of the Biomass Suppliers List (BSL). This list is managed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), with the aim of supporting the Government's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme by ensuring that wood fuels used in biomass boilers meets certain sustainability and legality requirements.
To be included on the BSL, suppliers must demonstrate that the greenhouse gas emissions generated from the cultivation, processing and transport of their biomass fuel are at least 60%
lower than the EU fossil fuel average for heat, and confirm that the wood has been legally felledReceived and the woodland has been sustainably managed.
Logs are imported by HGVs of various capacities and are typically stockpiled within the central NCC 14/07/2017 and southern sections of the site.
3.3. Production of Dried, Split Logs
Building 3 contains 21 x 130 kW log boilers and 2 x 500 kW woodchip boilers which combine to provide the necessary heat for drying wood within containers located to the west of the Building.
The log boilers are loaded periodically by hand and the woodchip boilers are fed by an automated system from a hopper sited within the building. Owing to operational requirements (loading, cleaning, maintenance etc.), only approximately 25% of the boilers are in use at any one time.
The boilers produce heat in the form of hot water which is pumped via pipework to heat exchangers and fans housed within converted shipping containers located next to the building. These containers measure 6.1m x 2.4m, with a height of 2.6m and, to the west of Building 3, are stacked two high.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 12 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Fans within the containers blow warm air along steel ducting which is connected by flexible hoses to the drying containers. These containers consist of converted shipping containers measuring 12.2m x 2.4m, with a height of 2.6m.
The drying containers are loaded with split logs which are dried by the passage of warm air. The drying process can be carried out in a number of ways, but generally wood is placed within metal cages which are stacked within the drying containers using a forklift. These are then left in place for sufficient time to achieve the required reduction in moisture content.
Whilst variable, the typical moisture content of the logs imported to the site is between 30% and 50%, with the drying process reducing this to between 15% and 20%, depending upon the required specification.
After drying is complete the containers are unloaded by forklift and the logs are removed from the cages and either used on site or sold off-site. Cages containing ‘green’ (undried) wood are then loaded into the containers to repeat the process.
3.4. Production of Woodchip and Woodchip Briquettes
Building 1 houses 132 x 130 kW and 9 x 60kW log boilers, which are used in the same way as those in Building 3 to produce warm air for the purpose of drying materials. These boilers are
fuelled by dried logs produced in the process outlined above. As with the boilers within BuildingReceived 3, owing to operational requirements (loading, cleaning, maintenance etc.), typically approximately 25% of the boilers are in use at any one time.
Although drying containers are also used, most of the drying operations associated with thisNCC 14/07/2017 building are carried out using bespoke drying bins, manufactured specifically for this process, with limited drying taking place within converted shipping containers.
The bins are connected to the hot air system by flexible hoses from the steel ducting, with the design and construction of the bins ensuring that warm air passes through the materials contained within them.
After passing through the materials the air leaves the containers either through the top or sides, taking moisture with it. The drying process is continued until the moisture content of the materials is reduced to the required level and the woodchip is then either sold directly as biomass fuel or it is used to produce wood briquettes.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 13 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The central area of Building 1 houses a fixed briquette plant, with areas also set aside for the use of mobile shredding plant and for the storage of products. The shredder is used to produce woodchip from imported logs, which is then dried in the process outlined above. Both woodchip and briquette products are stored within the building pending transport offsite.
All of the boilers have been tested and certified by the manufacturers, confirming that these meet emission limits using the specified fuel types (split, dried logs) and all are fuelled in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Received NCC 14/07/2017
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 14 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
4. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
4.1. General
It is proposed to continue the existing activities and further improve the site infrastructure to allow the importation and processing of selected waste materials to provide a wider range of fuel products. Imported wastes will be used in two principal operations:
• The importation of unrecyclable elements of C & I wastes to be shredded and dried to produce SRF; and • The importation of waste woods to replace the use of virgin logs in the production of woodchip and woodchip briquettes.
Wastes to be imported will consist of the unrecyclable elements of C & I wastes, which would otherwise be sent to landfill/incineration, and a variety of wood wastes. No putrescible or hazardous wastes will be imported and, in addition to the planning regime, all waste related activities will be undertaken under the regulation of the EA.
With the exception of drying, all waste processing will take place within Building 1 and no lose materials will be stockpiled outside any building. No wastes will be burnt on site and any waste materials not suitable for either process will be placed in a quarantine area pending
recycling/disposal at an appropriately licenced facility. Received
The drying element of the proposed development will be fuelled by split logs, dried within the southern section of the site by Retford Wood Fuels Ltd., with all waste related elements of the NCC 14/07/2017 development being undertaken by Retford Waste to Energy Ltd.
A total of up to 35,000 tonnes of materials (consisting of virgin wood, C & I waste or waste wood) will be processed at the site per year, with the quantities of each type of material varying depending upon prevailing supply situation and the market demand for each fuel type produced. The processing of this volume of material will require approximately 10,000 tonnes of logs fuel the on-site processes.
4.2. Further Infrastructure Improvements
Currently woodchip production takes place within Building 1 however this operation produces significant volumes of dust which are often incompatible with the shared uses (i.e. location of boilers and stocking of fuel products) within the building. Accordingly it is proposed that two dedicated shredding bays will be constructed within the central area of the site to contain the shredding operations and minimise any associated noise and dust emissions.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 15 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
In order to give a degree of operational flexibility these bays will be constructed in a modular form from converted shipping containers. They will be of sufficient size to allow the direct tipping of materials from an HGV and will include dedicated areas for the pre-sorting of waste woods, shredding, screening and the handling of oversized material.
The location, layout and elevations of the bays are shown on drawings 0738-5-8 and 0738-5- 12. Whilst the exact design may vary, each bay will measure approximately 9m x 21m, with a working height of around 5m. Including the containers used to construct the bays, their overall footprint will be approximately 24m x 23m.
Dust emissions from the access points will be minimised by the orientation of the openings (i.e. away from the prevailing wind) and the use of curtains to prevent fugitive emissions. The bays will be roofed with profiled steel sheets as required. Wherever possible the shipping containers used in the construction will remain accessible to provide storage.
Once constructed the building will be used for the shredding of both virgin logs and waste wood, although each material stream will be kept separate. The shredder utilised on site is mobile and will be tracked between Building 1 (for the shredding of C & I wastes) and the bays (for the shredding of wood wastes and virgin logs) as required.
4.3. Solid Recovered Fuel Production Received General
The production of SRF from the unrecyclable elements of C & I waste forms perhaps the most important part of the Development, with the process being specifically designed to minimise theNCC 14/07/2017 volumes of waste sent to landfill (disposal), utilising these materials to produce recovered fuel products that will replace other fuels (recovery).
The processing of waste to form SRF is a relatively new waste management option that is exists to support current recycling operations. The full recycling of C & I wastes is not realistic, and whilst optimised recycling facilities are able to recover a high percentage of materials, there nevertheless remains a substantial volume of unrecycled material which is currently disposed of to landfill. Only those materials that cannot be recovered for recycling are used for SRF production and the process is therefore complementary to existing recycling operations.
SRF is used mainly as an alternative to fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil or gas) in processes such as the manufacture of cement and the generation of electricity. SRF is not the same as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) which is generally produced from domestic waste, has a significantly lower specification and is commonly burned at local authority incinerators.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 16 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
In order to replace fossil fuels SRF must meet high a specification which typically includes a low moisture content, high Calorific Value, low sulphur and chlorine content, small particle size (below 30mm) and no food waste content. By comparison RDF has a medium to high moisture content, low Calorific Value, medium to high sulphur and chlorine content, large particle size (300 – 500mm) and can contain large amounts of food waste.
Materials and Sources
SRF is produced from C & I waste materials generally consisting of wood, paper, card, plastics and fabrics. The type of materials delivered to the site would be restricted to the elements of C & I waste which has already been through a recycling process and from which all potentially recyclable elements have been reclaimed. This therefore represents the unrecyclable fraction of the waste which would otherwise be sent to landfill or incineration.
It is anticipated that, owing to the high cost of transportation, these materials will be sourced principally from local waste recycling/transfer facilities, generally from within Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Process
On arrival at the site all wastes will be checked to ensure their suitability for use as SRF, and will be tipped within Building 1. Any unsuitable materials will be rejected and returned directly Received to the supplier.
The material will initially be shredded to the size dictated by the customer (typically below
30mm) and loaded into a drying bin before being taken outside and connected to a warm airNCC 14/07/2017 duct.
The waste will then be dried by passing warm air through the material until the required moisture content for the customer’s specification is reached. The drying bin will then be taken back into the building and the dried SRF stockpiled pending off site transport.
4.4. Wood Waste Fuel Production
Materials and Sources
In addition to SRF, it is proposed that the waste woods will be imported and used in place of virgin wood in the production of woodchip and briquettes. Imported materials will consist primarily of wood from four principal waste streams:
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 17 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
• Virgin waste wood (e.g. saw mill offcuts), • Packaging waste (e.g. pallets), • Recovered wood which is untreated (e.g. joists or studwork from construction and demolition waste sources); and • Recovered wood which is treated (e.g. painted wood, chipboard, etc.).
As it is subject to similar restrictions on how far it can be economically transported, the wood will be imported from the same geographical areas as the C & I wastes.
Process
Woodchip will be produced from imported waste woods in a similar manner to woodchip production from virgin logs. In order to contain dust emissions from the shredding process, both virgin logs and waste woods will be shredded in the proposed shredding bays, using the same shredding and screening plant (though each material stream will be processed separately).
Waste woods will be tipped directly within the shredding bays and, if required, will be subject to an initial manual sorting to remove any minor volumes of other materials, or any materials likely to damage the shredder (plastics, metals etc.). Any such materials removed will be either processed on site to produce SRF or will be removed from site for recycling/disposal at a suitably licenced facility. Received Following the initial sorting material will be loaded into the shredder using a loading shovel, with the shredded material being deposited onto a screen. This screen will remove any oversized
material, which will be fed back to the shredder for reprocessing. Stockpiles of woodchip willNCC 14/07/2017 then be loaded into drying bins for drying, following which they will either be stockpiled within Building 1 or used to produce waste wood briquettes.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 18 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
5. OPERATIONAL ISSUES
5.1. Site Layout and Infrastructure
The final proposed site layout is shown on drawing 0738-5-8, with photographs of the various elements included at Appendix 2.
Access and Weighbridge
Vehicles will enter the site from the existing Industrial Estate access road via a dedicated HGV entrance located close to the southeastern corner of the site. This entrance will be used for both access and egress of all HGV traffic.
A weighbridge is located immediately to the north of the access and will be used by all delivery and export vehicles. Suitable barriers will be positioned, as required, to maintain high levels of safety and pedestrian/vehicle separation. The weighbridge is angled to allow HGVs to enter the site without the need for complex manoeuvring and sufficient space is present to the north and south to allow HGVs to wait without blocking other access routes should the weighbridge be in use.
Office and Welfare Facilities
Building 2, which lies to the west of the weighbridge, will provide both welfare and administrationReceived facilities. A self-contained WC unit is located to the west of Building 2, being located directly above the existing septic tank, which will be emptied as required by specialist contractors. NCC 14/07/2017 In addition to this two temporary office buildings are located to the west of Building 2. These buildings measure approximately 10m x 3m and are stacked two high, giving a total overall height of approximately 5m.
Fuel Storage
A fuel storage tank is located to the north of Building 2, as shown on drawing 0738-5-8. The tank contains fuel for the onsite plant and is designed and constructed to comply with the relevant pollution prevention regulations.
Staff and Visitor Parking
The development of the site provides for a minimum of 15 car parking spaces, which are located to the south of Building 2. The proposed parking provision is sufficient to accommodate site staff and visitors, with further contingency spaces available throughout the site if necessary.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 19 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
In order to provide safe pedestrian routes, clearly marked footpaths will be provided to delineate access from the car parking area to the office/welfare accommodation. In addition, if required a secure area for cycle parking will also be provided to encourage staff to use alternative methods of transport to work.
It is not proposed that any HGVs will be permanently based at the site and, as such, no formal area has been designated for HGV parking. Informal, short term parking for HGVs will however be available throughout the site.
5.2. Plant and Machinery
Log Fired Boilers
The principal log boilers installed at the site are Building 1 includes 132 x Orlanski Orlan Super 130kW Boilers and 9 x 60kW boilers, with Building 3 including 21 x 130 kw boilers.
The boilers operate by burning wood with a limited amount of air, thus transforming the wood to charcoal. Gases created are directed to ceramic nozzle and burned with a secondary air supply, providing the main source of heat.
Wherever possible the boiler will be operated at their optimal temperatures as, at lower temperatures the gasification process does not occur efficiently resulting in a higher fuel usage.
The most essential factor in influencing correct gasification process is quality, moisture contentReceived and type of wood burnt, with the optimal fuels being hardwoods with a moisture content of between 15 - 20%. The typical burning period is 7-12 hours however the fuel level within each boiler is checked every 5-7 hours. NCC 14/07/2017
The process results in minimal volumes of ash, which are collected in a dedicated chamber which is emptied as required. All wastes such as ash are removed from the site for disposal at an appropriately licenced facility.
In order to ensure that they operate as efficiently as possible the boilers and all associated pipework are subject to regular cleaning and maintenance. This results in only around 25% of the boilers being in use at any one time. Details of the log boilers are included at Appendix 3.
Woodchip Boilers
Two Ekogren EG-Multifuel 500kW boilers are installed within Building 3. These consist of an automatically supplied biomass boilers capable of producing heat from woodchip, wood pellets and other biogenic fuels.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 20 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The woodchip fuel utilised is contained within a separate storage area within the Building, being transported to the boiler by an automated screw system. Fuel is burnt inside the combustion chamber under the influence of primary and secondary air, with each boiler being automatically controlled. Details of the woodchip boilers are included at Appendix 3.
Fans, Heat Exchangers and Ducting
Hot water produced within the boilers is piped to heat exchangers housed within converted shipping containers located immediately adjacent to the buildings. Fans housed within the containers push the warm air along ducting, with drying bins/containers being connected by flexible ducting.
The location of the containers and ducting is shown on drawing 0738-5-8 however it should be noted that the locations for drying bins/containers on this drawing are indicative only and only a percentage of the spaces available will be in use at any one time.
Shredder and Screen
Virgin logs, wood waste and C & I wastes will be shredded using a Doppstadt AK 510 BioPower (or similar) mobile shredder. In order to separate the various material streams, C& I wastes will be processed within Building 1, whilst the virgin logs and wood waste will be processed within the proposed shredding bays. The shredder will be used in conjunction with a screen, with both Received items of plant being tracked between the two buildings as required. Details of the shredder are included at Appendix 3.
Briquette Plant NCC 14/07/2017
The briquetting plant is located within Building 1 and consists of a C F Neilsen BP6510 Automatic briquetting press with a double feeding system. The press is designed for the high capacity production of consumer briquettes with 10 - 12% moisture. Its maximum capacity is up to 2,300 kg/h depending upon the nature of the feed material. The press is set up to produce round briquettes with a diameter of 90mm. Photographs of the briquette plant are included at Appendix 2.
Mobile Plant
Whilst the exact specification of the mobile plant used on site will vary from time to time, operations will typically be supported by the following:
• A skip lorry to move the purpose built drying containers. • A telehandler to move material around the site and load all built drying containers. • A forklift to move material around the site within IBC ages, including the lading of drying containers (converted shipping containers) • A 360° grab, to be used for loading the briquette plant.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 21 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Power for the operations is supplied by three generators, two of which are located adjacent to Building 1, with the third adjacent to Building 3, as shown on drawing 0738-5-8. Any additional plant or equipment required will be hired in.
5.3. Surfacing and Drainage
The greater part of the site has historically been under impermeable hard standing and this has recently been improved to provide a continuous, sealed surface. It is understood that there was previously no formal surface water drainage infrastructure, with waters formerly running off onto adjacent land.
In order to prevent surface water run-off to this land, a bund will be constructed along the western and parts of the northern boundaries, as shown on drawing 0738-5-8. In addition to this bund a drainage ditch will be constructed along the eastern boundary of the site, capable of holding in the region of 300m3 of water. Further details of the drainage strategy are contained within the Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy, which is included at Appendix 7.
Foul drainage from the office and welfare facilities is collected in a septic tank located directly beneath the welfare facilities west of Building 2. This will be emptied as required by specialist contractors.
5.4. Operating Hours Received
All processing, HGV and plant movements, and any outdoor activities involving the movement of materials around the site, will be limited to 07.00 – 19.00 Monday to Friday and 07.00 – 13.00 NCC 14/07/2017 on Saturdays. No such works will take place on Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.
The drying of materials, which will necessitate the operation of the boilers, fans and ducting, will take place on a 24 hour, 7 day a week basis. Outside the hours outlined above operations will be restricted to activities within the buildings which are essential to keep the boilers fired.
5.5. Employment
It is anticipated that the development will employ a maximum of 20 people however the maximum number typically on site at any one time (during periods where HGVs are loading/unloading) will be 12. At other times the number on site will reduce to an average of 4.
In addition to this the Development will help support a much wider range of indirect jobs, including those at the recycling plants from which material is sourced, and those related to the transport, maintenance and administrative support of the operations.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 22 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
5.6. Boundaries and Security
Fencing and Security
The site boundaries are secured by means of a variety of fencing, the approximately location of which is shown on drawing 0738-5-8.
The majority of the northern, eastern and western boundaries are secured by 1.8m high, green paladin fencing, with sections of the southern and eastern boundaries being secured by the pre-existing, galvanised palisade panels.
Both accesses are secured by lockable gates. At the time of writing the main access was secured by temporary heras style gates and fencing however, once the site is fully operational these will be replaced by permanent gates and fencing of a similar design to the fencing erected elsewhere around the site.
A security guard will be on site at all times outside of normal operating hours and, when not required, the site gates will be closed to prevent unauthorised access. A security office, consisting of a single storey, self-contained cabin, is located immediately adjacent to the main entrance and a security presence will be maintained on site at all times.
Landscaping Received The site already benefits from established screen planting along western boundary and this will be retained. Whilst this provides screening of the main operations across the site it is recognised that further planting would be beneficial. NCC 14/07/2017
Accordingly it is proposed to supplement the existing boundary planting with a mix of native trees and shrubs which, in addition to softening the appearance of the site, will provide important additional habitats. It is not proposed to plant any other areas of the site.
5.7. Lighting
Whilst the site will operate on a 24 hour basis, outside of normal working hours operations will be restricted to those activities carried out within the buildings and which are essential to keep the boilers running.
Notwithstanding this, during bad weather or the winter months operations will be required to take place outside during the hours of darkness and accordingly lighting will be required. This lighting consists of a number of floodlights located on the existing buildings as shown on drawing 0738-5-8.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 23 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
These floodlights are manually switched and are angled downward to reduce light spillage and ensure that all light falls within the site. With the exception of the existing floodlights and any further lighting which may be essential for health and safety purposes, there will be no additional lighting associated with the operations.
5.8. Fire Prevention
As part of the Environmental Permitting process, a Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) is in place, which forms part of the Environmental Management System (EMS) for the site. The risk of fire has been assessed on the basis of a number of potential causes and the FPP contains systems to ensure that the risk of any fire is minimised. Furthermore, should a fire occur, the FPP contains a number of actions that will be undertaken to ensure that any impacts are minimised.
All staff and contractors working on site will receive training to ensure that they are aware of and understand the contents of the FPP and understand the actions required in the event of a fire. In accordance with the EMS, regular fire drills will be carried out to test the effectiveness of the FPP and make sure that staff understand the correct procedures.
As will be required as part of an Environmental Permit covering any waste activities, the FPP will be updated to ensure that it reflects the materials processed on site and the risks associated with the activities taking place. Received
5.9. Pollution Prevention
All waste activities undertaken on site will be undertaken in line with an Environmental Permit, NCC 14/07/2017 issued and regulated by the EA. The Environmental Permit will include a detailed EMS designed to control all aspects of pollution prevention.
The Environmental Permit will control the types of wastes accepted, the processes to be undertaken and the measures which must be implemented to ensure that those processes pose minimal risk of contamination.
As with the FPP, all documents approved by the EA as part of the Environmental Permit will be updated as required to ensure that they reflect the activities undertaken on site and the most efficient and practicable mitigation measures.
The relatively limited types of wastes accepted at the site and the measures contained within the EMS will combine to ensure that any potential risks of pollution arising from the activities are minimised.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 24 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
6. MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS
6.1. Transport
General
All materials will be imported and exported by road and the Application is accompanied by a Transport Statement (TS), which is reproduced at Appendix 4. The scope of the TS has been discussed with NCC and it has been prepared in accordance with current guidance.
Materials will be imported and exported using a range of HGVs, the capacity of which will typically vary between 15 and 25 tonnes. Wherever possible products will be exported from the site on HGVs which have delivered materials (logs, C & I or wood waste), with such back loading being essential to both the sustainability and efficiency of the operations.
As approximately 35 tonnes of logs will be burnt on site each day, there will typically be a greater number of vehicles delivering materials than exporting products, thus giving sufficient spare capacity to ensure the efficient back loading of materials.
Site Access and Infrastructure
The site is accessed by the established industrial access to Lady Well Lane and thereafter by
an internal concrete roadway running north through the centre of the Industrial Estate. Received
All HGVs associated with the day to day operations will enter the site through the principal access gates close to its southeastern corner and pass over the weighbridge, which is situated NCC 14/07/2017 immediately to the north of the access.
All areas within the site that are accessible to HGVs are under a sealed hard surface and accordingly there is negligible potential for any material to be tracked onto the public highway.
Whilst no formal HGV parking spaces are proposed, significant space is available within the site for the parking of HGVs. Staff and visitor parking is provided in the vicinity of the site office, and whilst 15 formal spaces are proposed, as with HGV parking there remain significant areas within the site to accommodate further parking should it be required.
Vehicle Routing
Currently two routes are used to access the site. The first of these involves vehicles turning right out of the Industrial Estate, travelling west along Lady Well Lane to the A638 London Road approximately 4km to the west, with most vehicles then turning south on the A638 to access the A57/A1 at Markham Moor.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 25 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The second route involves vehicles turning left out of the Industrial Estate, following the road eastwards as it changes its name to Hazelwood Lane and then Retford Road passing through Woodbeck. Vehicles then turn right onto Laneham Road approximately 3.5km to the east of the site and travel south to join the A57 to the west of Dunham on Trent.
Whilst no routing agreement is included as part of this Application, subject to the results of appropriate consultations, the Applicant is willing to enter into a reasonable agreement to formalise the route(s) to be taken by HGVs associated with the Development.
Transport Movements
The Development will generate both light vehicle movements associated with employees and HGV trips associated with the import and export of materials.
In total the Development will generate a daily average of 20 HGV movements (10 in and 10 out) and up to 40 light vehicle movements (20 in and 20 out). Information supplied by two of the former occupiers of the site indicates that these figures are significantly lower than the historic transport movements.
A robust assessment of the trip generation has been undertaken, including a capacity assessment of the proposed site access, which confirms that the Lady Well Lane/site access junction will operate well within capacity. Comparing the impact of the Development to former Received uses of the site, there will be a significant reduction of HGV movements and a decrease of staff car trips.
In view of the above it is considered that the Development is acceptable in transport terms andNCC 14/07/2017 that the cumulative residual impact of development traffic is not severe. It is concluded that the proposals are acceptable from a transportation perspective.
6.2. Noise
General
A Noise Assessment, which includes a description of the existing noise environment in and around the site, noise surveys and the modelling of both the short-term and long-term effects of noise, has been undertaken, with the resultant report being included at Appendix 5.
Noise Survey
A monitoring survey was undertaken to characterise baseline ambient noise levels experienced on the site and to establish the relative local background and traffic noise levels.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 26 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
A baseline monitoring survey was undertaken at six locations during early 2017, with attended, short term measurements undertaken at five locations during the day, evening and night-time periods, with one additional location being measured unattended over a 121 hour period. Existing ambient noise levels around the site were shown to be dominated by road traffic noise on Lady Well Lane, Hazelwood Lane and Greenspotts Lane.
Noise Modelling
Three-dimensional noise modelling was undertaken in order to predict noise levels at a number of locations. The model input data has include plant operating within the buildings, external plant and noise from vehicle arrivals and departures. Where necessary, to represent noise from internally located boilers, reverberant noise levels have been calculated using manufacturers’ data.
The modelling has been undertaken to produce a worst-case assessment in which all noise sources are considered to be operating at full capacity at all times. This provides a robust assessment as, for operational reasons, a significant proportion of the plant will operate intermittently or well below its full capacity.
A number of sensitive receptors have been identified, representing the worst-case residential receptors with respect to direct noise from the site. Received Assessment of Potential Effects
Internal noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors have been assessed both with windows open
and with windows closed to provide a robust Noise Intrusion Assessment. For the purposes ofNCC 14/07/2017 this assessment, deliveries and sorting and screening and all plant are considered to be operational during the daytime, with only the drying plant being fully operational during the night time period.
The results of the assessment show that worst-case internal noise levels from the Development are predicted to be below the appropriate British Standard noise intrusion criteria and below the Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level at all existing residential receptors, with windows open or closed, during both daytime and night-time periods.
In addition to the Noise Intrusion Assessment, a comparison of the predicted noise levels from the facility with the existing measured background noise at the surrounding existing residential receptors has been undertaken. Representative measured background noise levels for each receptor has been established from a statistical analysis of the noise survey data.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 27 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The worst-case noise rating levels are predicted to be no more than 4 dB above background levels at all selected sensitive receptors during daytime periods and will therefore have only a low impact.
During the night-time period noise from the proposed plant will be further above background noise levels at surrounding receptor locations, however it should be noted that as BS 4142 considers noise levels externally, greater emphasis should be given to the Noise Intrusion Assessment outlined above.
Noise Conclusions
Paragraph 123 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) gives four test points against which the Development has been assessed. In considering the NPPF test in Paragraph 123, points A & B, as it has been demonstrated that the BS 8233 criteria will be achieved at the closest receptors during both daytime and night-time periods with windows open or closed. Therefore, the proposals will not have a ‘significant adverse impact’ on health or quality of life.
In considering the NPPF test in Paragraph 123, points C & D, no nearby business will have unreasonable restrictions put on them as a result of the proposals. In addition, it is considered that the continued use of the site for industrial purposes will have a negligible effect on the tranquillity of the area or local access to areas of greater tranquillity. Received Based on the assessment undertaken, predicted noise levels at identified receptors are predicted to fall below the Significant Observed Adverse Effect Level and accordingly the Development is considered to be acceptable in terms of noise emissions. NCC 14/07/2017
6.3. Air Quality
General
An Air Quality Assessment has been undertaken, with the resultant report being reproduced at Appendix 6. The objective of the assessment was to determine whether off-site impacts from facility emissions meet the required Air Quality Standards or Environmental Assessment Limits for the protection of human health, vegetation and habitats.
In order to provide a benchmark against which to assess potential air quality impacts of the Development, baseline air quality in the vicinity of the site has been defined from a number of published sources.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 28 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Detailed modelling has been undertaken, with the results presented in terms of the emitted pollutant Process Contribution (PC) and Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC = PC + Background concentration). Modelling has been undertaken for the most representative meteorological dataset and the worst-case, highest predicted long-term and short-term PECs were compared to the appropriate Air Quality Objectives (AQO)/Environmental Assessment Limits or relevant assessment criteria.
Air Quality Assessment – NO2, PM10 and PM2.5
The long-term and short term predicted environmental concentrations of NO2 from the Development are all below the relevant AQOs. The significance of effects of the emissions on
receptors with respect to long-term NO2 is determined to be ‘negligible’ to ‘moderate’.
The long-term and short term predicted environmental concentrations of PM10 from the Development are all below the relevant AQOs. The significance of effects of the emissions on
receptors with respect to long-term PM10 is determined to be ‘negligible’ to ‘slight’.
The long-term predicted environmental concentrations of PM2.5 from the Development are all below the relevant AQOs. The significance of effects of the emissions on receptors with respect
to long-term PM2.5 is determined to be ‘negligible’ to ‘’moderate’.
The percentage change in process concentrations relative to the Air Quality Assessment Level Received (AQAL) as a result of the Development at the identified ecological receptor (the closest SSSI),
with respect to NO2 exposure, are determined to be of negligible significance. The maximum predicted total acid deposition PC among the identified nature conservation sites is 0.4% of the NCC 14/07/2017 critical level (CL) function. The impact of nitrogen deposition from the facility operations to all identified ecological sites is therefore minimal.
Therefore, the predicted concentrations of the modelled pollutants from the Development are considered acceptable for the protection of human health, vegetation and habitats.
Odour Assessment
The potential odour impacts of the Development have been assessed in line with guidance issued by the EA and the Institute of Air Quality Management’s Guidance on the Assessment of Odour for Planning (May 2014). The methodology employed includes assessing the impacts of odour based on field odour survey observations and dispersion modelling.
During field surveys, 36 locations were assessed across the Application site, with the detailed survey results used to identify intensity, extent and geographical distribution of any perceived odour.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 29 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
An assessment of odour releases from the drying containers was undertaken using industry standard modelling software and representative meteorological data. This estimates the concentration or deposition value for each source and receptor combination for each hour of input meteorology and calculates annual and user-selected short term averages. The model also takes into account the local terrain surrounding the Development.
The main potential emission sources are identified to be the drying containers and a total of 11 point sources have been used in the modelling to represent the odour emissions when the plant is in full operation.
The predicted odour concentration at the most sensitive receptors does not exceed the 98th percentile of the relevant assessment level. Owing to their distance from the site, the predicted odour concentrations at other modelled receptor locations are well below the assessment level.
Therefore, the predicted short-term odour emissions from the Development are considered acceptable.
Dust and Odour Management Plan
A dust and odour management plan has been developed which outlines the odour and dust control measures to assess, reduce and prevent potential odour/dust emissions from the Development. Received Traffic Air Quality Assessment
As a result of the low background levels, the Development not being within or near to an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), and the relatively low number of trips generated, there isNCC 14/07/2017 no requirement to carry out a traffic air quality assessment. Accordingly the air quality impacts from traffic flows associated with the Development can be considered to be insignificant.
6.4. Drainage and Flood Risk
General
The site lies entirely within the EA’s Flood Risk Zone 1 (i.e. land assessed as having a less than 0.1% annual probability of river or sea flooding) and has no history of flooding or other drainage problems. Notwithstanding this, a comprehensive Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy has been prepared, with the resultant report being reproduced at Appendix 7.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 30 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Existing Drainage Situation
It is understood that the surface water from the site has historically discharged to the surface and naturally drained away via infiltration or run-off to the surrounding land. The topographical survey, backed by site visits, did not identify any existing surface drainage features within the site.
Foul water from the site currently drains to a septic tank located to the west of Building 2, which is emptied as required. Severn Trent Water have confirmed that they have no records of any public sewers within the vicinity of the site.
Proposed Drainage Strategy
The greater part of the Application site is already under impermeable hard standing and, in those areas which are not, the underlying geology is of negligible permeability. Owing to the underlying geology and the distance to any water course, neither infiltration nor discharge to surface waters represent a viable option for future surface water management.
The only additional hard standing to be added as part of the Development is to the east of Building 1 and it is proposed that this area will be drained to a ditch running along the site’s eastern boundary. This ditch has been designed to contain, as a minimum, the surface water run-off from the newly constructed hard standing for a 1 in 30 year rainfall event. Received Surface water run-off to adjacent agricultural land will be prevented by the construction of a low bund along parts of the western and northern boundaries, which will create a sealed area to
contain surface waters. NCC 14/07/2017
There are no proposals to alter the method by which the foul water is disposed of from the site.
Flood Risk
The site is located within Flood Risk Zone 1 according to the EA Flood Risk map and the proposed land use is classified as ‘less vulnerable’. In accordance with NPPF and the PPG the site is therefore considered suitable for the Development.
The site is not considered to be at risk from any flood sources including fluvial, groundwater, sewers or artificial sources. It is therefore concluded that the site is at low risk of flooding and in accordance with the requirements of the Sequential Test in the NPPF, the site is suitable for the Development.
It is proposed to mitigate the risk of surface water flooding, by providing new site drainage which will be designed to retain surface water runoff within the site for up to the 1 in 30 year storm event. Storm events up to the 1 in 100 year plus an allowance for climate change will be retained on site by a bund situated on the site boundary.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 31 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
As no other options are available to the site to discharge surface water it is considered utilising a storage ditch and bund, utilising low infiltration rates and evapotranspiration is the only option to provide betterment for the surface water generated from the site and prevent surface water exiting the site.
The report concludes that the site is at low risk of flooding. Through incorporation of the drainage strategy outlined above the Development will not increase flood risk elsewhere in the catchment.
6.5. Contaminated Land
A Phase One geo-environmental desk top study was undertaken in early 2017 with the aim identifying any potential geo-environmental issues associated with the development and to devise a preliminary Conceptual Site Model with regard to the risk of contamination. The resulting report is reproduced at Appendix 8.
This report identified a number of potential on-site contamination sources, arising principally from the site’s former industrial uses but also including areas of historic made ground. Potential contaminants included hydrocarbons, solvents and metals however no evidence of contamination was identified by a visual site inspection. No significant potential sources of contamination were identified in relation to current activities at adjoining industrial premises. Received Given the site’s proposed industrial use the number of potential pathways and receptors was relatively minor however and assessment was made of the likely risk posed to each identified
receptor. NCC 14/07/2017
The report concludes that, whilst potential source-pathways-receptor linkages have been identified, as the development involves no substantial groundworks, the risks posed to any identified receptor are considered to be low to very low. Accordingly intrusive investigations for contamination were not recommended.
6.6. Landscape and Visual Impact
Visibility of the Site
The Industrial Estate is relatively well screened in the surrounding landscape by a combination of topography, established hedgerows and woodlands. A line of established coniferous trees, in excess of 10m high, runs along the site’s western boundary. Whilst not native species, and therefore appearing somewhat out of place within the landscape, these are nevertheless an established feature, and help to screen the site, softening the appearance of the Industrial Estate as a whole in the wider landscape.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 32 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
To the northeast, east and southeast, rising topography limits longer distance views of the site. To the north the land rises gently however distant views of the site are prevented by the presence of numerous intervening field boundary hedgerows and a mature woodland belt 800m to the north.
Whilst the land initially falls away to the west, northwest and southwest, it quickly regains a similar elevation and continues to rise to in excess of 65m AOD before falling again further to the west. Accordingly potential views from the west are limited in their extent.
Whilst parts of the site remains visible from Lady Well Lane, direct views are obscured by the intervening industrial units. Similarly direct views of the site from the closest residential properties, to the southeast, are prevented by intervening built development.
Limited, longer distance views towards the site are possible from higher ground to the southwest but, along with potential views from the south, these are interrupted by frequent changes in elevation, woodlands and hedgerows.
The principal visual barriers within the surrounding landscape are shown on drawing 0738-5- 12, which is reproduced at Appendix 9.
Landscape Character
The Bassetlaw Landscape Character Assessment (BLCA) defines the landscape character ofReceived the area, with the site lying within the Mid-Nottinghamshire Farmlands, specifically within Policy Zone MN04.
The BLCA notes that the surrounding area is characterised by an undulating landscape withNCC 14/07/2017 views often being restricted by topography and scattered woodland. Characteristic features of the area include a mixed agricultural landscape with strong hedgerow field boundaries and good woodland cover. Settlement consists of hamlets and small villages, predominantly of the local vernacular, and includes a number of listed buildings.
The landscape condition is considered to be very good, although detracting features are noted to include several radio masts, the Industrial Estate and railway lines. Since the publication of the BLCA several wind turbines have been constructed in close proximity to the site. The landscape is considered to be of high sensitivity.
Landscape actions include conserving landscape features including historic field patterns, maintaining existing hedgerows and restoring poor hedgerow boundaries. In respect of built development the actions include conserving the open rural character of the landscape by concentrating new development around the existing settlement of Hayton and Clarborough coupled with small scale development of appropriate design around existing hamlets.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 33 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Potential Receptors
Owing to the level of containment provided by a combination of topography and woodland described above, the number of potential visual receptors is somewhat limited. In order to assess the potential visibility of the site in the wider landscape a number of potential viewpoints throughout the area were visited, with representative photographs being included at Appendix 9.
These viewpoints confirm the site to be a relatively minor feature in the landscape from the majority of viewpoints, with the greatest potential impact being on those locations within 1km to the west of the site.
Whilst site activities are difficult to distinguish from all but the closest viewpoints, the trees along the western boundary form a prominent feature within the landscape, especially during the winter months when the majority of other vegetation is not in leaf.
The principal rectors are users of roads and public footpaths lying to the west. Views from other potential receptors are largely limited by a combination of either the topography and vegetation and their distance from the site.
Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures
The Development is largely focussed on the reuse and improvement of the existing buildingsReceived and the Applicant has made significant efforts to improve the external appearance of the site.
The principal external changes to the existing buildings include the installation of chimneys and the location of the heat exchangers/ducting/drying containers adjacent to buildings 1 and 3. AtNCC 14/07/2017 the time of writing the containers housing the heat exchangers/fans etc. are a variety of colours however, should it be required, the Applicant is willing to repaint all such containers a suitable colour to minimise their visual impact.
Other notable external changes include the proposed construction of the shredding bay and the location of additional cabins and welfare facilities. The shredding bay has been carefully located to ensure that its visual impact is minimised by the existing trees along the site’s western boundary and the structure itself will serve to limit views of Building 1 and associated plant from Lady Well Lane. As with other containers the Applicant is willing to repaint this structure a suitable colour to help minimise any visual impact.
Whilst the office and welfare facilities do introduce further development to the site, this is not considered to be out of character with the wider Industrial Estate and, overall, the general appearance of the site is considered to have been significantly improved by the renovation works which have been undertaken to date.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 34 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
In order to further improve the screening of the site from the west it is proposed to plant the area beneath the existing tree screen with a mixture of native understorey shrub species as described earlier in this Statement.
Residual Impacts
As a result of the well screened nature of the site, the potential landscape and visual impacts of the Development are considered to be minimal. The most significant potential views of the site are from the west however established screening and the proposed additional planting will minimise the Development’s impact.
Overall it is considered that the improvements undertaken will serve to improve its general appearance within the landscape. The Development has been carefully designed to ensure that, wherever possible the best use is made of existing screening and, if required, the Applicant will paint external containers in a suitable colour to minimise their impact.
The Development is in keeping with the previous industrial use of the site and with current neighbouring land uses within the Industrial Estate. It is therefore concluded that the Development will not result in any unacceptable impact upon the surrounding landscape and its design, coupled with the proposed mitigation measures, will not result in any unacceptable visual impact. Received 6.7. Ecology
Designated Sites NCC 14/07/2017 The closest SSSI, Treswell Woods, lies 1,200m to the northeast and consists of mixed broadleaved and yew woodland separated from the site by intensively worked agricultural land. The Woods are also designated as a LWS and a Local Nature Reserve, run by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Other nearby SSSIs include Gamston and Eaton Woods and Roadside Verges, at closest, 2,000m to the west-southwest, and Castle Hill Wood, located 2,250m to the north-northwest. The closest LWS is Headon Wood and Schoolhouse Plantation, which lies approximately 700m to the southwest of the site and is designated on account of its semi natural deciduous plantations separated by unimproved neutral grassland.
Other LWSs include Brigg Lane, approximately 1,300m to the south, a grass track notable for a good selection of herbs, Beverley Spring, approximately 1,400m to the west, which includes areas of characteristic tall coppice, and Upton notified roadside verges, 1,500m to the south, which are designated on account of their dry grassland and noteworthy flora.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 35 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
On-site Habitats
Throughout its recent history the site has been used for a variety of industrial processes and has been subject to regular disturbance. Potential on site habitats include buildings and hard standing, with vegetation being restricted to limited, peripheral areas.
The greater part of the Application site is under concrete hard standing, which is subject to regular high levels of disturbance from the movement of lorries and heavy machinery. As a result this substrate is devoid of vegetation.
Based on their simple construction, the materials used and the high levels of disturbance they are subjected to, the site buildings have negligible bat roost potential. Whilst the tree screen along the western boundary may provide a wider variety of habitats, owing to historic and on- going high levels of disturbance, these trees are not considered to provide significant bat roost potential.
Off-site Habitats
Land to the north and west is in intensive agricultural use, whilst areas to the south and east have been used for a variety of industrial purposes throughout their recent history. Areas to the south and southeast are subject to regular disturbance, whilst land to the east is currently unoccupied, as a result of which this area now supports a typical community of tall competitive Received vegetation interspersed with areas of hard standing.
No significant waterbodies have been identified within 150m, with the closest being the Lady
Well, approximately 170m to the southwest and the small steam which lies 180m to the west.NCC 14/07/2017 Both features are separated from the site significant barriers to potential amphibian movement.
A network of potential wildlife corridors existing throughout the local landscape, including hedgerows and woodlands, however no such corridors link directly to the site.
Potential Impacts
Owing to the lack of existing habitats and high level of on-going disturbance, it is considered that the site has negligible potential to support any notable species or habitats and accordingly, the Development will have negligible impact upon any flora or fauna.
No designated site are located within close proximity to the site and accordingly the Development will have no direct impact upon any such site. As part of the Air Quality Assessment the potential impacts upon the closest SSSI (Treswell Woods) has been assessed, confirming the Development will have negligible impact upon this site.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 36 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Opportunities for Improvement
Given the extent of hard standing across the site and the on-going high levels of disturbance, opportunities for ecological enhancement are limited. The proposed native species planting along the western boundary will result in localised ecological improvements however there is little further scope for any significant improvements.
Notwithstanding this the Applicant is willing to install bird/bat boxes around the site should this be desirable.
6.8. Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
General
Throughout its recent history the Application site has been redeveloped to support a range of former uses and the greater part of the site is now under hard standing. The Development does not involve the erection of any further permanent buildings or any significant groundworks. Accordingly the Development is considered to have negligible potential to impact upon any buried archaeological resource.
Non Designated Heritage Assets
Headon Camp was originally constructed as a World War 2 prisoner of war camp however it is Received not formally designated as a heritage asset. Whilst a number of the original buildings remain, these are located principally in the southern section of the former Camp and only one original building remains within the Application site. This building has been previously adapted to serve NCC 14/07/2017 as a workshop and has recently been refurbished to provide office and welfare facilities for the Development. Owing to the contained nature of the Development there will be no impact upon any remaining original buildings.
Headon Hall unregistered Park and Garden lies, at closest, approximately 550m to the southwest of the site. Relatively little of the original Park now remains and Headon Hall has long since been demolished. Owing to its contained nature the Development will have no impact upon the remaining Park and Garden.
Designated Heritage Assets
The closest listed structure is The Lady Well, a Grade 2 structure which lies to the south of Lady Well Lane approximately 170m to the southwest of the site. Two listed buildings are recorded within Headon, the Grade 1 Church of St Peter and the Grade 2 Glebe Farmhouse, located approximately 1,000m and 1,100m south of the site respectively.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 37 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Owing to its contained nature and the degree of screening afforded by a combination of the existing vegetation, topography and built development, the Development will not impact upon any of these assets or their setting.
6.9. Other Material Considerations
Aviation Safety
The site lies approximately 5km to the northeast of Retford Gamston Airport and 1km north of a private airstrip to the east of Headon village. Despite this relatively close proximity the Development does not include any elements which may impact upon aviation safety and accordingly it will have no impact upon either operation.
Public Rights of Way
The site is not crossed by any Public Right of Way (PROW) however a number of Public Footpaths are present within 1,000m. The closest of these crosses agricultural land to the west of the site, however the Development will not have any direct impact upon this or any other PROW.
Cumulative Impact
Whilst the Industrial Estate contains a number of additional industrial land uses, it is considered Received that none of these are of a sufficient scale for any of their potential impacts to combine with the Development to result in any significant cumulative impact. As the surrounding area is predominantly rural and is dominated by agricultural activities, no other land uses have been NCC 14/07/2017 identified that may result in cumulative impacts.
Whilst the individual potential impacts of the Development have each been assessed on their own, and any such impacts identified shown to be acceptable, the potential for cumulative impact arising from the site activities must also be considered.
In this case it is considered that the range of mitigation measures employed, notably through the proposed layout of the site and the screening that this will afford, coupled with certain activities being undertaken within buildings, will serve to mitigate a wide range of potential impacts. Accordingly it is not anticipated that there will be any significant cumulative impacts arising from the Development.
Coal Mining
The site does not lie within an area considered to be at risk from the effects of Coal Mining.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 38 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
7. PLANNING POLICY
7.1. The Development Plan
NCC, as the appropriate WPA, has a duty to determine this Application in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
In addition to the NPPF (2012) and its accompanying PPG (2014), national waste policy is contained within the National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW – 2014).
Further to these national documents, at County level the Development Plan consists of the Nottinghamshire Waste Core Strategy (WCS - 2013) and the saved policies of the Nottinghamshire Waste Local Plan (WLP - 2002), whilst at local level it consists of the Bassetlaw Core Strategy and Development Management Policies (CSDMP – 2011) and the initial draft of the emerging Bassetlaw Local Plan (BLP - 2016).
7.2. National Planning Policy Framework
The NPPF sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied, and is accompanied by the PPG. Whilst neither the NPPF nor the PPG contain policies or guidance directly related to waste operations, they nevertheless contain important
policies, the most relevant of which are discussed below. Received
Achieving sustainable development is a key purpose of the planning system and, at the heart of the NPPF is a presumption in favour of sustainable development. At Paragraph 7 the NCC 14/07/2017 Government identifies three dimensions to sustainable development;
• an economic role – contributing to building a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right type is available to support growth and innovation. • a social role – supporting strong, vibrant and healthy communities, and by creating a high quality built environment. • an environmental role – including using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and mitigating climate change including moving to a low carbon economy.
The Development makes a positive contribution to all three elements and is therefore considered to be sustainable.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 39 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Through the provision of jobs, particularly in a rural area, the proposals clearly deliver both economic and social benefits. Furthermore the re-use of previously developed, industrial land will avoid the need to develop greenfield land and the significant improvements to the site will contribute to a significantly higher quality built environment throughout the Industrial Estate.
The use of materials which may otherwise be sent to landfill to create a range of fuel products helps to preserve natural resources whilst minimising the volume of waste sent to landfill and clearly provides substantial environmental benefits. Furthermore the SRF produced will be used in place of fossil fuels, thereby helping to reduce overall carbon emissions.
Paragraph 14 confirms that ‘At the heart of the National Planning Policy Framework is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which should be seen as a golden thread running through both plan-making and decision-taking.’
Paragraph18 confirms that ‘The government is committed to securing economic growth in order to create jobs and prosperity, building on the country’s inherent strengths, and to meeting the twin challenges of global competition and of a low carbon future’.
This commitment is supported by the Development, which will result in economic growth, not only locally but on a wider level by providing a lower cost alternative to disposal for those recycling businesses which currently dispose of their unrecyclable wastes to landfill. The
provision of jobs will extend beyond those employed directly at the site, to includeReceived administrative, maintenance and transport staff.
Section 3 of the NPPF addresses the rural economy, with Paragraph 28 confirming that: NCC 14/07/2017 ‘Planning policies should support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable new development’ and that local plans should ‘support the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business and enterprise in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well designed new buildings’.
The proposals are clearly in line with these aims as they involve both the sustainable growth of a business in a rural area and the conversion and improvement of existing buildings.
In addition to the above, where either the NPPF or the PPG include specific policies in respect of technical issues, these have been taken into account in the preparation of this Statement and/or the supporting technical reports.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 40 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
7.3. National Planning Policy for Waste
The Government’s National Planning Policy for waste (NPPW – 2014) sets out detailed waste planning policies and recognises that positive planning plays a pivotal role in delivering the Country’s waste ambitions.
One of the key aims of the NPPW is the delivery of sustainable development and resource efficiency, including provision of modern infrastructure, local employment opportunities and wider climate change benefits, by driving waste management up the waste hierarchy (Figure 1, below). Received
NCC 14/07/2017
Figure 1. Waste hierarchy.
The Development involves the processing of two principal waste streams – the unrecyclable elements of C & I wastes to produce SRF and the processing of wood wastes to create woodchip and woodchip briquettes.
Once processed to form either woodchip or briquettes the imported wood waste is no longer considered to be a waste by the EA and can be sold as a product. The NPPW defines such activities to be recycling (‘waste materials can be reprocessed into products, materials, or substances’).
Once processed the SRF produced from the C & I wastes is still classified by the EA as being a waste. Whilst in economic terms this is seen as a product, its close relationship with the recovery of energy from a waste suggests that the production of SRF is most accurately described as a recovery operation.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 41 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Both the recycling of wood wastes and the recovery of materials that would otherwise be sent to landfill will make a significant contribution to driving waste up the hierarchy and will ultimately help minimise the volumes of materials which are sent for disposal. The overall Development is therefore in accordance with the aims of both the waste hierarchy and the NPPW.
Section 7 of the NPPW addresses the approach to be taken by WPAs in determining waste planning applications, and states that the WPAs should:
• Only expect applicants to demonstrate the quantitative or market need for new or enhanced waste management facilities where proposals are not consistent with an up-to-date Local Plan. • Consider the likely impact on the local environment and on amenity against the criteria set out in Appendix B (of the NPPW). • Concern themselves with implementing the planning strategy in the Local Plan and not with the control of processes which are a matter for the pollution control authorities. Waste planning authorities should work on the assumption that the relevant pollution control regime will be properly applied and enforced. • Ensure that waste management facilities in themselves are well-designed, so that they contribute positively to the character and quality of the area in which they are located. Received
As demonstrated throughout this Statement, the proposals accords with all relevant and up to date planning policies. The potential impacts of the Development have been identified and
where necessary, extensively assessed against a range of criteria, including those in AppendixNCC 14/07/2017 B. These are discussed in further detail below.
Where required, all waste related operations will be taken in line with an Environmental Permit in order to ensure that the Best Available Techniques and best practice are applied and followed at all times.
Significant effort has been put into ensuring the high quality design of the site and its infrastructure and the Development will result in significant improvements to the appearance of the Industrial Estate which, when assessed against the previous uses, will contribute positively to the local area’s character.
Appendix B includes locational criteria for the siting of waste facilities, which should be considered in in determining planning applications. These factors have been taken into account in the preparation of this Application and, where relevant, have been addressed appropriately. These are summarised below.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 42 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Water Quality and Resources and Flood Risk
The Application site is remote from any water courses and/or resources and the Development has been designed to ensure that flood risk is not increased.
Land Instability
The Development does not impact upon any areas of land instability.
Landscape and Visual Impact
The site is well screened by a combination of topography, established vegetation and built development. The Development is consistent with the established, industrial character of the site and will result in an overall improvement in the appearance of the Industrial Estate.
Nature Conservation
The Development is wholly contained within an established Industrial Estate with negligible potential for the presence of any notable flora or forna. It does not lie in close proximity to any designated sites and will not result in any impacts upon local ecology.
Historic Environment
The site has been previously developed and will not impact upon any heritage assets.
Traffic and Access Received
This Application is accompanied by an appropriate Transport Assessment which confirms transport movements to be significantly lower than those associated with previous site uses. NCC 14/07/2017 Accordingly it is considered to be acceptable in highways terms.
Air Emissions, Including Dust
This Application is accompanied by appropriate technical studies which show air and dust emissions to be within acceptable limits.
Odours
The Development does not include the processing of any waste likely to give rise to significant odours. This Application is accompanied by appropriate technical studies which show odour emissions to be well within acceptable limits.
Vermin and Birds
The types of waste handled at the site will not attract vermin and/or birds.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 43 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Noise, Light and Vibration
This Application is accompanied by appropriate technical studies which show noise emissions to be well within acceptable limits. Care has been taken to ensure that lighting is restricted to the minimum required for the safe operation of the site and the Development does not include any aspects likely to result in significant vibrations.
Litter
All lose waste materials will be processed within buildings and/or containers and therefore the potential for litter is minimal.
Potential Land Use Conflict
The site is located within an established Industrial Estate and it is therefore considered that the operations are compatible with the immediately neighbouring land uses.
7.4. Nottinghamshire Waste Core Strategy
NCC’s WCS forms the first part of the Council’s new Waste Local Plan and is a strategic document which sets out the overall planning policy towards existing and future waste management facilities up to 2031.
It forms the basis for determining planning applications for all waste management developmentReceived and gives guidance on the broad location and type of waste management facilities that NCC wish to encourage. Site specific allocations for waste activities, and more detailed development
management policies, will be included in Part 2 of the new Waste Local Plan which, at the timeNCC 14/07/2017 of writing, is scheduled for adoption in 2018.
Policy WCS1 - Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development
This Policy echoes the underlying principle of supporting sustainable development that runs throughout the NPPF. As discussed in relation to the NPPF, above, the proposals are considered to represent sustainable development which are in line with all relevant Development Plan Policies and should therefore be approved. Accordingly the Development is in line with the aims of Policy WCS1.
Policy WCS3 Future Waste Management Provision, states:
The Waste Core Strategy will aim to provide sufficient waste management capacity for its needs; to manage a broadly equivalent amount of waste to that produced within Nottinghamshire and Nottingham. Future waste management proposals should accord with our aim to achieve 70% recycling or composting of all waste by 2025. Proposals will therefore be assessed as follows:
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 44 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
a) priority will be given to the development of new or extended waste recycling, composting and anaerobic digestion facilities;
b) new or extended energy recovery facilities will be permitted only where it can be shown that this would divert waste that would otherwise need to be disposed of and the heat and/or power generated can be used locally or fed into the national grid;
c) new or extended disposal capacity will be permitted only where it can be shown that this is necessary to manage residual waste that cannot economically be recycled or recovered.
The Development has been specifically designed to enable the recycling of wood wastes and the recovery of unrecyclable materials which would otherwise be sent to landfill.
Whilst it is recognised that the recycling of wastes is preferential to recovery operations, the C & I wastes imported to the site will have already been through a recycling process and all potentially recyclable materials removed. The production of SRF is complimentary to C & I recycling activities and the operation of the facility will not be detrimental to recycling rates.
Whilst it is not possible to confirm where the fuel products produced from the unrecyclable wastes will be utilised, as transport costs make up a significant proportion of the overall cost of Received these products, local markets will be sourced wherever possible. Accordingly the Development is considered to accord with point b of Policy WCS3.
As set out in Paragraph 7.11 of the WCS, the Council recognise that the cross boundaryNCC 14/07/2017 transport of wastes is inevitable, especially in relation to specialised facilities such as that proposed. Whilst a substantial percentage of the C & I wastes imported to the site will be obtained from recycling sites within Nottinghamshire, it is inevitable that a percentage of the wastes may also be sourced from neighbouring counties such as Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire.
Paragraph 7.13 acknowledges the need for recovery facilities, confirming that ‘Where it is not possible to recycle waste, the next most sustainable option is to recover energy from it’. In producing SRF from waste which would otherwise be sent to disposal the Development is helping to ensure the most efficient and sustainable recovery of energy from the materials.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 45 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Paragraph 7.14 expands on this, stating that:
‘National and local studies suggest that much of the waste that is currently sent for disposal could be recovered for energy. We therefore think the Waste Core Strategy should support the development of appropriate energy recovery facilities where these help to reduce the amount of residual waste going for disposal’.
Through the production of SRF the Development will help ensure that this potential is maximised within the County.
Indicative Size of Waste Facilities
In determining the scale of waste sites, Appendix 2 to the WCS sets out the Council’s assumptions about the likely size and capacity of the different types of waste facilities in relation to policies WCS4 and WCS7. As the establishment of SRF as a waste management option post-dates the WCS it is not included within Table 8 however, for the purpose of classifying sites, the processes involved and the overall aims are considered to be analogous to the production of RDF.
In respect of RDF Table 8 confirms that sites accepting less than 50,000 tonnes per annum, with operations taking place on sites of between 1 and 2 ha. are considered to be small sites. The recycling of wood wastes is considered to be analogous to a Materials Recovery Facility, Received for which the Table classifies operations accepting between 21,000 - 99,000 tonnes per annum on a site of between 1.1 1.9ha. as a medium site.
As the Development involves the importation of a total (i.e. C & I and wood wastes) of up toNCC 14/07/2017 35,000 tonnes of material per annum and will take place on a site of 1.6ha., for the purposes of policies WCS4 and WCS 7 it should therefore be assessed as a small/medium site.
Policy WCS4 Broad Locations for Waste Treatment Facilities set out a broadly hierarchical approach to focus sites where they are most needed. This approach is supported by a more detailed set of site criteria to establish the types of locations that would be considered suitable for different types of waste management facilities, which are contained within Policy WCS7.
In respect of small sites, WCS 4 confirms that:
The development of small-scale waste treatment facilities will be supported in all locations where these will help to meet local needs and fit in with the local character.
Smaller/medium sized waste treatment facilities will be supported in, or close to, the built up areas of Nottingham, Mansfield/Ashfield, Newark, Retford and Worksop’.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 46 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The site is located approximately 5km from Retford however its location relatively close to the Markham Moor junction of the A1 also makes the sustainable importation of materials from Worksop and Newark feasible. The Development will help support a wide number of recycling sites, both local sites located close to Retford and more distant sites throughout Nottinghamshire and neighbouring counties.
It is therefore considered that, given its scale and the re-use of existing buildings, the Development is located in an appropriate location and accords with the relevant sections of Policy WCS4.
In support of the Policy, paragraph 7.22 confirms that, in considering the location of waste sites, ‘the emphasis should be on the re-use of existing buildings and previously developed land wherever possible’. The Development brings back into use existing buildings within an established Industrial Estate and is therefore clearly in line with these aims.
Policy WCS7 - General Site Criteria sets out a criteria-based approach to show the types of locations that are likely to be suitable for different types of waste management facility. As outlined above, SRF facilities are not specifically included within the WCS however the operations are considered to be analogous to a RDF facility.
The Policy confirms that waste management facilities will be supported in the general locations
shown within the matrix in the WCS, subject to there being no unacceptable environmentalReceived impacts.
In respect of both RDF and a Materials Recovery Facility, the matrix confirms that both NCC 14/07/2017 employment land (areas which are already used for, or allocated for employment uses such as industrial estates) and derelict land/other previously developed land are likely to be suitable for small, medium or larger facilities.
The Development is located within an Industrial Estate (employment land), part of which was disused as a result of problems encountered by previous occupiers. Accordingly its location is considered to be wholly compliant with Policy WCS7.
Policy WCS8 Extensions to Existing Waste Management Facilities states:
The extension, or redevelopment or improvement of existing waste management facilities will be supported where this would increase capacity or improve existing waste management methods, and/or reduce existing environmental impacts.
The Application site is made up of three former uses, two of which involved waste management operations. Both North Notts Trucks and Paperwaste (Notts) Ltd. have successfully processed a range of wastes at the site and its redevelopment to create a more modern, efficient waste management facility is therefore considered to be in line with Policy WCS8.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 47 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The production of SRF is a relatively modern technique which, at the time the WCS was written, as not widely utilised. Accordingly Policy WCS9 New and Emerging Technologies is of relevance and states:
Waste management facilities making use of new or emerging technologies will be supported where this will lead to the more efficient and sustainable management of waste.
This is supported by paragraph 7.48, which confirms that:
‘as new methods of waste treatment are likely to emerge over the next 20 years, the Waste Core Strategy needs to maintain a flexible approach towards the development of new, sustainable technologies for waste management including related research and development facilities. Such development will therefore generally be supported, especially where this contributes towards our objective to promote a modern, efficient and sustainable waste industry etc. (see SO1)’.
As outlined within this Statement, the overall Development involves the sustainable management of waste. The adoption of the relatively new SRF production process promotes a modern, efficient waste management process which helps to drive material up the waste hierarchy and reduce the volume of material ultimately sent to landfill. The operations are in line
with the Strategic Objectives of the WCS and are therefore in accordance with Policy WCS9. Received
Policy WCS12 Managing Non-Local Waste states:
Waste management proposals which are likely to treat or dispose of waste from areas NCC 14/07/2017 outside Nottinghamshire and Nottingham will be permitted where they demonstrate that:
a) the envisaged facility makes a significant contribution to the movement of waste up the waste hierarchy, or
b) there are no facilities or potential sites in more sustainable locations in relation to the anticipated source of the identified waste stream, or
c) there are wider social, economic or environmental sustainability benefits that clearly support the proposal.
Whilst it is anticipated that a significant proportion of the waste imported to the site will be sourced from within Nottinghamshire, it is acknowledged that, given the site’s proximity to the A1 and A57, it is also likely that a proportion of the waste will be imported from neighbouring counties.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 48 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The Development will undoubtedly help to drive material up the waste hierarchy and will provide an important facility to support recycling operations throughout the region. SRF facilities are still relatively scarce and the Applicant is not aware of any other similar facilities within the area. Accordingly the Development is considered to be in accordance with all relevant points of Policy WCS12.
Policy WCS13 Protecting and Enhancing our Environment
New or extended waste treatment or disposal facilities will be supported only where it can be demonstrated that there would be no unacceptable impact on any element of environmental quality or the quality of life of those living or working nearby and where this would not result in an unacceptable cumulative impact. All waste proposals should seek to maximise opportunities to enhance the local environment through the provision of landscape, habitat or community facilities.
This Application is supported by a range of technical reports which address a wide range of environmental and amenity issues and concludes that the Development would not result in any unacceptable impacts. A number of mitigation measures have been incorporated into the design of the Development to ensure that any potential impacts are minimised.
Whilst the Industrial Estate included a number of other industrial activities, none of these are
considered to have any impacts which would combine with the Development to result inReceived significant cumulative impacts. Similarly no industrial processes or other developments have been identified within the surrounding area that are likely to result in any cumulative impact. Accordingly the Development is considered to be wholly in line with Policy WCS13. NCC 14/07/2017
Policy WCS14 Managing Climate Change
All new or extended waste management facilities should be located, designed and operated so as to minimise any potential impacts on, and increase adaptability to, climate change.
The Development is specifically designed to produce a range of sustainable fuels, including those derived from selected wastes, which may be used in place of other fuels. The principal market for SRF is in the replacement of fossil fuels in a number of industrial processes, which has been proven to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Further to the co-location of the wood drying and waste processing facilities, combined with the ability to backload materials to and from the site, combine to minimise transport movements and carbon emission from the Development. Accordingly it is considered that the Development will make a positive contribution towards mitigating climate change and is therefore in accordance with Policy WCS14.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 49 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Policy WCS15 Design of Waste Management Facilities
All new or extended waste management facilities should incorporate high standards of design and landscaping, including sustainable construction measures.
The Development has been carefully designed to make the best use of the existing buildings and screening to ensure that the site as a whole is of high quality design and is capable of operating safely and efficiently. The Applicant has invested significant time in improving the overall appearance of the site and the proposed landscape planting will further improve the screening of the site. Accordingly the Development is considered to be wholly compliant with the aims of Policy WCS15.
7.5. Nottinghamshire Waste Local Plan
NCC’s original Waste Local Plan (WLP) was adopted in 2002 and is being progressively replaced by the new Waste Local Plan, of which only the WCS has been adopted to date.
With three exceptions (W2.1, W3.2 and W3.24) all WLP policies were saved until replaced by new adopted policies. Further to this a number of policies have now been replaced following the adoption of the WCS. The remaining policies within the WLP that have relevance to this Application are discussed below.
Policy W3.1 Received
Planning permission for waste management facilities will not be granted unless sufficient information is provided to enable a balanced assessment of all relevant NCC 14/07/2017 factors.
This planning Application is accompanied by a wide range of supporting information, including appropriate technical studies, which are sufficient to allow a balanced assessment of all relevant factors. Accordingly the Application accords with Policy W3.1.
Policy W3.3
When planning permission for a waste management facility is granted, conditions will be imposed to ensure all plant, buildings and storage areas are:
(a) Located in such a position as to minimise impact on adjacent land;
(b) Where practicable, grouped together to prevent the creation of an unsightly sprawl of development and to aid their screening;
(c) Kept as low as practicable to minimise visual intrusion;
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 50 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
(d) Of appropriate colour and cladding or otherwise suitably treated to reduce their visual impact;
(e) Satisfactorily maintained to preserve their external appearance.
These factors have been taken into account in the design of the site and, where relevant, appropriate mitigation measures have been incorporated within the Development. The Applicant would welcome the imposition of reasonable conditions upon any permission which may be granted and would be willing to liaise with the Council and relevant consultees to ensure that such conditions are of the highest quality possible.
Policy W3.4
Where planning permission for a waste management facility is granted, conditions will be imposed to ensure that screening and landscape proposals reduce visual impact.
The Development includes the retention of the existing tree screening along the western boundary and proposals for additional screen planting. In addition to this, should it be deemed necessary the Applicant is willing to undertake the repainting of external items of plant to further reduce their visual impact.
Policy W3.5
Planning permission will not be granted for a waste management facility where there is Received an unacceptable risk of pollution to groundwater or surface water or where it affects the integrity or function of floodplains, unless the harm can be mitigated by engineering measures and/or operational management systems. NCC 14/07/2017
All operational areas of the Application site will be under impermeable hard standing and the site’s drainage system will be improved as a result of the Development to ensure that all surface waters are retained within the site. Couples with the proposed management systems this ensures that potential risks to any waters are minimised. It does not lie within an area of high flood risk and will not result in any increased flood risk to any third party properties. Accordingly the Development is wholly complaint with Policy W3.5.
Policy W3.7
When planning permission is granted for a waste management facility, conditions will be imposed, where necessary, to reduce the impact of unpleasant odours.
The Development does not include the acceptance of wastes that are likely to result in any significant odours. Notwithstanding this the Application is accompanied by an appropriate odour assessment and includes a range of odour mitigation measures.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 51 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Policy W3.8
When planning permission is granted for a waste management facility, conditions will be imposed to prevent litter nuisance.
With the exception of drying the materials, all waste processing activities will be undertaken within buildings and drying containers will be loaded and unloaded within the buildings. Accordingly there is minimal potential for the release of any litter.
Policy W3.9
When planning permission is granted for a waste management facility, conditions will be imposed to reduce the potential noise impact.
The Application is accompanied by a Noise Assessment and numerous mitigation measures have been incorporated within the operations to ensure that noise emissions are minimised. With the exception of drying materials, which is not in itself a noisy operation, all processing activities will be undertaken in buildings or within enclosed bays.
Policy W3.10
When planning permission is granted for a waste management facility, conditions will be imposed to suppress dust generation. Received As with noise emissions, numerous mitigation measures have been incorporated within the Development to ensure that dust emissions are minimised. All operations with the potential to generate significant levels of dust will be undertaken within buildings or within enclosed bays. NCC 14/07/2017
Policy W3.11
When planning permission is granted for a waste management facility, conditions will be imposed to prevent mud and other deleterious material contaminating public highways.
All areas to which road going vehicle have access are under sealed hard standing which will be kept free of mud and other deleterious material. Accordingly there is minimal potential for any such materials to be deposited on the public highway.
Policy W3.12
When planning permission is granted for a waste management facility in proximity to airports and airfields, conditions will be imposed, where necessary, to minimise the risk of bird strike.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 52 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Whilst airfields are present within the surrounding area, the Application site is not located immediately adjacent to any airfield and does not include any aspect which may represent a danger to aviation safety.
Policy W3.14
Planning permission will not be granted for a waste management facility where the vehicle movements likely to be generated cannot be satisfactorily accommodated by the highway network or would cause unacceptable disturbance to local communities.
Wherever possible vehicle movements associated with the Development will be minimised through the back loading of materials. The Application is accompanied by a Transport Statement which concludes that, as the Application site is within an established Industrial Estate, and the vehicle movements are significantly lower than those generated by previous uses, the Development will not result in any unacceptable transport related impacts.
Policy W3.15
In granting planning permission for a waste management facility the county council will as appropriate:
(a) Impose conditions requiring the posting of site notices and/or the issuing of
instructions to lorry drivers detailing any routes to be avoided or followed; Received
(b) Seek to negotiate planning obligations in order to secure highway improvements.
The Application site is currently accessed by two routes and, subject to the result of of suitable NCC 14/07/2017 consultations, the Applicant would be willing to enter into a reasonable routing agreement to formalise a preferred route and avoid any unnecessary transport related impacts.
Policy W3.27
Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings are affected by proposed waste management development, there will be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation in situ. planning permission will only be granted for development which would affect archaeological remains of less than national importance where there is an overriding need for the facility and where provision is made for the excavation and recording of the remains.
Owing to the previous redevelopment of the site and the lack of significant groundworks included within the proposals, the Development will not impact upon any archaeological remains.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 53 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
7.6. Bassetlaw Core Strategy
BDC adopted their CSDMP and the accompanying Local Development Framework Proposals Maps in 2011. The site and its surrounding area are not covered by any of the detailed Inset Maps however, the Development is assessed against relevant policies within the CSDMP below.
Policy DM1: Economic Development in the Countryside, recognises that there are instances where particular business needs, or the availability of suitable premises, provide opportunities for delivering employment in the countryside or smaller villages. This policy seeks to ensure that such opportunities are delivered appropriately.
The Development is considered to comply with all relevant sections of the Policy, particularly in respect of the reuse of buildings. Such developments are discussed further in relation to Policy DM2: Conversion of Rural Buildings, which states:
Consideration should always be given to the conversion of existing buildings before seeking to replace them with new units. Preference will always be given to conversion for economic development (which will include consideration of live/work units), community/service or affordable housing uses before proposals for conversion for market housing. Received As the Development seeks to reuse an existing building for economic development it is considered to be in line with the relevant sections of this Policy.
Part B of Policy DM3: General Development in the Countryside is of particular relevance toNCC 14/07/2017 this Application as it addresses the re-use of Previously Developed Land in Rural Areas and states:
Proposals for the re-use of previously developed land outside Development Boundaries will be supported, other than where the site has naturally regenerated to the extent that it is of biodiversity value (see Policy DM9), where they result in:
i) the redevelopment of the site for the existing permitted use (other than where this is clearly no longer appropriate in the context of e.g. nearby residential amenity or wider sustainability issues); or ii) the redevelopment of the site for a use requiring a rural location; or iii) the redevelopment of the site for affordable housing or community services and facilities (where this is in line with the Spatial Strategy policies); or
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 54 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
iv) the restoration or natural regeneration of the site either in line with the Council’s Green Infrastructure aims or to become a functional part of the open countryside (e.g. sustainable wetlands); and Bassetlaw Core Strategy & Development Management Policies DPD v) development that will not create significant or exacerbate existing environmental or highway safety problems.
The Development involves the re-use of both buildings and other areas of brownfield land and will not impact upon any areas which have naturally regenerated. As significant parts of the Application site were formerly in waste use it is considered appropriate to develop the site for similar activities.
It has been demonstrated within this Statement that the Development will not result in any unacceptable impacts and it will not create or exacerbate any significant highways issues. Accordingly the proposals are considered to be in line with Policy DM3.
Policy DM10: Renewable & Low Carbon Energy confirms that BDC will be supportive of
proposals that seek to utilise renewable and low carbon energy to minimise CO2 emissions. The heat required for the Development will be generated by wood fired boilers rather than oil or other fossil fuels and the products produced at the site will provide a viable and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels for a number of applications. Accordingly the Development is Received considered to be in line with the aims of Policy DM10.
7.7. Bassetlaw Emerging Policy NCC 14/07/2017 BDC is in the early stages of preparing the Bassetlaw Plan. This will be the new Local Plan for Bassetlaw and establish the long term approach to development in the District up to the year 2034. On adoption the Bassetlaw Plan will replace the CSDMP.
An initial draft of the emerging Plan was published in 2016 and, in line with paragraph 216 of the NPPF, given its relatively early stage of preparation and the absence of any firm policies, this document is currently considered to carry little weight and the Development has not therefore been assessed against the emerging framework within it.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 55 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
8. CONCLUSIONS
The Application site has been formed through the amalgamation of three former industrial units, two of which were previously involved in waste management activities. In total the site extends to 1.6ha. and includes three principal buildings which have recently undergone a programme of refurbishment, including the extension of the main building. Together with improvements to the surrounding hard standing and general site infrastructure these changes have significantly improved and modernised the site.
A number of log boilers have been installed within the largest two buildings, with associated ducting and drying containers installed adjacent to the buildings. All of the boilers used on site have been tested and certified by the manufacturers, confirming that they meet emission limits using the specified fuel types (split, dried logs).The northern building also includes a significant internal area set aside for the shredding of materials and the production of woodchip briquettes.
The operations currently carried out on site consist of industrial drying of imported wood to produce various fuel products, including dried, split logs, woodchip and woodchip briquettes. This Application seeks permission for the continued production of a range of wood fuel products and for the importation and processing of selected wastes to produce a wider range of fuels.
Wastes to be imported will include waste wood and the unrecyclable elements of C & I wastes, Received consisting primarily of wood, plastics, paper and textiles, which would otherwise be sent to landfill/incineration. No putrescible or hazardous wastes will be imported and, in addition to the planning regime, all waste activities will be regulated by the EA. NCC 14/07/2017
The C & I wastes will be processed to produce a SRF whilst the wood wastes will be used in the place of virgin woods in the production of woodchip and briquettes. No wastes will be burnt on site, with the boilers being fired by split logs which have been dried on site.
A total of up to 35,000 tonnes of materials (be that imported logs, C & I waste or waste wood) will be processed at the site per year, with the quantities of each type of material varying depending upon prevailing supply situation and the market demand for each fuel type. The drying of this quantity of material will require approximately 10,000 tonnes of logs to be imported to the site to fuel the on-site processes.
Additional built development will be limited to the construction of a compound for the shredding of materials, which will be constructed from shipping containers, and further improvements to the site’s infrastructure.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Application for the Continued Use of the Existing Industrial Site and Buildings for the Production of a Range of Wood 56 Fuel Products and for the Importation and Processing of Wastes to Produce a Range of Recovered Fuel Products. Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire.
The proposed development will allow efficient re-use of the existing buildings and create important local employment. The production of fuels from material which would otherwise be sent to landfill will help drive material up the waste hierarchy, reducing disposal to landfill and ultimately helping to meet both waste reduction and carbon emissions targets.
Pre-Application discussions with a number of parties have identified the principal potential impacts of the Development and accordingly the Application is supported by a number of technical reports covering matters such as transport, air quality, noise and flood risk.
Where required a range of mitigation measures have been included within the Development and the technical reports conclude that, subject to the implementation of these measures, the operations will not result in any unacceptable impacts.
The Application has been assessed against arrange of local and national planning policy and has shown to be compliant with all relevant policies.
The Development will provide an important facility capable of processing the residual elements of C & I wastes which have already passed through a recycling process and from which all potentially recyclable materials have already been removed. The operations are complimentary to existing recycling facilities and will not prejudice the movement of material up the waste hierarchy.
This will avoid such materials being sent to landfill, with the resultant SRF being used in place of Received fossil fuels in a range of potential applications. This delivers significant environmental benefits, including moving material up the waste hierarchy, helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels and, overall, reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore the recycling of imported wood wastes to produce NCC 14/07/2017 woodchip and briquettes will replace the use of virgin wood in the manufacture of these products.
In addition to the environmental benefits the Development will bring existing buildings and industrial land back into productive use and, when fully operational, will provide the direct employment of up to 20 staff. Further to this the activities will help support a much wider range of indirect jobs, including those at the recycling plants from which material is sourced, and those related to the transport, maintenance and administrative support of the operations.
July 2017 HC/0738/5
Headon Camp Industrial Estate, Headon, Retford, Nottinghamshire. Planning Statement Appendices.
APPENDIX 1 PLANS
Received NCC 14/07/2017
HC/0738/5