Brecon Beacons National Park Authority 15 May 2007
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ENCLOSURE 5 Brecon Beacons National Park Authority PLANNING, ACCESS AND RIGHTS OF WAY COMMITTEE 15 May 2007 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AREA PLANNING MANAGERS ON APPLICATIONS FOR DETERMINATION BY THE PLANNING, ACCESS AND RIGHTS OF WAY COMMITTEE Page 1 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 INDEX ITEM APP No. APPLICANT ADDRESS RECOMMEN- DATION 1 06/00641/FUL Mr Mike Edwards - Talybont Water Permit Unit Manager Treatment Works, UUOS Talybont-On-Usk, Nr Brecon. 2 P21298 Mr & Mrs M Jones Hawthorn Bank, Refuse Cathedine, Bwlch. Page 2 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 ITEM NUMBER: 1 APPLICATION NUMBER: 06/00641/FUL APPLICANTS NAME(S): Mr Mike Edwards - Unit Manager UUOS SITE ADDRESS: Talybont Water Treatment Works Talybont-On-Usk Nr Brecon Powys LD3 7YS GRID REF: E: 310465 N:220748 COMMUNITY: Talybont-on-Usk DATE VALIDATED: 14 November 2006 DECISION DUE DATE: 9 January 2007 CASE OFFICER: Mr Bernard Eacock PROPOSAL Proposed water treatment and water storage plant (no buildings to be demolished) ADDRESS Talybont Water Treatment Works, Talybont-On-Usk, Nr Brecon CONSULTATIONS/COMMENTS Consultee Received Comments Environment Agency 2nd Jan 2007 Site lies partially within Zone B as defined by the Wales development advice map (DAM) referred to under Tan 15: Development & Flood Risk Page 3 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 Given the scale of the proposed development a Flood Consequences Assessment is not required. Suggest condition requiring 5m buffer zone to be provided from the top of the bank of any watercourse. Talybont-on-Usk 22nd Nov The proposed DAF building (the water treatment Community Council 2006 building) There is no objection to this; however the Community Council asks that you give careful consideration to the possibility of noise created by machinery etc in this building and the possible impact on dwellings nearby. The Community Council has been told by the developer that noise should not be greater than existing noise levels at the site. The Council asks that you condition this in an appropriate way. The Council accepts the design of the building but asks that you insist on high quality landscaping using as mature trees as possible to provide an early and effective shield between it and nearby dwellings. The Council asks that you condition this in an appropriate way. The Council is also concerned about possible light pollution during the night time operation of the new building. The Council highlights to you the need to preserve as far as possible the tranquillity of this area and the need to reduce the impact of industrialisation. Lighting (both external and internal) must be minimised and the Council asks that you condition this in an appropriate way. The proposed water storage plant. There is no objection. Road and community impact. This aspect has raised a lot of concerns but ones which can be addressed by relevant authorities. Firstly it is asked that the National Park Authority consults closely with the Highways officers of Powys County Council to whom a copy of this reply will be sent. The Community Council has been told by the developer that works will last for about 2 years and that on average there will be 5 lorry movements a day to and from the site, with a peak of about 20 a day. The expected route is likely to be from the A40 at Brynich, over the (listed?) Usk bridge to Pencelli (S bend on approach to village) to Cross Oak and Page 4 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 then right via Cui (very narrow and liable to flooding and verge damage) to the Aber road and then right to Aber village (again with blind spot corners Powys County 29th Nov 2006 Cleaning, renovating and adding to existing passing Council Highways bays. Additional passing bay should be provided opposite Aber Farm Improvements to the unclassified road which will service the storage reservoir at its junctions with the Class III road. Removal of Laurel Bush at junction of main Water Treatment Works entrance (south). Section 59 Agreement in relation to maintenance of the highway during construction works. Countryside Council 13th Dec 2006 Confirmation in email dated 27/2/2007 to applicant's For Wales agent that all concerns raised by CCW have now been addressed and CCW has no further comments to make in relation to the proposal subject to compliance with mitigation measures agreed. NP Rights Of Way No response. Officer British Horse Society No response. Ramblers Association 4th Dec 2006 No particular objections but I trust that the plant will Powys be made to blend in with surroundings and cause minimal visual impact. Open Spaces Society No response. NP Ecologist 27th Nov 2006 Provided mitigation measures outlined in Appropriate Assessment of likely Significant Effect carried - no objections. NEIGHBOURS NOTIFIED The Owner/Occupier, 4 Reservoir Cottages, Talybont Reservoir The Owner/Occupier, 1 Reservoir Cottages, Talybont Reservoir The Owner/Occupier, 2 Reservoir Cottages, Talybont Reservoir The Owner/Occupier, 3 Reservoir Cottages, Talybont Reservoir Page 5 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 CONTRIBUTORS NEIGHBOUR/THIRD PARTY RESPONSE SUMMARY No third party objections received. PLANNING HISTORY App Ref Description Decision Date K13915 Extension of water treatment Application Permitted 22nd Nov facilities at existing water 1994 treatment works and sites for the disposal of surplus sub-soil (Full) K13433 Full planning application for Application Withdrawn 17th Feb 1994 construction of partly buried reinforced concrete service reservoir P19834 Re-installation of hydro electric Application Permitted 15th Jul 2004 turbine K5317 Chlorine house Application Permitted 3rd Aug 1981 RELEVANT POLICIES Policy Description Plan G3 Development in the National Park BBNP Unitary Development Plan G6 Design BBNP Unitary Development Plan ES7 Buildings for Commercial Use Countryside BBNP Unitary Development Plan ES46 Water Storage BBNP Unitary Development Plan ES49 Construction Maintenance Supply Pipeline BBNP Unitary Development Plan OFFICER’S REPORT The site comprises land at, and adjacent to the existing water treatment works at Talybont Reservoir, Talybont-on-Usk. The proposal comprises the construction of: - • A pumphouse extension/annexe, Page 6 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 • A Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) plant, • Modifications to the existing wash water system, • Provision of a 100,000 cubic meter capacity treated water reservoir on the outlet of the water treatment works including a small buried pipeline comprising 2 x 600mm diameter pipes, and; • Construction of sludge tanks. An Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was submitted in support of the application which examines nature conservation interests, impacts of the proposal in terms of landscape, flora and fauna, transportation and recreation. The EIA has been copied to all statutory consultees as part of the consultation process and has been available for public examination since the application was submitted in November 2006. In order to assist members in the consideration of this application, each element of the proposal is examined in more detail below. Pumphouse extension, sludge tanks and washwater system The proposed pumphouse extension is located on the northern end of the existing treatment works and comprises an 8m x 16m extension to the building with a design and materials to match. It is considered that the proposed extension is acceptable in design terms and will have a minimal impact upon the amenities of the locality and wider landscape as it will be viewed against the backdrop of the existing treatment works. The pumphouse extension will also, to a degree, screen the proposed sludge tanks and washwater system which are located just beyond the pumphouse extension on the boundary of the site close to the Caerfanell River. Complementary landscaping has also been incorporated into the scheme to assist in screening the pumphouse, sludge tanks and washwater which will also provide an improved habitat in accordance with the Countryside Council for Wales’ advice. DAF Plant The proposed Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) plant is located on elevated ground to the south west of the existing (historic) water treatment works. The building is of a modern portal frame design with a low profile (17 degree pitch) roof to minimise visual impact and height. In addition, the building will be partially subterranean to minimise its height (and visual impact) in relation to the surrounding land form. The materials used on the external surfaces of the building will comprise a mixture of natural stonework and timber cladding on the walls to naturalise the building into the landscape as much as possible and ‘goose wing grey’ (slate grey) profiled metal sheeting on the roof. The building will be cut into the existing bank as much a possible and any backfill will be contoured to create a natural gradient to suit the existing embankment. In terms of dimension, the building will be 41 metres in length by 31 metres in width with a ridge height of 11m, albeit that this will be seen against the backdrop of existing trees and vegetation on the bank. Page 7 of 16 ENCLOSURE 5 During initial discussions/negotiations with officers’, visual representations of the proposed DAF plant were submitted for consideration. As a result, the levels of the building were reduced to minimise its impact and external materials agreed. The main public vantage point of the DAF plant will be from the road crossing the reservoir (the reservoir dam) which officers consider to be an important local viewpoint. The proposed building, officers accept, is considerable in terms of its size and its initial impact will be damaging to this view. However, considerable additional and supplementary landscaping is proposed as part of the scheme and officers are of the opinion that, given time to establish, the overall impact of the building will be reduced to acceptable levels. The naturalisation of the stone and timber cladding will further assist its assimilation into the landscape and will occur relatively quickly (1 – 2 years approx.) but it is envisaged that the landscaping could take up to 5 years to mature, the impact being reduced year on year.