Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
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DONCASTER METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL Agenda Item No: 4 Date: 21st July 2009 To the Chair and Members of the PLANNING COMMITTEE PLANNING APPLICATIONS PROCESSING SYSTEM Purpose of the Report 1. A schedule of planning applications for consideration by Members is attached. 2. Each application comprises an individual report and recommendation to assist the determination process. Human Rights Implications Member should take account of and protect the rights of individuals affected when making decisions on planning applications. In general Members should consider:- 1. Whether the activity for which consent is sought interferes with any Convention rights. 2. Whether the interference pursues a legitimate aim, such as economic well being or the rights of others to enjoy their property. 3. Whether restriction on one is proportionate to the benefit of the other. Andy Gutherson Assistant Director of Development and Planning Directorate of Development and Planning Contact Officers: Mr M Roberts (Tel: 734897), Mr G Stent (Tel: 734994) and Mrs D Holgate (Tel: 734925) Background Papers: Planning Application reports refer to relevant background papers Summary List of Planning Committee Applications ( 6 ) NOTE:- Applications are in NUMERICAL order except those deferred from previous meetings for a Site Visit which are marked 'SV' and appear first and Major Proposals which are marked ‘M’. Schedule Application No Ward Parish No 1. M 09/00246/TIPA Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall Barnby Dun /Kirk Sandall Parish And Barnby Dun Council 2. M 08/03024/FULM Mexborough 3. M 09/00728/OUTA Armthorpe Armthorpe Parish Council 4. 08/00649/OUT Bessacarr And Cantley 5. 09/00639/OUT Torne Valley Tickhill Parish Council 6. 09/00931/COU Torne Valley Tickhill Parish Council Schedule No: 1. Application No: 09/00246/TIPA Ward Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall Parish Barnby Dun /Kirk Sandall And Barnby Dun Parish Council Proposal Proposed energy recovery facility involving gasification of waste Location Land Off Sandall Stones Road, Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, South Yorkshire Applicant Doncaster Energy Recovery Ltd Agent SLR Consulting Ltd Date of Valid Application: 5th February 2009 =================================================================== MAIN POINTS OF REPORT * The proposal involves the treatment of up to 120,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of residual waste materials by gasification and the generation of 11.2 megawatt (Mwe) of renewable electrical energy for transfer to the national grid from the arising gas. * The proposed facility would process waste materials and generate electricity on a 24 hour basis. Waste will only be accepted during daytime. * Gasification involves the heating of the waste material in a reduced oxygen environment, converting the material into a synthetic gas fuel (i.e. gasification). The gas is then utilised as a fuel in an oxygen rich environment and the energy from the combustion is used to drive a turbine, generating renewable electricity. *Diverting residual waste from landfill for energy recovery in a gasification plant (i.e. “Moving waste up the waste hierarchy”) at the nearest appropriate location and producing renewable energy is in accordance with Government guidance and RSS policies (ENV12 and ENV5). * The application site is located in the Kirk Sandall Industrial Estate and is allocated as an Employment Policy Area (EMP2 - 19) on the Doncaster Unitary Development Plan (UDP) Proposals Map 1998. Policy EMP 2 states that permission will normally be granted for B1, B2 and B8 uses. Proposals for other industrial, business or commercial uses will be considered on their merits, in accordance with other relevant plan policies. * The proposal will generate some 47 HGV loads per day (94 HGV movements) and a small number of light vehicle movements. * A petition, signed by 496 people, objecting to the proposal has been submitted, as well as 42 letters of objection. RECOMMENDATION - Planning Permission be Granted subject to a Section 106 Agreement MEMBERS RESOLVE TO ENDORSE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO ACCOMPANY THE DECISION NOTICE (SUBJECT TO SUCH AMENDMENTS AS MAY BE AGREED BY MEMBERS AT THE MEETING): STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR DECISION TO GRANT PERMISSION The Local Planning Authority has decided to grant planning permission:- 1. Having regard to the policies and proposals in the adopted Doncaster Unitary Development Plan set out below, and all relevant material planning considerations: UDP Policies EMP2 Employment sites SWD1 Waste Management Strategy SWD4 Waste Management Strategy SWD5 Environmental Protection (waste) T5 Transport RSS Policies ENV12 Regional Waste Management Objectives ENV13 Waste Management and Treatment Facilities ENV14 Strategic Locational Criteria for Waste Management Facilities ENV5 Energy YH7 Location of Development Government guidance PPS1 Climate Change PPS10 Sustainable Waste Management PPS22 Renewable Energy PPS23 Pollution Control 2. For the following reasons: Having taken into account all the planning considerations raised in the consultations and representations, against the policy background referred to above, it has been concluded that the proposed development is acceptable. In particular, the Local Planning Authority is of the view that its accordance with the relevant policies of the development plan, taken together with advice in the relevant national planning policy guidance, justifies development involving waste treatment facilities in this location on the scale proposed. It is considered that the design of the proposed development is appropriate to its setting and would safeguard the living conditions of neighbouring residents having regard to light, privacy, noise and disturbance arising from construction activity, and outlook, in so far as such matters can be regarded as material planning considerations and subject to mitigation by the attached planning conditions. ================================================================ Introduction 1. This application was deferred at the last meeting on 30 June following a request for further information about health and traffic issues including materials to be processed, waste products created and amount of traffic. The additional traffic information is contained in paragraphs 46, 47 and 48. Additional information about health and pollution control is to be found in paragraphs 50, 51 and 52. Information about the materials to be accepted at the plant and matters relating to cardboard are included in paragraphs 67 and 68. Details added verbally at the last meeting including the recommended two extra conditions have also been added to this report. 2. This application seeks permission for a proposed energy recovery facility involving gasification of waste. The proposal involves the treatment of up to 120,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of residual waste materials by gasification and the generation of 11.2 megawatt (Mwe) of renewable electrical energy for transfer to the national grid from the arising gas. The applicants have stated that the connection to the grid will be via underground cables. There will also be the facility to supply heat to surrounding users, thus increasing the thermal efficiency of the process. The proposed facility would process waste materials and generate electricity on a 24 hour basis. Waste will only be accepted during daytime hours (7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 5pm on Saturdays). The waste material would be sourced in the local area and would consist of material having passed through recovery centres for reuse and recycling that have been deemed to have no further use. All waste would be unloaded and processed within a building utilising negative pressure, limiting odour/emissions. Gasification involves the heating of the waste material in a reduced oxygen environment, converting the material into a synthetic gas fuel (i.e. gasification). The gas is then utilised as a fuel in an oxygen rich environment and the energy from the combustion is used to drive a turbine, generating renewable electricity. The waste material will have been converted at this stage to flue gas and to bottom ash. It is expected that the bottom ash will comprise approximately 18% by weight of the original waste material, although this is dependant upon the composition of the waste entering the process. 3. The bottom ash, which is inert and can be used for block making, will be removed from the site. The flue gases would then pass through an Air Pollution Control System (APC) which would control the concentration of pollutants released to the atmosphere. This would include the addition of a reagent (lime and carbon) into the flue gas. The reagent and flue gas combine to form APC residue, known as fly ash. It is expected that the fly ash will comprise approx. 4% by weight of the waste. Fly ash is classed as waste and will require disposal at a landfill site. Waste treatment facilities of this nature are known as Advanced Thermal Treatment (ATT) and are distinguished from conventional mass burn incinerators, usually being of a smaller scale. 4. Although gasification is not a new technology, it is only in recent years that it has been commercially applied to the treatment of waste. The process of gasification is classed as Advanced Thermal Treatment under the UK’s Renewable Obligations Order. The applicants state that it is not anticipated that the proposed facility would discourage local recycling schemes and that only residual municipal, industrial and commercial wastes sourced in the local area, which are normally landfilled, would be utilised. The proposal will