Preferred Sites
Site adjacent to Sewage Works, Ford W/AR/2A
Site description
District Arun Parish Ford
Area (ha) 6.0
Potential waste Potential for the extension of the waste water treatment types works (WWTW) and potential for a commercial built waste facility, this could include waste transfer, recycling (eg. MRF) or treatment (eg. energy from waste, anaerobic digestion).
Potential waste 100,000 tpa capacity
Current use Previously used by Tarmac to manufacture building products. Site is partly covered by buildings and is currently vacant.
Owner Tarmac - long term leaseholder. Owned by Kenbridge Ltd.
Potential Grundon Waste Management Ltd (plus possibly partner) Operator
Planning history and current permissions
Planning policy The site is covered by Policy GEN3 (Protection of the Countryside) of the Arun District Local Plan (2003) which means that development outside the defined built-up area will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. The site is also part of one of the potential growth areas identified in the Arun District Council ‘Options for Growth’ document (2009).
Relevant planning The site has permission for industrial use. It has been history used by Tarmac to manufacture building products.
Fit with the spatial strategy (see map in Appendix B)
Proximity to Good proximity to waste arisings from the main urban areas waste arisings along the coast, in particular Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.
Proximity to There are waste transfer sites (WTS) for construction and existing waste demolition (C&D) waste at the nearby Rudford Industrial Estate sites and Northwood Farm, Climping.
Proximity to The site provides a good fit with the spatial strategy as it is advisory lorry located close to the ALR (A259). However, access from the site route (ALR) to the A27 is restricted as vehicles would have to travel north along the B2233 to reach it. This road is narrow in parts and not suitable for HGV traffic.
Can it be delivered?
Availability: Tarmac currently leases the site, however the site is not currently in use.
Deliverability: A waste operator is interested in developing a built waste facility on the site. The landowner would not object, in principle, to waste uses on the site.
Key issues identified Potential for mitigation
Landscape There are no landscape A comprehensive landscape and visual designations. scheme would be required at designations application stage, to reduce the impact of development in the countryside. GREEN
Nature No nature designations. No mitigation required conservation GREEN designations
No European site within 10km No mitigation required of this site. The Appropriate Assessment concludes that GREEN there are no pathways linking the site with European sites.
Historic There are listed buildings to the Measures to mitigate impacts environment north of the site upon the listed buildings designations should be dealt with at application stage. GREEN
Water Site is located on Flood Zone 1 Flood Risk Assessment at environment and the sequential test shows application stage. development is appropriate. GREEN
Major aquifer Hydro-geological risk assessment required at planning application stage. GREEN
Soil quality Grade 1. Likely that the site No mitigation required would be located on high quality agricultural land. However, the GREEN site has been used for industrial process.
Public rights PRoWs to north and east of site Consideration, at application of way (200/3, 366/1, 363 and 366). stage, needs to be given to (PRoW) Need to consider visual impact whether the path can be on these paths. screened/protected. GREEN Residential There are residential dwellings Siting of facility, and stand off amenity and within 250m of the northern from sensitive receptors will neighbouring boundary of the site. There is require consideration at land uses potential to design the site so application stage. that the facility is located Noise/odour impact further than 250m from assessment would be required residential dwellings. at application stage. GREEN
Local residents have expressed Mitigation measures required concern about the impact of at application stage. noise upon residential amenity GREEN and neighbouring land uses
Local residents have expressed Mitigation measures required concern about the impact of at application stage. traffic upon residential amenity. Routing agreement should be considered. GREEN
Cumulative The potential impact of the Cumulative impacts of traffic, impact development of this site noise and odour to be alongside the existing Materials addressed at application Recovery Facility (MRF), Waste stage. Water Treatment Works and GREEN Waste Transfer Stations at Rudford Industrial Estate and Northwood Farm should be considered.
Air quality Site not located within air Off site traffic movements will quality management area need to be considered. (AQMA) GREEN
Airport Not applicable – unless wind No mitigation required. safeguarding turbines proposed. GREEN
Transport Existing access from Ford Road A routing agreement is and access suitable for continued use. necessary to ensure vehicles enter and exit via Ford Road to the south, and not to or from the A27 to the north. Access via Rollaston Park/B2233 for HGVs should also be prevented. GREEN
Highways Agency considers the No mitigation required site, being taken forward with GREEN one additional site in the area, as low risk to the capacity of Ford junction. Services and No underground water, gas or Survey and mitigation utilities electricity services identified. measures to be addressed at application stage to ensure Underground BT plant and that utilities are avoided. distribution points found on the site GREEN
Southern Water would not The proposed waste object to this site provided that development must be land is safeguarded for compatible with the operation expansion of the works. at Ford WWTW. GREEN
Mineral None No mitigation required safeguarding GREEN
Sustainability Appraisal Conclusion: Amenity of dwellings to the north east and south west could be affected by traffic movement or noise. Possible negative perceptions of waste in the short term which may improve over time. Mitigation/protection of PRoW and possible enhancements to visual amenity and setting of listed building through landscaping. Flood Zone 1 therefore the sequential test is passed. No significant effect on the local tourism economy. Potential issues with regard to HGV access to the A27 via the B2233, which is narrow in parts. Possible benefits associated with co-location of waste uses. Assessment and mitigation of archaeological remains. Site would make best use of previously developed land. No significant effects on biodiversity. Site would help to move waste up the waste hierarchy and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill. Potential controls to protect the water environment (major aquifer). Potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from landfill and generating energy, although the site would still generate traffic movements which produce greenhouse gas emissions.
Conclusion: The site is a good fit with the spatial strategy as it is well located to the ALR and would provide for waste arising in towns along the south coast including Littlehampton, Worthing and Bognor Regis. The site is located in close proximity to the A259, however access to the A27 would be restricted. In terms of deliverability, the site has been promoted by an operator. The landowner and long term leaseholder support the principle of waste uses on the site.
The main issues with the site would be the cumulative impact of heavy goods traffic; noise and odour upon the amenity of nearby residential dwellings to the north of the site. These issues can be addressed at application stage through high quality design, mitigation measures and the consideration of a routing agreement.
Recommendation: Take site forward.