Proposed Anaerobic Digestion Plant

at

West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great , IP24 1PE

For AT Renewables

Planning Application Planning Overview

November 2011 COPYRIGHT The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Active Technologies

Document Status – Planning Submission Page 1

Land at West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk, IP24 1PE for Proposed Anaerobic digestion system Contents

Introduction Page 3

Active Technology Page 3

West Farm Page 3

Proposal Page 4

The Renewable Agenda Page 4

Anaerobic Digestion systems Page 4

Economic Consideration Page 5

Policy Page 5

General Impact Issues Page 6

Environmental Issues Page 7

Community Consultation Page 10

Conclusion Page 11

Appendix A Page 12

Appendix B Page 13

Document Status – Planning Submission Page 2

Land at West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk, IP24 1PE for Proposed Anaerobic digestion system Introduction

AT Renewables are commissioned by Mr A J & Mr M J Beard to progress for the development of an Anaerobic Digestion system, on land at West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk, IP24 1PE

The scheme is currently estimated to include the installation of:- 1,200 m3 capacity underground Anaerobic Digester tanks and mixing tank Control/Pump room and ancillary equipment Combine hear and power engine, gas scrubber and connection to local electrical grid system for export.

The scheme has been designed to minimise visual impact whilst complying with Mr Bread’s and AT Renewables requirements. The overall impact will be small, while the scheme itself if firmly in line with National, Regional and Local Government policy on renewable energy and sustainable technologies.

The purpose of this initial planning overview is to inform the pre-application exercise and create a constructive and professional dialogue with the Local Planning Authority (Norfolk County Council), and the local community, as the proposal moves forward towards the formal submission of a Planning Application. This document will ultimately form the Planning Statement to be submitted as part of the above planning application. Paul Spinks – Active Technologies Managing Director and James Montgomery – Project Manager had a pre-application meeting with Mr Ralph Cox – Norfolk County Council Planning Officer on Friday 18 th November to explain the proposals and to review the Planning requirements prior to a full application.

Active Technologies AT Renewables is a division of Active Technologies Ltd, Hethel Engineering Centre, Chapman Way, Hethel, , Norfolk, NR14 8FB

Active Technologies management team have a passionate commitment to the environment and to finding practical solutions to managed farm land for the generation of sustainable energy.

West Farm The land at West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk IP24 1PE is part of the overall landholding of Mr A J & Mr M J Beard. The total landholding is 6.3 hectares (2.5 acres) and is predominantly used for pig rearing. History – Mr Beard and his family have been farming pig livestock since 1994 at West Farm. Local diversification – There is a financial requirement to develop traditional farms and agricultural businesses beyond simple farming activities, many of which are no longer economically viable.

The site identified for the anaerobic digestion system is located at the far North Western corner of the main farm site. There are no significant adjoining structures or land use activities at or near the proposed site.

In a wider context, the Anaerobic Digester site does not adjoin any public roads, byways or footpaths, and sits within the gently undulating rural landscape of largely arable field, interspersed with trees and hedgerows.

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The site is not within any designated area, as define within the Local Plan or Local Development Framework.

The immediate farm site has an approximate area of 0.7 ha, of which approximately 0.2 ha will be occupied by the proposed Anaerobic Digestion system as shown on the Proposed Site Plan Drawing 003.

Connection into the National Grid is readily available as a three phase supply pole is located to the South of the existing main farm site.

Appendix A provides an aerial view of the site, while appendix B provides a general location plan

Proposal The proposal is for an Anaerobic Digestion System on land at West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk, IP24 1PE

The proposal is to utilise the current waste (manure, bedding) produced by 3,500 pigs totalling approx 20,000 tons per annum, which is currently exported from site.

The scheme is currently estimated to entail the installation of 1,200m3 of buried Anaerobic Digestion tanks in 6 x 200m3 units, Feeder/ Mixer hopper, Gas Scrubber, Pump Room, containerised Combine Heat and Power unit and associated pumps, mixers and valves required to manage the installation. This is estimated to equate to an installed capacity of 490kW.

The design of the AD system reduces the visual impact of the large AD tanks by burying them, leaving only the top roof structure visible. The engine unit is housed within an industrial container which has acoustic attenuation to provide acoustic data referred to later. The Pump Room shall be a prefabricate enclosure.

Where landscaping is required to reduce the visual impact of the proposals, a range of options are available. With the volume of top soil which is required to be excavated for the tanks, areas of bunding and screening can be provided to reduce impact from the public highways or neighbouring sites. These areas of landscaped earth works can then receive suitable planting of trees and shrubs.

Recent planting of shrubs and trees along the Western boundary will mature to provide an affective visual and acoustic screen to Mill house. The existing boundary to Mill House has a mature boundary of conifers and trees.

The anaerobic digestion process shall be thermophilic, where the temperature of the feed stock is raised to 56degC for 10 days. This process produces more biogas and reduces the size of the tanks compared to other anaerobic digestion processes. The heat is provided by a heat exchanger onto the energy generation plant. This is a water based hot water ring which shall be continuously monitored to keep the feed stock at the right temperature.

The anaerobic digestion system uses feed stock or manure and ‘waste’ material from the farm pigs sheds. No other feed stock material is grown for the purpose of providing fuel for the anaerobic digestion system.

The process of generating electricity is 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The energy output is continuous and does not fluctuate. It is only dependant on daily input of feed stock from the animals

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housed on the farm. There is obviously a need to ensure that the farm is maintained for the purpose of live stock farming.

Existing manure and farmyard waste is stored in open air concrete manure storage areas adjacent to the main pig sheds. The existing manure is currently exported off site as part of a commercial understanding with other local farmers in return for bedding straw to be used in the pig sheds. Current quantities of manure export require up to seven vehicle movements per week.

As part of the Anaerobic Digestion process, the feed stock reduces by volume as the biogas is produced. Actual figures for thermophilic anaerobic digester systems are not currently available, but it is our understanding that a reduction will be achieved.

Output material or ‘spent feed stock’ is a highly valuable fertiliser product and effective fertiliser which can be further treated to separate the solids and liquids. Given the right levels of extraction, both the solid and liquid fertiliser can be re-used as condition fertilisers on the land.

Input/ output The anaerobic digester will consume as feed stock approximately 20,000 tons of on-site produced ‘waste’ as define as manure/ bedding and 15,000 tons of imported crop/vegetable waste.

Economic Considerations The proposals will give rise to additional employment and it is envisaged that 1.0 full-time jobs would be created directly as a result of the operation of the proposed AD plant, with a further 0.5 jobs created within the administration and accounts process. This is clearly of benefit to the local economy.

There will also be jobs created during the construction phase and it is anticipated that a proportion of this work will be undertaken using the local workforce. Other employment benefits during the construction phase may occur through the use of local accommodation for any temporary workers, as well as additional turnover for local services, which is difficult to quantify at this stage but is clearly a benefit of the scheme.

The Renewable Agenda and Anaerobic Digesters Planning Policy Statement 22 on Renewable Energy (PPS22) set out the Governments policies for renewable energy, which planning authorities should have regard to when preparing local development documents and when taking planning decisions.

Small Scale Renewable Energy Developments Local planning authorities and developers should consider the opportunity for incorporating renewable energy projects in all new developments. Small scale renewable energy schemes utilising technologies such as solar panels, Biomass heating, small scale wind turbines, photovoltaic cells and combined heat and power schemes can be incorporated both into new developments and some existing buildings. Local planning authorities should specifically encourage such schemes through positively expressed policies in local development documents.

Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) sets out the Government's overarching planning policies on the delivery of sustainable development through the planning system.

Planning Policy Statement 7 (PPS7) sets out the Government's planning policies for rural areas, including country towns and villages and the wider, largely undeveloped countryside up to the fringes of larger urban areas.

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The Department of energy and climate change & the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs have produced the ‘Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan’. http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/06/14/pb13541-anaerobic-digestion-strategy/

Anaerobic Digester systems

Pre-Application Dialogue and Consultation This planning overview is submitted as part of a pre-application consultation exercise that Active technologies Ltd are committed to in relation to this proposal.

It is intended that this document, together with the initial scheme drawings will provide sufficient information for the local parish council of Great Hockham and ward members, any neighbours and statutory consultee’s prior to a formal Planning Application.

Policy

Central Central Government policy on renewable energy is enshrined in the Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22), which states the Government’s aim to “put the UK on a path to cut carbon emissions by some 60% by 2050, with real progress by 2020”. It further goes on the say that “increased development of renewable energy resources is vital to facilitating the delivery of the Government’s commitment on both climate change and renewable energy”

PPS22 establishes Key principal that Local Planning Authorities should adhere to in their approach to planning for renewable energy. This includes “the wider environment and economic benefits for all proposals for renewable energy projects, whatever their scale, are material considerations that should be given significant weight in determining whether proposals should be granted planning permission”.

Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) and the supplement on Climate change broadened the principle of sustainability to include the need to reduce carbon emissions and sough to ensure that local and regional plans and authorities provided for these principals. This includes a requirement that planning authorities should apply the principle, in making decisions about their spatial strategies, that new development should be planned to make good use of opportunities for decentralisation and renewable or low carbon energy.

The PPS1 Supplement specifically states “In developing their core strategy and supporting local development documents, planning authorities should provide a framework that promotes and encourages renewable and low-carbon energy generation. Policies should be designed to promote and not restrict renewable and low- carbon energy and supporting infrastructure”

More recently the Government published “Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan”. It states “The Government’s Structural Reform Plans of 16 th July 2010 therefore include an action to ‘set out steps to promote increased energy from waste through Anaerobic Digestion’. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) incorporated this into its Business Plan and published on 30 th November 2010 a Framework Document which aimed to set out the steps necessary to increase energy from waste through anaerobic digestion.

Regional & County and Norfolk County Council falls into the East Of Regional Assembly area, covered by the Regional Spatial Strategy (the East of England Plan), published in May 2008. EERA is the regional planning body for the East of England and has a statutory duty to prepare and implement the Regional Spatial Strategy known in this region as the East of England Plan.

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The East of England Plan makes a positive commitment to the development of renewable energy (Policy ENG1), and sets targets for renewable energy power generation (17% by 2020, policy ENG2)

Norfolk County Council and the eight local authorities of Norfolk have produced a Climate Change Strategy for Norfolk (‘Tomorrow’s Norfolk, Today’s Challenge’). While much of this is focused on very worthwhile local initiatives, it also recognises the challenge of encouraging renewable energy sources, given the targets set out by central government, and as detailed in the East of England Plan.

Reference to the Norfolk County Council Core Strategy and the Validation of Planning Applications Adopted Local List are as follows:-

Core Strategy Policy CS3 – Waste management capacity to be provided states that: “Provision will be made to manage the quantities of non-hazardous waste set out in Policy WM4 and Appendix C of the East of England Plan, rolled forward to 2024. As a minimum, the targets for recycling, composting, reuse and landfill diversion set out in the East of England Plan, the Waste Strategy for England 2007, and Local Area Agreement targets for municipal waste (and, where relevant, commercial and industrial waste) will be met”

Core Strategy Policy CS5 – General Location of Waste Management Facilities states that: “Agricultural waste treatment plants, windrow (open-air) composting plants, community composting plants and small “bring” sites (for the collection of recyclables) will, due to their characteristics, be acceptable in locations more distant from the county’s main settlements”.

The Anaerobic Digestion System uses feed stock or manure and ‘waste’ materials from the farm pigs sheds. No other feed stock material is grown for the purpose of providing fuel for the anaerobic digestion system.

Core Strategy Policy CS6 – General waste management considerations states that: Waste sites will need to be developed in accordance with policy CS3 and will be acceptable on the following types of land: a) land already in waste management use; b) existing industrial/employment land; c) other previously-developed land; and d) contaminated or derelict land

The development shall be within existing employment land being that of an existing working pig farm. No prime agricultural land will be lost to the AD development.

Core Strategy Policy CS7 – Recycling, composting and waste transfer stations states that: “The expansion of, or development of new, recycling, composting facilities, and waste transfer stations to handle all types of waste (inert, hazardous and non-hazardous) will be considered favorably, so long as they would not cause unacceptable environmental, amenity and highways impacts.”

Development Management Policy DM10 – Transport: A Transport Statement is included as a separate document.

Local The existing Breckland District Adopted Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan is supportive in relation to Renewable Energy, and the specific policy relating to Energy (CP12) states that: “The Local Authority encourages and will support the provision of renewable and low-carbon technologies, including micro-renewables secured through new residential, commercial or industrial development.”

General Impact Issues Visual and Landscape The landscape in the immediate area of the site is flat, extensively rural, and removed from nearby settlement of Great Hockham and centres of habitation by the A1075. The rural landscape is

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predominantly open with large field patterns. Individual settlements and agricultural concerns maintain the rural/ agricultural landscape.

The site is dominated by the existing farm buildings used for pig rearing. These include pig sheds and feeders, associates hard standings and portal frame Dutch Barns for the storage of straw. There are two residential dwellings used by the Beard Family.

The Southern and Eastern Boundaries are defined by the A1075. The farm is bounded by two private residential dwelling to the South West and agricultural land to the North.

The tanks used for the anaerobic digestion process are to be buried with the top/ lid of the tanks level with the existing ground level thus minimising the bulk of the visual impact of the system. Other accommodation for the AD plant shall be either containerised, located within existing accommodation or accommodation to match that on site.

Current Land use and Classification The land is registered as permanent pasture for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS).

Environmental Issues A preliminary assessment has been undertaken in relation to environmental matter. These will be further discussed with Norfolk County Council Minerals and Waste Planning department for further consideration, but our provisional view is as follows:

• Air Quality – No Air quality management areas (AQMA’s) in the vicinity of West Farm. http://aqma.defra.gov.uk/maps.php?la_id=32

The existing land use is that of pig rearing and complies with:- Technical Guidance Note IPPC SRG 6.02 (Farming) Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Odour Management at Intensive Livestock Installations by the environment agency

An existing Odour Management Plan for West Farm is available.

The system design considerably reduces the current odours due to the immediate use of stored manure. i.e. Manure will no longer be yard stacked but placed in a sealed digester. The biogas will pass through a Gas Scrubber unit to reduce Hydrogen Sulphide and Nitrates prior to combustion to a level of >100pmm.

• Geology and Hydrology – No geological or hydrological points of interest.

• Environmental Statement – The proposed Anaerobic Digestion Plant will improve the existing environment. The method of thermophilic anaerobic digestion and energy production provides clean renewable electricity. Existing storage of manure allows for natural oxygen based composting which allow methane and other gases to be released into the environment. The AD system replaces this with an air tight underground system where 100% of the Biogas produced is cleaned and treated prior to combustion where output emissions are within EA Rules & Regulations:

Emissions & Standards:

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CO <1.9g/BHP-h NOx <0.99g/BHP-h HCHO <0.07g/BHP-h NHHC <0.19g/BHP-h SO 2 <0.6g/BHP-h

*Taken from 2G energy technical information on the 2G twin-pack – 500ek” BioGas CHP Cogeneration Engine Module

Therefore the proposed site will have reduced levels of odorous gases in the natural environment

• Ecology – No ecological interest.

No adjacent areas of SSSI http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/map.aspx?m=sssi

• Floor Risk – Not in an area of define flood risk and the run-off characteristics of the site shall not be affected by the installation of AD plant. The Red Line site boundary is less than the one hectare threshold which the Environment Agency would require a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA). http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController

• Archaeology – The site is of no known interest. http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/Map.aspx?X=1.0&Y=52.7&mapScale=8

• Traffic/ Access – Noise

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The Biogas combine heat and power unit will be housed within an acoustically treated steel container. This will provide acoustically tested results of 65dB at 10m whilst the engine is producing electrical power, which is an industry standard. The range of 60-70 decibels sound pressure level is about as loud as normal conversation in 1 meter distance. The engine will produce power 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week less regular down time for maintenance.

The existing noise level of the farm is managed by:

Technical Guidance Note IPPC SRG 6.02 (Farming) Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Noise Management at Intensive Livestock Installations

Community Consultation • Mr M J Beard has approached his neighbours at Mill House and Forest Lodge.

• There are no other private residential building within 250m of West Farm

• Mr M J Beard and Active Technologies have contacted the clerk of Great Hockam Parish Council and will be attending a parish council meeting to present the proposals and answer questions raised at the meeting on Monday 12 th December 2011 Other Issues • Safety

Health and safety risks Biogas is primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide, with traces of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. Ammonia and hydrogen sulphide may arise during fuel gas production, from stored feedstock and in the mixing pits or conveying plant. Exposure to any of these gases may result in ill-health or death, and levels in the biogas may vary widely and cyclically. Carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide are all toxic gases, and are subject to the COSHH regulations as substances hazardous to health. Employers of people working in biogas plants must assess the risk from exposure to the gases (and other hazardous substances such as pathogens* in the feedstock), and take steps to control that risk. For new plants, the risk of operators or others being exposed to toxic gases should be considered at the design stage under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994.

*The proposed Anaerobic Digestion System is thermophilic with temperatures at 56 Deg Centigrade in the tanks. Pathogens are destroyed by exposure to temperatures above 50 Deg Centigrade, therefore no pathogens are present beyond the AD tank process.

All Health and Safety matters will be dealt with under the provision of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. The Applicant is aware of its obligations under these Regulations.

• Public Rights of Way

The application site is located on private land. Access to the site will therefore be restricted to those associated with the use of the site as an AD plant and with the operations of West Farm.

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There will be no direct physical effects on any nearby Public Rights of Way as a result of the proposed development .

Conclusion The proposal to develop an Anaerobic Digestion Plant at West Farm, Vicarage Road, Great Hockham, Norfolk IP24 1PE has been shown in this document to comply fully with the Government’s energy and planning policies including PPS1 and PPS22, regional and local planning policy.

This project will assist Breckland District Council and Norfolk County Council towards the renewable energy targets as stated in regional and national policy, and will further efforts to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, as proposed by the 2008 Climate Change Act.

The scheme is located outside any nationally recognised or designated landscape, while we have also indicated that environmental impacts will be minor and largely mitigated.

It is intended that this document shall be amended to take on board any concerns and provide answers to any question raised prior to the formal planning application by Norfolk County Council and the local residents of West Farm. This document will then be submitted as the Planning Statement.

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Appendix A – Aerial view of the site.

West Farm site

indicated by Red Line

NOT TO SCALE

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Appendix B – General Location Plan

West Farm site

NOT TO SCALE

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