Brecon Beacons National Park Authority 21 April 2009
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Brecon Beacons National Park Authority PLANNING, ACCESS AND RIGHTS OF WAY COMMITTEE 21 April 2009 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AREA PLANNING MANAGERS ON APPLICATIONS FOR DETERMINATION BY THE PLANNING, ACCESS AND RIGHTS OF WAY COMMITTEE Page 1 of 19 APPLICATION NUMBER: 07/01356/FUL APPLICANTS NAME(S): Mr Paul Jones SITE ADDRESS: Great Porthamel Talgarth Brecon Powys LD3 0DL GRID REF: E: 315934 N:235203 COMMUNITY: Talgarth DATE VALIDATED: 28 January 2008 DECISION DUE DATE: 24 March 2008 CASE OFFICER: PROPOSAL Proposed anaerobic digester plant. ADDRESS Great Porthamel, Talgarth, Brecon CONSULTATIONS/COMMENTS Consultee Received Comments Talgarth Town 15th Apr 2008 Refer to need to consult neighbouring Community Council Councils affected by development. Page 2 of 19 Countryside Council 10th Mar 2008 CCW object to the application as there is not For Wales enough information to assess possible effects on the River Wye Special Area of Conservation (SAC). CCW consider that the proposal will have a detrimental impact on the landscape. Recommend landscaping scheme is agreed to reduce visual impact. CCW have records of significant lesser horseshoe bat roost at site address and it is likely that other species of bat may also be present. While this application will be not directly impact on this roost, the operational phase of the plant has the potential to impact on the behaviour of the bats through possible light and noise pollution as the proposed plant is sited so close to the roosting site. This emphasises the need for the screening provided by the trees. NP Ecologist 23rd Jul 2008 Conservation officer is satisfied with illustrative drawings supported by planting details submitted on 1st July. Conservation officer considers development plant can be effectively screened to mitigate the likely significant impact on the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Middle Wye Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest and the settings of the listed buildings of Great Porthamel Farm. NP Head Of Strategy 10th Sep 2008 Following previous consultation response and And Policy further consideration of the views of the Building Conservation Officer and Conservation Officer. It is apparent that after detailed discussions with the Conservation Officer and Building Conservation Officer the applicants have modified the application and have proposed a bund with a much increased level of planting in and around the principal storage tanks. Both the Conservation Officer and Building Conservation Officer are content that over time the planting will effectively limit the visual impact of the development on the landscape of the National Park and on the setting of the listed building. It is also clear from the file that CADW are not unduly concerned with the effect on the historic landscape Page 3 of 19 nor are the Environment Agency with the effect on surface water or ground water. Therefore I am comfortable that my objections in terms of the Q policies (Q8, Q16 specifically, G3 criteria i) and iv), G6 criterion ii) and ES12 criteria ii), iii), iv), have been overcome. in terms of my concerns regarding criterion G3vii)- the main road is an A road and the highway authority is content with the likely level and type of traffic. I also understand that delivery lorries are likely to access the site via Three Cocks rather than through Talgarth itself. Given these facts I am prepared to withdraw my concerns. In terms of policy ES17 and ES7, to overcome my concerns it is important that the proposed use is controlled for agricultural purposes and for the purposes of that agricultural holding . Furthermore, it is important that the proposed use remains ancillary to the main use of the land for agriculture. Measures need to be put in place to ensure that the use of the digester does not become a commercial use in its own right. In this way the proposal is then farm diversification under policy ES17 and needs to be in the proposed location to service the farm as required under policy ES7. Talgarth Town 18th Mar 2008 Recommend refusal pending further information. Council Town Council concerned that due to location and impact on immediate area and also on neighbouring Councils and communities namely Bronllys and Gwernyfed/Three Cocks, a full consultation must be carried out, although they are not in the National Park, they border the proposed site. Concern expressed regarding two years of chronic odours from proposed and similar materials used in this process. Consider odour will be continuous (7 days, 52 weeks a year). Concern that odour problem will be similar to garlic factory in Brecon. Request that PAROW consider application rather than delegate to an officer due to its size and sensitive nature. Request that Members visit an equivalent plant of this type to obtain a first hand and well-balanced experience of the impact and effects it may have on the community and Page 4 of 19 surrounding area. Also state that a full independent environmental impact assessment be carried out before a decision is made on the application. The Town Council raise 17 points requiring clarification. Environment Agency 3rd Mar 2008 The site currently operates a land spreading activity Wales under Paragraph 7A Exemption from the Waste Management Licensing Regulation 1991. This exemption authorises the treatment of Agricultural Land with Abattoir Waste. However, the treatment activity outlined in the planning consultation will require a full Waste Management Licence and associated infrastructure. The application may also require PPC Permit. Rambler s Association 17th Mar 2008 It is noted that Public Footpath 11 runs adjacent to Powys the farm building complex. Further public footpaths run through the fields belonging to the farm. Whilst the farm is providing a very useful service in disposing of waste products and putting the resultant output to good use, it is to be hoped that the odours from the process will be kept to an acceptable level. CADW Ancient 15th Feb 2008 Development lies within Historic La ndscape of the Monuments Middle Wye Valley. No comment is made in relation Administration to listed buildings. The farm complex contains a late medieval gatehouse which is a sheduled ancient monument known as Porthamel Tower (BR047) and which is also grade I listed. The farmhouse itself is grade II_ listed and there is also a grade II barn in the group. The new anaerobic digester forms part of a large scale development comprising storage tanks, several buildings on ramps and platforms and access tracks and steps. Although on the opposite side of the farmyard from the scheduled monument, a development of this size would have a considerable impact on its setting and that of the complex of listed buildings. The demands of the development requiring building and structures on several levels will also make an additional impact due to different Page 5 of 19 heights of building and tanks as required. Whilst it would appear that the plant could be constructed without any direct, physical impact on the scheduled ancient monument, it would seem clear that the development would have a significant impact upon the historic character of the complex. Advised to seek the view of BBNP Conservation Officer and CPAT. Gwernyfed No response Community Council Glasbury Community No response Council Countryside Council 7th Apr 2008 Countryside Council for Wales (4.4.2008) For Wales Following further information from the applicant liaison with Environment Agency, following which CCW have been made aware of the following points:- The source of much of the organic material to be used in the digester will be abattoir waste and changes to the crops grown in the Afon Llynfi catchment will only have a negligible impact on the River Wye SAC. Some of the digestates to be produced from the plant will be applied to land within the Afon Llynfi catchment but the composition and spreading of digestates will need to be monitored to satisfy the farms registered agricultural waste exemptions. Therefore, the impact of this spreading is unlikely to have a greater impact than the activities that are currently being undertaken on the farm. To conclude, in CCWs opinion, the development as proposed, is not likely to have an adverse effect on the River Wye SAC and CCW no longer objects to the above proposal. However, CCWs advice regarding landscape issues in previous consultation response remains relevant. CCW letter to applicant (9.11.2007) Page 6 of 19 Letter confirms that CCW do not consider that Anaerobic digester would be harmful to bats on the site especially as the applicant confirmed that no lighting would be used after dark. Suggest that further survey work on site to better understand the status of the lesser horseshoe bat on the farm and target any habitat enhancements and retention of essential landscape features used by the bats. Powys County 18th Jun 2008 The problem with odour experienced in the past will Council be eliminated with this system. No problems with Environmental Health odour forseen if all procedures as discussed with applicants are followed. NP Building 9th Apr 2009 The proposed Anaerobic Plant does not have a Conservation Officer direct physical impact on the listed buildings at Porthamel. The proposed site is well integrated into the sloping ground and separated from the listed buildings by modern agricultural buildings of portal frame construction. The present proposal presents an opportunity to both better landscape the existing structures and create an effective landscaping scheme for the new development. The potential is there to improve the setting of the historic building complex comprising of the Grade I listed Gatehouse, the Grade II* listed Medieval Hall House and the Grade II listed Stable range. All three of these listed buildings are in need of attention and some repair. Any archaeological remains of early gardens on the proposed site will have been lost to earlier agricultural operations.