Planning Consultants

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

PLANNING APPLICATION TO VARY CONDITION 5 OF PLANNING PERMISSION 1/66/96/16 UNDER SECTION 73 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 PROPOSED EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COLLIERY SPOIL TIPPING OPERATIONS AT NO. 2 SPOIL HEAP

JUNE 2013

UK Coal Operations Limited Proposed extension of time for colliery spoil tipping Environmental Statement operations at Harworth Colliery No. 2 Spoil Heap

Contents

1 Introduction and Background to Proposal 1 1.1 Purpose of this Report 1 1.2 The Applicant 1 1.3 Planning History 1 1.4 Environmental Impact Assessment 2 2 EIA Scoping 3 3 Site Location and Setting 5 3.1 Site Location 5 3.2 Site Setting 5 4 Description of Development 7 5 Planning Policy 9 6 The Environmental Considerations 10 6.1 Landscape and Visual Considerations 10 6.2 Nature Conservation and Ecology 16 6.3 Noise 26 6.4 Air Quality and Dust 33 6.5 Cultural Heritage 40 6.6 The Impact on Water Resources 44 6.7 Flood Risk Assessment 54 7 Cumulative Impact 60 8 Alternatives 68 9 Socio Economic Assessment 72 10 Conclusion 81

Plans

Site Location Plan – HPL/UKC/HTIP/001

Planning Application Plan – HPL/UKC/HTIP/002

Appendices

Appendix 1 – Scoping Opinion from County Council UK Coal Operations Limited Proposed extension of time for colliery spoil tipping Environmental Statement operations at Harworth Colliery No. 2 Spoil Heap

Appendix 2 – Non-Technical Summary

Technical Appendices

Technical Appendix 1 – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

Technical Appendix 2 – Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey

Technical Appendix 3 – Noise Impact Assessment

Technical Appendix 4 – Air Quality Impact Assessment

Technical Appendix 5 – Cultural Heritage Assessment

Technical Appendix 6 – Hydrogeological and Hydrological Impact Assessment

Technical Appendix 7 – Flood Risk Assessment UK Coal Operations Limited Proposed extension of time for colliery spoil tipping Environmental Statement operations at Harworth Colliery No. 2 Spoil Heap

1 Introduction and Background to Proposal

1.1 Purpose of this Report

1.1.1 This document is the Planning Application Environmental Statement (ES), on behalf of UK Coal Operations Limited, in respect of a proposed extension of time for colliery spoil tipping operations at Harworth Colliery No.2 Spoil Heap. Accompanying this planning application is a Supporting Statement which has considered the acceptability of the proposed scheme in relation to local and national planning policy.

1.2 The Applicant

1.2.1 UK Coal is Britain’s biggest producer of coal, supplying around 5% of the country’s energy needs for electricity generation. The Group operates both deep mines and surface coal mines throughout the UK employing around 2,500 people. It currently has two operational deep mines, located in Central and Northern (Thoresby Colliery and Kellingley Colliery, respectively) and one mothballed (dormant) deep mine (Harworth Colliery).

1.2.2 UK Coal Operations Ltd is the largest independent mining operator in the UK. The Company headquarters are located in Harworth near Doncaster. As well as employing 3,000 people directly in the management, production, sale and distribution of coal and smokeless fuel, UK Coal supports thousands more jobs in businesses involved in the supply of equipment, goods and services.

1.3 Planning History

1.3.1 UK Coal Operations operate Harworth Colliery in North Nottinghamshire, a colliery which has been in care and maintenance since it ceased production in 2006.

1.3.2 Since 1996, during its operation, the colliery has disposed of colliery spoil at the spoil heap operating under Planning Permission 1/66/96/16, known as Harworth Colliery No.2 Spoil Heap.

1.3.3 Condition 5 of Planning Permission 1/66/96/16 requires that the depositing of colliery spoil on this site shall cease on or before 30th June 2013 unless otherwise agreed in writing beforehand by the MPA.

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1.4 Environmental Impact Assessment

1.4.1 In preparing the ES, The Company and its consultants have had regard to the contents of Schedule 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. Specifically, the ES has addressed the main elements of the proposals that have the potential to impact (positively and/or negatively) on:

 Human beings;

 Flora and fauna;

 Soil, water, air, climate and the landscape;

 Material assets and the cultural heritage;

 Interaction between the first three bullet points.

1.4.2 A non-technical summary has been provided (please see Appendix 2).

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