Suffolk Minerals & Waste Local Plan, Barnham, September 2017
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Suffolk Minerals & Waste Local Plan, Barnham, September 2017
Contact
Graham Gunby Senior Policy Officer: Minerals & Waste Policy Planning & Development Section Resource Management Suffolk County Council 8 Russell Road Ipswich Suffolk IP1 2BX
Tel: 01473 264807 Email: [email protected] Website: www.suffolk.gov.uk
For more information about our minerals and waste planning policy go to: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/planning-waste-and-environment/planning- applications/minerals-and-waste-policy/
Cover photograph acknowledgements:
1. Gt Blakenham Energy from Waste Facility, courtesy of SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, and;
2. Cavenham Quarry, with permission from Allen Newport Ltd.
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Contents 1. Executive Summary ...... 4 2. Proposed development ...... 4 3. Geology ...... 4 4. Development Plan and planning applications ...... 4 5. Consultation responses ...... 5 6. Site selection criteria ...... 8 7. Conclusion ...... 9 8. Recommendation ...... 9 Appendix 1 Representation E54, Mick George, Barnham ...... 10 Appendix 2 Geological Report ...... 26 Appendix 3 Constraints Maps ...... 31 Appendix 4 Fluvial Flood Maps ...... 34 Appendix 5 Photographs ...... 36
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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 As a result of a “call for sites” included within the Suffolk Minerals & Waste Local Plan Issue & Options Consultation which ran from the 29 November until the 6 February a number of sites were put forward for consideration. 1.2 One site was put forward for consideration as a new site at North Farm, Barnham. 1.3 Following consideration of internal consultees views and of the proposals against the stated site selection criteria, part the proposed site was recommended for inclusion in the draft Plan.
2. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 2.1 This is a proposed extension to an existing quarry that was originally granted planning permission to supply the construction of the A11 Elveden bypass. Although the soils were stripped from the surface and formed into a screening bund the sand and gravel was not required for the A11 construction. 2.2 The proposal is to work the area surrounding of the existing quarry (see Appendices). Working would be seasonal as with the existing planning permission and avoid the Stone Curlew nesting season. The intention is to import inert materials to aid restoration. 2.3 The proposed access to the site would utilize the existing permitted dump truck haul route which is 7km in length across farmland to Contract Farm. This would include the need for a signalised junction where the haul route crosses the B1106. From Contract Farm road going lorries would travel a short length of the former A11 which is now a private road until the lorries reach the B1106 and the wider highways network including the adjacent A11. 2.4 The B1106 is classified as a Local Access Lorry Route and the A11 as a Strategic Lorry Route in the Suffolk Lorry Route Network. Between Contract Farm and the B1106 the lorries would pass Elveden Church of England Primary School. The route would be reversed to bring in inert fill materials.
3. GEOLOGY 3.1 The supporting geological evidence (see Appendices 1 and 2) estimates a total resource of 5,000,000 tonnes of sand and gravel. Boreholes drilled in 1989 across parts of the site show an overall grading of 30% stone, 62% sand and 8% silt.
4. DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND PLANNING APPLICATIONS
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4.1 The proposed development straddles both Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury District Council Areas. The proposed extraction area and some of the haul route is within St Edmundsbury, whilst the reminder of the haul route and Contract Farm are within Forest Heath. 4.2 As of May 2017 the Development Plan for the area is made up of the following documents: a) Suffolk Minerals Core Strategy 2008 b) Suffolk Minerals Specific Site Allocations 2009 c) Suffolk Waste Core Strategy 2011 d) SEBC St Edmundsbury Core Strategy 2010 e) SEBC Rural Vision 2031 f) SEBC/FHDC Joint Development Management Policies 2015 g) FHDC Core Strategy 2010 h) FHDC Local Plan 1995 4.3 In addition, the following documents were submitted in March 2017: i) FHDC Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS7 Overall Housing Provision and Distribution j) Site Allocations Local Plan 4.4 There are no adopted or draft plan proposals which conflict with the proposed developments. 4.5 There no planning applications which conflict with the proposed developments.
5. CONSULTATION RESPONSES Highways 5.1 A safe crossing of the B1106 for dump trucks needs to be maintained as well as appropriate traffic management around school. Landscape 5.2 The site is located within a Special Landscape Area and suitable proposals for mitigation during working and restoration would be required. The scheme of restoration should be appropriate to the Brecks landscape. Historic Buildings 5.3 No historic buildings would be affected. Archaeology
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5.4 The Breckland landscape, particularly along river valleys, such as the Little Ouse, has been shown to have high potential for archaeological remains of prehistoric and later occupation. 5.5 Archaeological potential for later prehistoric occupation is indicated by cropmarks of numerous ring ditches (BNH 023, BNH 023, BNH 024, BNH 025, BNH 005, BNH 035, BNH 051) identified in the vicinity, which represent the remains of burial mounds, such as the Scheduled Bowl Barrows (NHLE 1018041, 1018099). Further evidence of prehistoric (BNH 040, BNH 009), Roman (ELV 004), Anglo-Saxon (BNH 001, BNH 030, BNH 007) and Medieval (BNH 003, BNH 022, BNH 068) occupation (BNH 022) comes from surface finds scatters, undated earthworks (BNH 055) and artefacts recovered by metal- detecting, recorded on the County Historic Environment Record (HER) and national PAS database. 5.6 The site also has potential with regards to WWI, WWII and Cold War military history, Barnham Camp (BNH 054), and which may relate to the Scheduled Atomic Bomb Store (NHLE 1020781). 5.7 There has been no systematic archaeological investigation of this site. The British Geological Survey records the presence of deposits, which have potential for Palaeolithic and faunal, environmental, and possible artefactual remains. Deposit modelling is needed to determine the level of this potential across the site. 5.8 Any planning application must be supported by the results of a programme of archaeological evaluation, including appropriate fieldwork, and should demonstrate the impacts of development/extraction on archaeological remains, including deposits with Palaeolithic potential, and proposals for managing those impacts. 5.9 Archaeological field evaluation, AND deposit modelling for Palaeolithic potential, will be required at an appropriate stage prior to the granting of any planning permission to allow for preservation in situ, where appropriate, of any sites of importance that might be defined (and which are currently unknown) and to allow archaeological preservation or mitigation strategies to be designed. 5.10 It is possible that following a program of archaeological assessment, some parts of this site may be found to contain heritage assets of sufficient significance to trigger NPPF 139, and therefore, potentially require preservation in situ. Ecology 5.11 Potential impacts upon nature conservation interest including Breckland SPA, Breckland SAC, Breckland Farmland/Little Heath/Thetford Heaths SSSI, Gorse Grassland CWS, Thetford Heath NNR, European Protected Species (Bats and Great Crested Newt), Priority Species, Other Protected Species, Priority
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Habitats (Lowland Heath). Appropriate surveys potentially leading to mitigation would be required.
Air Quality 5.12 The site will potentially be operational for more than 30 years from 2018. 5.13 Air Quality near the site is currently good; the closest Air Quality Management Area is located approximately 26km southwest of the site, in Newmarket. 5.14 A number of residential properties lie within 250m of the proposed site boundary. This includes properties alongside Elveden Road to the east and west of the site. 5.15 The site encompasses parts of the Breckland SPA and Breckland Farmland SSSI, and lies adjacent to the Breckland SPA/SAC and Thetford Heaths SSSI. Features sensitive to nitrogen deposition are identified by APIS for these sites. 5.16 The site is anticipated to generate 60 HGV movements per day, which is below the threshold defined within the IAQM/EPUK guidance, and therefore traffic emissions are unlikely to significantly increase local pollutant concentrations. 5.17 It is expected that an Air Quality Assessment would be submitted with the planning application for the site which considers the potential impacts of increased dust and pollutant concentrations associated with the extraction process, and which defines the mitigation and monitoring which will be implemented at the site to minimise the identified risk of impacts at the identified receptors. Noise 5.18 Assuming standard mitigation measures such as the use of earth screening bunds, additional standoff buffer areas may be required. Public Rights of Way 5.19 The site abuts a strategic regional trail, Barnham Byway no.2 (Icknield Way) adjacent to the western edge of the site. An appropriate buffer zone would be required. The precise details of which would depend upon details of site bunding etc. Floods 5.20 Proposals need to consider the potential implications for ground water resources and controlled waters. Barnham is in a SPZ2 (medium zone). Above principle chalk aquifer.
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6. SITE SELECTION CRITERIA
ABSOLUTE CRITERIA Highways 6.1 The County Highways Authority have not object to the proposed highways access arrangements, subject to conditions that a safe crossing of the B1106 is provided along with a travel plan around the school. Landscape 6.2 The County Landscape Development Officer considers that it may be suitable subject to mitigation and exclusion of certain sensitive areas. Cultural Heritage 6.3 The Historic Buildings Officer raises no objection in terms of the potential impact upon historic buildings. 6.4 The County Archaeologist considers that an Archaeological field evaluation, AND deposit modelling for Palaeolithic potential, will be required at an appropriate stage prior to the granting of any planning permission. They are currently concerned over ‘phase 7’ of extraction. Ecology 6.5 The County Ecologist has identified important ecological constraints both within and in close proximity to the proposed developments. It is however his belief that with appropriate mitigation that the proposed development could be made acceptable i.e. excluding the river valley to the east of triangular plantation and the areas of land to the north of Elveden Road. Public Amenity 6.6 The County Air Quality Consultant has identified that there are a number of sensitive receptors within the vicinity of the quarry and that an Air Quality Assessment will be required at the planning application stage. It is expected however that adequate mitigation will be able to be provided. 6.7 The County Noise Consultant concludes that with standard noise mitigation techniques the levels of noise generated will be just over the acceptable threshold. Therefore, the use of an additional standoff buffer area may be required. 6.8 The County Public Rights of Way Officer requires an adequate standoff from the Icknield Way and Byways 5 and 6 preserved on their existing routes.
COMPARATIVE CRITERIA
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Air Quality 6.9 No impacts upon identified Air Quality Management Areas was identified. Climate Change Mitigation 6.10 No specific figure has been provided therefore Minerals Product Association figure of 3.5kg of CO2/tonne of sand and gravel has been assumed. Economy 6.11 Likely new jobs, 20. Housing 6.12 85% of sand and gravel sold within Suffolk. Soil 6.13 Agricultural land is Grade 4. Waste 6.14 Silt and reject materials would be used in restoration. Water 6.15 Dry working.
7. CONCLUSION 7.1 Triangular Plantation, the river valley between Triangular Plantation and the dismantled railway, and the parcel north of Elveden Road should all be excluded from further consideration. This is because of the potential impacts upon landscape, ecology, public rights of way, and archaeology. These constraints reduced the area under consideration to that which is depicted on the Constraints Map. 7.2 Additional geological testing carried out since the submission of the original geological testing has revealed no economic sand and gravel reserves under Hunwellspring Plantation, the two fields to the south of Hunwellspring Plantation and the field to the north of Triangular Plantation. These supplementary geological results reduced the area under consideration to that which is depicted on the Fluvial Flood Map.
8. RECOMMENDATION 8.1 It is recommended that the remaining areas are included within the draft Plan.
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APPENDIX 1
REPRESENTATION E54, MICK GEORGE, BARNHAM
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APPENDIX 2
GEOLOGICAL REPORT
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APPENDIX 3
CONSTRAINTS MAPS
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APPENDIX 4
FLUVIAL FLOOD MAPS
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APPENDIX 5
PHOTOGRAPHS
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PANORAMA OF SITE TAKEN FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER IN APRIL 2017
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PANORAMA OF SITE TAKEN FROM THE NORTH-EASTERN CORNER TAKEN IN APRIL 2017
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PANORAMA OF SITE TAKEN FROM THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY IN APRIL 2017
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PANORAMA OF PARCEL LAND TO THE NORTH OF THE ELVEDEN ROAD TAKEN IN APRIL 2017
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PANORAMA OF RIVER VALLEY TO THE EAST OF TRIANGULAR PLANTATION TAKEN IN APRIL 2017
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PANORAMA OF RIVER VALLEY TO THE EAST OF TRIANGULAR PLANTATION TAKEN IN APRIL 2017
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