Three Nooks Farm, Horton: Phase 2A
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Three Nooks Farm, Horton: Phase 2A Planning Statement RSK/M/41396-03-02 AUGUST 2014 Project No.: RSK/M/P41396 Title: Three Nooks Farm Phase 2A – Planning Statement Client: Seven Star Natural Gas Limited Date: 29 August 2014 Office: Manchester Status: Final Author Stephen Price Technical reviewer Wendy Hogben Date: 29 August 2014 Date: 29 August 2014 RSK (RSK) has prepared this report for the sole use of the client, showing reasonable skill and care, for the intended purposes as stated in the agreement under which this work was completed. The report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express agreement of the client and RSK. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report. Where any data supplied by the client or from other sources have been used, it has been assumed that the information is correct. No responsibility can be accepted by RSK for inaccuracies in the data supplied by any other party. The conclusions and recommendations in this report are based on the assumption that all relevant information has been supplied by those bodies from whom it was requested. No part of this report may be copied or duplicated without the express permission of RSK and the party for whom it was prepared. Where field investigations have been carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to achieve the stated objectives of the work. This work has been undertaken in accordance with the quality management system of RSK Seven Star Natural Gas Limited Three Nooks Farm Phase 2A – Planning Statement RSK/M/41396-03-Rev02 Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2A 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 The Applicant ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Need for the Development ....................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Purpose of Report .................................................................................................................... 4 2 APPLICATION SITE 2.1 Location .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Current Status .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Planning History ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Pre-application Consultation .................................................................................................. 10 3 THE PROPOSED SCHEME 3.1 Site Boundary and Layout ...................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Proposed Scheme Design and Key Components ................................................................. 12 3.3 Construction Routes, Access and Parking ............................................................................ 13 3.4 Preparatory and Enabling Works ........................................................................................... 14 3.5 Construction Operations and Site Activity ............................................................................. 15 3.6 Construction Management ..................................................................................................... 16 3.7 Site Demobilisation ................................................................................................................ 17 3.8 Site Restoration, Landscaping and Aftercare ........................................................................ 17 3.9 Operational Security and Maintenance .................................................................................. 18 3.10 Operational Lifespan .............................................................................................................. 18 3.11 Project Programme and Timescales ...................................................................................... 18 3.12 Vehicle Types and Movements .............................................................................................. 20 4 DEVELOPMENT PLAN 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 21 4.2 Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Minerals Local Plan .......................................................... 21 4.3 Staffordshire Moorlands Core Strategy Development Plan Document ................................. 22 5 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 23 5.2 National Planning Policy Framework / Planning Practice Guidance ..................................... 23 5.3 EN-1: Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy ..................................................... 23 5.4 Draft Minerals Local Plan for Staffordshire ............................................................................ 24 5.5 Other Documents ................................................................................................................... 24 6 POLICY ASSESSMENT 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 25 6.2 Energy Generation ................................................................................................................. 25 6.3 Green Belt .............................................................................................................................. 25 6.4 Landscape and Visual ............................................................................................................ 26 6.5 Noise 28 6.6 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................... 28 6.7 Ecology .................................................................................................................................. 29 6.8 Traffic and Transport .............................................................................................................. 30 6.9 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage ........................................................................................ 31 RSK Environment Ltd RSK/M/41396-03-Rev02 1 Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2A 6.10 Geology and Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 31 7 PLANNING BALANCE APPENDIX 1: POTENTIAL CABLE CONNECTION ROUTE APPENDIX 2: PRIMARY ROUTE FOR CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES APPENDIX 3: PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY SIGNAGE RSK Environment Ltd RSK/M/41396-03-Rev02 2 Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2A 1.1.1 Seven Star Natural Gas Limited (“the applicant”) is seeking planning permission for a proposal to harness and utilise underground methane gas to generate electricity at Three Nooks Farm in Horton, Leek (“the site”). As the proposals constitute a minerals development, the consenting planning authority is Staffordshire County Council (SCC). The local planning authority is Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC). 1.1.2 The proposed development forms Phase 2A of planned operations at the site. Details of Phase 1 are contained in planning application ref: SM.11/18/161 M, which SCC granted planning permission in April 2012, and which has been implemented on site by the applicant. The relationship between Phases 1 2, and 2A of the project is described in Section 2.3 of this document. 1.1.3 The applicant has instructed RSK Environment Ltd (“RSK”) to co-ordinate the planning application for the proposed development and to prepare this supporting Planning Statement. In particular, this document describes the site and its immediate surroundings, identifies the key components of the scheme and in the context of section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, considers the extent to which the proposed development complies with the development plan and other material considerations, such as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Using the evidence provided in the policy assessment, the document concludes with a consideration of the planning balance, which examines the acceptability of the proposed development. 1.1.4 In addition to this Planning Statement, RSK has also prepared an Environmental Report, Design and Access Statement and the planning application drawings. 1.2.1 Seven Star Natural Gas Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alkane Energy plc, and was acquired by the company in May 2011. 1.2.2 Alkane Energy plc is the market leader in the UK gas-to-power market, and is principally involved in the development of onshore methane gas reserves to generate electricity. The company has a first class reputation for operating sites which fully conform to all legislation and regulations required for the development and operation of small scale electricity producing generators. 1.2.3 The company currently has an installed electrical generating capacity of 140MW covering 27 mid-size power plants (comprising coal mine methane and conventional gas) across a number of sites across the United Kingdom. 1.2.4 Electricity at these sites is generated using standard modular engines that, along with other