For the Erection of a Gas to Grid Anaerobic Digestion Plant, on Land
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Agenda Item 6. Regulatory and Other Committee Open Report on behalf of Richard Wills Executive Director, Environment & Economy Report to: Planning and Regulation Committee Date: 9 April 2018 Subject: County Matter Application - S45/02093/17 Summary: Planning permission is sought by Alan Hawkes (Farms) Ltd for the erection of a gas to grid anaerobic digestion plant on land currently used for the storage of farm waste plastic at land attached to Glebe Farm, Fen Road, East Keal. The development would comprise of five digestion tanks, a gas bag, gas flare, new building, weighbridge, propane tanks and feedstock storage area. As part of the development it is also proposed to upgrade the current access track from Fen Road. The main issues that need to be considered in the determination of this application are location, traffic and highway issues, surface water drainage and flooding, any impact on the landscape, and visual, noise and odour impacts. Recommendation: Following consideration of the relevant development plan policies and the comments received through consultation and publicity it is recommended that conditional planning permission be granted. Background 1. In June 2011 retrospective planning permission was granted (ref: (E)S45/0617/11) to use two existing farm buildings and associated land for the storage of waste farm plastics and to retain a weighbridge associated with this use. The conditional permission required the applicant to upgrade the access track leading to the site from Fen Road and whilst works were undertaken these were not completed. As the applicant had not complied fully with the requirements of the condition within the specified time the planning permission was “lost”. 2. In October 2013 a further planning permission (ref: (E)S45/1440/13) was consequently granted to regularise and allow the continuation of the waste farm plastics use. This permission differed from that granted in 2011 however as it excluded part of the land lying to the south of the existing Page 57 buildings and allowed and expansion of the storage area to the west of the building. 3. The waste plastic storage use has now largely ceased and waste plastics are no longer being received at the site. The applicant is proposing to develop a gas to grid anaerobic digestion facility at the site and this would overlay the site area/land subject of permission (E)S45/1440/13, as well as include an area of arable land and an existing slurry lagoon located to the west of the permitted waste plastics operation. The Application 4. Planning permission is sought for the construction of a gas to grid anaerobic digestion plant which would include five digestion tanks; a gas bag; gas flare; operations building; weighbridge; propane tanks; feedstock storage area and the upgrading of the current access from Fen Road at land attached to Glebe Farm, Fen Road, East Keal. 5. The development would comprise of the proposed erection of an anaerobic digester and associated equipment (the 'AD Plant') which would be used to produce digestate, heat, biogas and carbon dioxide (CO2). The AD Plant would treat approximately 49,000 tonnes of feedstock materials per annum which would comprise of a mixture of straw, grass silage, chicken litter and animal slurry. The approximate amounts of each of these wastes/feedstocks are as follows: • Straw –15,000 tonnes per annum • Grass silage – 10,000 tonnes per annum • Chicken litter – 14,000 tonnes per annum • Animal slurry (e.g. pig/cattle) – 10,000 tonnes per annum 6. The main elements and plant and equipment associated with the development are as follows: • 3 x Primary digester tanks (each 11m in diameter and 14m high) • 2 x Digestate storage tanks (each 14m in diameter and 14m high) • Sediment tank (4m in diameter and 2m high) • Buffer tank (14m in diameter and 6.5m high) • New operations building/shed (30m wide by 65m long and a maximum of 10m high) • Gas bag including 3.25m bunding (41.5m wide by 51.5m long and 2.4m high) • Feedstock storage area (65m wide by 112.7m long) • Effluent tank (16m in diameter and 4m high) • 3 x propane tanks (1.2m in diameter and 3m long) • Gas upgrade equipment (8m wide by 22m long and 14.27m high) • Gas flare (4.25m high) • Weighbridge (4m wide by 14m long) Page 58 • Retention and use of two existing agricultural buildings (8.5m high) and a slurry lagoon. North Elevation South Elevation West Elevation Site Layout Page 59 7. The applicant proposes that the tanks and building would be dark grey or juniper green in colour and low level lighting would be installed to provide light during the winter. The site would be surrounded by a 2m high palisade fence and the entrance would have a 2m high gate that covers the width of the entrance track. Feedstock Inputs 8. The proposed feedstock materials comprise of grass silage, straw, animal slurry and chicken litter. The applicant has stated that most of the straw, and some of the grass silage, would be grown and sourced from the adjacent and surrounding farmland and would therefore be sourced from within a 15-32 km radius of the site. The delivery of straw and grass silage would be seasonal, with straw being delivered in 25 tonne lorry loads and the grass silage being typically delivered by tractor and trailer. Upon delivery to the site the straw would be stored within containers and the silage would be stored on the concrete pad and covered in line with normal agricultural practice. The applicant has stated that straw that is currently stored on the site from the surrounding fields and later transported off site would be utilised as part of the feedstock. 9. Chicken litter is proposed to be delivered in 25 tonne lorry loads from sites within a 3-16km radius of the site. The chicken litter would be transported in sealed containers so as to avoid odour release and upon arrival at the site transferred directly into the feeding hopper which would take place inside the operations building. Feedstocks would be weighed prior to input to the system, this would enable management of the feedstocks to ensure that the delivery of the chicken litter would take place at the time it would be needed. 10. The applicant has indicated that the animal slurry (pig) could be pumped to the site from a farm approximately 1.5km mile away via an underground pipeline. At present animal slurry is delivered to the site and stored in the existing lagoon prior to it being spread on the land. The applicant states that the proposed pumping of the slurry via a pipeline would therefore reduce traffic movements to the site. Whilst the proposed use of an underground pipeline is noted, such a pipeline does not currently exist and no details relating to its construction or its route have been included or form part of this application. As a result, the construction and use of a pipeline does not form part of this proposal and therefore cannot be taken into consideration in the determination of this application. As a result, despite the information presented in the application any animal slurry brought to the site would, as is currently the case, have to be delivered via road. 11. Taking into account the sources and proportions of each feedstock, the applicant estimates that over half of the total feedstock materials would come from the surrounding area and would not be transported great distances to the site. Page 60 Product Exports 12. As stated previously the main products resulting from anaerobic digestion process are heat, biogas (methane and CO2) and digestate. 13. The digestate produced by the facility would comprise of both a liquid and solid (fibrous) fraction. The liquid fraction would be applied to surrounding farmland as a replacement for chemical fertilisers. The solid (fibrous) element would be dried and processed on-site using the heat produced from the AD process and exported off-site and sold to mushroom growers. The dry fibrous material can be mixed with mushroom compost to create an ideal growing medium for mushrooms and used as a replacement for products that are currently imported from the Netherlands. It is anticipated that there would be 10,000 tonnes of dried digestate produced by the plant each year. 14. Biogas produced by the plant would be treated to separate out the CO2 and methane gasses. The AD plant would produce approximately 4,000,000m3 of methane gas which would be cleaned and upgraded prior to being fed directly into the national gas grid network. The applicant states that the production and export of gas rather than electricity to the grid is 40%more efficient. The proposed connection point lies approximately 500m northwest of the site just off Fen Road. A pipeline connecting the AD plant to this connection point would be installed by the gas supplier/distributor using their permitted development rights as a statutory undertaker. As a result, this connection does not form part of this application/proposal. 15. Finally, the CO2 gas would be liquefied on-site and then transported off-site in tankers for use in the food and drink industry. It is anticipated that around 5,000 tonnes of CO2 gas would be produced each year. Access and Vehicular Movements 16. A Transport Statement (TS) has been undertaken and submitted in support of the application which gives details of the proposed traffic movements associated with the development and details of proposed highway and access improvements that would be undertaken as part of this development. A summary of the main findings of the TS are set out below: • An assessment of Fen Road's carriageway has been undertaken which has concluded that the road is suitable to cater for the amount of traffic associated with this development.