COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR BARROW

Meeting date: 06 September 2012

From: Corporate Director, Resources

APPLICATION BY RPS LIMITED (THE DEVELOPER ) FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER TO ENABLE THE APPLICANT TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE A BIOMASS ELECTRICITY GENERATING STATION WITH A NOMINAL CAPACITY OF 90MW TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENTS . LAND AT ROOSECOTE , BARROW -IN -FURNESS

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1 Centrica RPS Limited has submitted an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the National Infrastructure Directorate to build and operate a 90MW (gross)/80MW (Net) biomass electricity generating on land at Roosecote, Barrow-in-Furness.

1.2 As the biomass facility is an on-shore electricity generating station having a capacity of more than 50MW, it is deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) within the definition contained in Sections 14 & 15 of the Planning Act 2008, as amended. The application for the DCO will therefore be determined by the Secretary of State, via the National Infrastructure Directorate (Planning Inspectorate).

1.3 County Council is a key statutory consultee on this development alongside Barrow Borough Council. Other adjoining Local Authorities such as South Lakeland District Council and Copeland Borough Council are also involved in the consultation process.

1.4 As part of the consultation process, Cumbria County Council and Barrow Borough Council will be invited by the Secretary of State to give its views on the proposal, and to prepare a Local Impact Report setting out what it considers to be the effects of the development upon the local area. On the basis of current timescales set by the Planning Inspectorate, it is expected that a joint Cumbria County Council/Barrow Borough Council Local Impact Report will be presented for approval to

the County Council’s Development Control & Regulation Committee (DC&R) on the 18 September 2012. Cabinet at their meeting on the 11 October 2012 will take account of the Local Impact Report in providing views on the proposal to the Secretary of State. The views of Barrow Local Committee on the proposed development will feed into both the Local Impact Report and the Cabinet report.

1.5 The views of Barrow Local Committee are therefore sought at this stage as to what it thinks the impacts of the development will be upon the local area.

2.0 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS

2.1 The County Council’s policy on spatial matters is set out in the Cumbria Strategic Partnership’s Sub Regional Spatial Strategy 2008- 2028 and those policies of the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan, which have been extended and not replaced by the North West of Regional Spatial Strategy (September 2008). It is important that these local policies are reflected in our response, although national policy considerations take precedence in these Nationally Significant Infrastructure projects.

2.2 It is expected that the proposed development at Roosecote would not have any direct implications for equality impact for the Council. However, it is recognised that the scale, type and location of the development proposed could have an impact on the well being of local communities and specific groups in society.

3.0 RECOMMENDATION

3.1 It is recommended that Local Committee Members note the matters raised in the report and advise Cabinet of their views on the impacts of the development upon their area.

4.0 BACKGROUND

Introduction

4.1 On the 3 rd July 2012, Centrica RPS Limited submitted an application to the Secretary of State via the National Infrastructure Directorate/Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 to enable the applicant to construct and operate a new dedicated Biomass electricity generating station with a nominal gross capacity of 90MW (80MW net) of electricity. Within 14 days of the submission, statutory consultees were requested to respond to the National Infrastructure Directorate, to give their views on the adequacy of the pre- application consultation process.

4.2 On the 31 st July 2012, the National Infrastructure Directorate (NID) confirmed that they had accepted the application, which takes the application into what is known as the Pre-Examination stage lasting 2-3 months. This triggers a series of immediate deadlines for statutory

consultees such as Cumbria County Council and Barrow Borough Council to respond to the application prior to the Examination stage of the application process, which could last up to 6 months thereafter.

4.3 A key input for statutory consultees as part of the Examination stage process will be the preparation and submission of a Local Impact Report. This will be required to be submitted following a formal Pre-Examination meeting to be held by the National Infrastructure Directorate probably sometime in early October 2012, with the submission of the Local Impact Report in late October/early November 2012.

Site location and surrounding area

4.4 The new Biomass electricity generating power station would be located on the site of the existing Roosecote gas-fired power station approximately 600m to the south east of Barrow-in-Furness. Various additional parcels of land nearby will be required to accommodate the development and its associated infrastructure such as the rail link from the power station to connect with the existing railway serving Ramsden Dock. The existing power station site was previously occupied by a -fired power station in 1954, and the current gas-fired power station on the site started commercial operation in November 1991. Linked to the existing power station is the cooling pump house, which is located adjacent to Cavendish Dock.

4.5 To the immediate north-west of the power station is the Waste Water Treatment Plant. To the south are Centrica’s Gas Terminals. The nearest residential properties are at Dowie Close some 400m to the north of the power station site. New House Farm is some 500m to the north east of the site. There are some allotment gardens at Farm some 600m to the north of the site, and Barrow-in-Furness Town Centre is some 2.3km north west of the power station site.

4.6 There are some areas of special interest in proximity to the proposal, including the Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site, and part of the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Cavendish Dock is part of the SPA and Ramsar site and part of the South Walney and Piel Channel Flats SSSI and part of the Cavendish Dock Wildlife Attraction. Salthouse Pool, between Cavendish Dock and the power station, is designated as a County Wildlife Site and also part of the Cavendish Dock Wildlife Attraction. The Duddon Estuary SPA and Ramsar Site (Duddon Estuary SSSI) are beyond Barrow-in-Furness to the north-west.

4.7 A public right of way (PROW) runs north-south along a former railway along the north western boundary of the power station, and is part of the Cumbria Coastal Way. There is a footpath/cycleway around the eastern edge of Cavendish Dock. A further PROW runs 300m north of the power station site.

The proposed development

4.8 The main new structures proposed in the development comprise the following: a new boiler house 70m high; a new stack 90m high; a new fuel storage shed some 29m high and up to 120m x 55m in plan; four new fuel

storage silos for wood pellets each some 25m in diameter and some 35m tall; biomass screening building; road delivery unloading facility; rail unloading facility; a new railway line connecting the existing rail infrastructure; and conveyors to transport fuel within the power station.

4.9 Approximately 430,000 to 600,000 tonnes of biomass fuel (comprising a mix of virgin wood chip and pellets, with a proportion of recycled/waste wood chips) would be burnt per annum to generate electricity at the facility. A limit of 630,000 tonnes of fuel has been included in the draft DCO. The applicant states that other types of fuel could change in the future, subject to Local Authority agreement.

4.10 The applicant claims that the Flue Gas Treatment (FGT) would clean the flue gases before release into the atmosphere, and would comprise NOx abatement, acid gas neutralisation, heavy metals absorption and particulate filtration components. Continuous on-line emissions monitoring equipment would monitor the performance of the Gas Flue Treatment system and warn of trending toward the emission limits. This reporting mechanism will be agreed with the Environment Agency.

4.11 The fuel would be delivered to the power station either by sea to the (and then by train to the power station), or alternatively from another UK port and then by train via the rail network. A new berth and fuel storage and handling facility at the port and new rail link from the proposed power station to the existing line that serves the Port of Barrow, would be created.

4.12 Depending upon the source of fuel, up to three ships per week would deliver fuel to the Port of Barrow, and up to seven trains per day would deliver the fuel to the power station. The removal of waste products is likely to be by road, although the option of removal by rail is being considered by the applicant. The generation of waste products including ash is expected to be 50-85 tonnes per day; sand consumption approximately 6-12 tonnes per day; and limestone consumption approximately 2–5 tonnes per day. The transport of the ash and process materials would result in up to 10x HGV movements per day (5 in and 5 out).

4.13 All conveyors and transit points would be enclosed with appropriate dust filters. All train unloading would take place within a purpose built enclosed building, also fitted with appropriate dust controls and filters. All dust collected at the dust filters would be combusted in the boiler. At the Port of Barrow, vessels would be unloaded using either clamshell or orange peel type grabs. Once the fuel has been unloaded it would be transferred to the buffer stores via means of belt conveyors housed in enclosed galleries.

4.14 Cooling water would be pumped from Cavendish Dock and returned to the dock using the existing pump house and delivery and discharge pipes. Approximately 300,000 cubic meters of cooling water would be required, but would not change the current abstraction and discharge consents held by the Power Station, as it would not exceed the current consented limit of 346,000 cubic meters.

4.15 The Biomass power station would generate electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. It would operate continuously through out the year except

during shutdowns for maintenance or unplanned outages. It is anticipated that rail movements would be restricted to a 13 hour period (8am – 9pm) Monday to Saturday. Unloading of trains would continue between 9pm – 11pm. Sunday deliveries would only be required in the case of emergencies, or to clear any backlogs at the port if space is required for imminent fuel delivery. Deliveries and movement of HGVs would be between 6am and 11pm Monday – Friday, and 7am to 5pm on Saturday.

4.16 During operation, in excess of 50 full-time operational and maintenance staff are expected to be employed, working a combination of shift and day time hours.

4.17 Subject to approval, construction is anticipated to commence in the third quarter of 2013 and would last for some 26 months. Following a 6 month period of commissioning and testing, the biomass power station would become operational in the first quarter of 2016. The Biomass power station would have a minimum design life of 20 years. Construction materials would be generally transported by road, and it is anticipated that some 500 construction jobs would be created at its peak.

Key issues to be raised in the Local Impact Report

4.18 At this stage, no formal view has been concluded on the proposed Biomass development. The Local Impact Report is currently being prepared jointly by Officers in both Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council, and it will contain the technical assessment of the impact of the development upon the local area covering the following topic areas.

4.19 It is intended that as part of that technical assessment, the Local Impact Report will include the views of Barrow Local Committee. Hence at this stage the views of Local Committee Members are being sought on what they consider to be the impact of the development upon the local area, taking account of the technical information submitted by the applicant as part of their Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate.

4.20 The draft Development Consent Order (DCO) and all the relevant EIA and other information is now posted on the Planning Inspectorate website, and you can download it as follows:

http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/north-west/roosecote- barrow-biomass-power-station/?ipcsection=app

4.21 The following therefore contains a summary of the findings of the applicant’s Development Consent Order Environmental Impact Assessment. Unless otherwise stated below, all topic matters will be assessed either by Cumbria CC or Barrow BC as part of their joint Local Impact Report.

Air Quality and Odour

4.22 The applicant states in their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that the proposed biomass facility will be designed to minimise emissions from the stack using Best Available Techniques (BAT) and to treat any residual emissions by flue gas treatment prior to their release. The existing gas-fired

power station operates under a permit granted in 2006. The proposed biomass would operate under a variation of the same permit. In addition, because the plant would be utilising recycled/waste wood as a fuel, the emissions would comply with the limits specified European Union (EU) Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

4.23 During operation, the principal source of atmospheric emissions would be residual levels of pollutants exhausted from the stack after treatment in the Flue Gas Treatment system (FGT). On the basis of some dispersion modelling work completed for the design site, a 90m high stack has been determined as being appropriate to minimise ground level pollutant concentrations, which would be well within current air quality objectives and limit values for health.

4.24 Road, ship and train emissions have been considered in the air quality assessment, and the applicant claims that no significant impacts are predicted due to the proposals in isolation or in combination with emissions from the exhaust stack. The applicant states that during construction, the potential effects on air quality arising from construction activities at the site have been assessed based on the London Best Practice Guidelines for Construction Dust, and implementation of dust management would ensure that the effects would be minimised.

4.25 This aspect of the proposal will be assessed by Barrow Borough Council as part of their statutory responsibilities, which will be included in the County Council’s Local Impact Report. Other consultees such as the Health & Safety executive and the environment Agency responsible for these areas are also likely to input responses separately.

Water Quality

4.26 The effects of the proposals on water quality during construction, operation and decommissioning of the power station have been assessed by the applicant. There are existing water abstraction and discharge permits for the Roosecote gas-fired power station site from/to water resources and features in the vicinity of the site. The applicant has confirmed that the cooling water infrastructure at Cavendish Dock would remain unchanged and continue to operate under the same conditions as the existing station. The existing site pollution control and emergency procedures would be updated to reflect the changes associated with the new operation. The effects on water quality during construction, operation and decommissioning of the development have been assessed by the applicant, and they state that no significant adverse effects have been identified.

4.27 This aspect of the proposal will be assessed separately by the Environment Agency and would not form part of the joint Cumbria CC/Barrow BC Local Impact Report.

Hydrology and Flood Risk

4.28 The applicant states that the flood risk from all sources to the main power station site is generally considered to be low. The fluvial or tidal flood risk within the vicinity of the proposed railway link route is considered moderate.

The applicant considers that with the incorporation of mitigation measures, no significant adverse effects of the proposed power station on hydrology and flood risk throughout its lifecycle have been identified.

4.29 This aspect of the proposal will be assessed separately by the Environment Agency, and would not form part of the joint Cumbria CC/Barrow BC Local Impact Report.

Land Quality

4.30 The applicant has assessed the potential for existing ground contamination at and in the vicinity of areas proposed for development, together with potential risks during construction. The site has a long history of related power station uses dating back to the 1950s, and there are a number of landfills within the site boundary and to the immediate south. An area in the east of the site (in the vicinity of the visitor’s car park) was used to strip asbestos from the old coal boilers. Most of the asbestos was taken off-site but the area was encapsulated with inert waste and soil as a precaution.

4.31 British Geological Survey records show that the majority of the power station site is underlain by tidal flat deposits. The access road and proposed lorry park are underlain by sand and gravel and the area to the west/north west of the site is underlain by alluvium. The solid geology underlying the site is the Sherwood Sandstone Group, and the bedrock is classified as a Principal Aquifer, however the site is not located within a Source Protection Zone.

4.32 The applicants considers that appropriate measures have been identified to prevent adverse effects of existing ground conditions and further contamination of land during the construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed power station. Within the main power station site where piling is proposed, only limited concentrations of contaminants have been encountered during investigation, and no remedies are required. The site investigation has encountered some evidence of asbestos fibres. Where landscaping is proposed in these areas, appropriate barrier techniques would be used to prevent mobilisation of any potential contamination.

4.33 This aspect of the Local Impact Report will be assessed by Barrow Borough Council.

Ecology

4.34 The applicant has assessed the likely effects of the development on sites designated for their nature conservation importance, and legally protected and notable habitats and species of flora and fauna. The applicant states that modelling the predicted impacts of air emissions from the biomass power station indicates no significant impacts on statutory designated conservation sites within this area. Nitrogen and acid deposition would have some adverse effects on the ecology of non-statutory designated County Wildlife Sites.

4.35 Cavendish Dock is an enclosed dock with a unique ecology influenced by discharge of cooling water from the existing Roosecote gas-fired power

station. The applicant states that a beneficial effect of the proposed power station would be the maintenance of the temperature regime of Cavendish Dock, which would help to maintain the unique ecology of the dock.

4.36 The area to be developed consists of a mixture of hard-standing, amenity grassland, species-poor semi-improved grassland and gorse scrub. Part of the proposed rail route crosses the north-eastern corner of Cavendish Dock which would require infilling by placement of rock-fill. The overall loss of open water following infilling equates to 0.01 ha of the surface of the coastal lagoon habitat which is some 0.017% of the 59ha area.

4.37 The applicant proposes measures to minimise the potential impact on the ecological habitats and species of the site and its surroundings. Specific measures are proposed to protect the aquatic environment, including measures related to the proposed dredging at Ramsden Dock, and the infilling and extension of the culvert at Cavendish Dock.

4.38 It is understood that otters are known to use parts of the development area but the applicant claims that construction is not predicted to disturb any resting sites. A pre-construction survey would be required to establish whether an outlier badger sett, about 20m from the development boundary, is in use. If so, the need for temporary exclusion of badgers from this sett under licence would be considered. Removal of common lizards and other reptiles from some construction areas would be required prior to works commencing.

4.39 Any stands of Japanese knotweed likely to be damaged or disturbed during work would need to be removed and disposed of. Four sites have been identified for use as temporary construction lay-down areas, including areas of semi-improved grassland and scrub. The proposed landscape strategy includes planting of scrub habitat to offset the potential loss of these areas. The landscaping strategy also includes the development of a landscaped bund with shrub planting along the western margin of the power station site.

Ornithology

4.40 The Morecambe Bay SPA/Ramsar site and the Duddon Estuary SPA/Ramsar site support internationally important concentrations of waterbirds and breeding sea birds. The applicant claims that any significant effects on birds would be avoided through a combination of best practice and mitigation. Measures have been developed to mitigate any potential disturbance or displacement of the important bird species of the SPA/Ramsar sites. This includes timing of construction in sensitive areas to avoid periods when concentrations of wintering and migrating birds are present, visual screening of the power station construction site along the frontage with Roosecote sands and managing the warm water outflow to Cavendish Dock. With these measures in place, the applicant claims that no significant impacts on any important ornithological feature would result from any stage of the biomass project.

4.41 The cooling water regime of the existing Roosecote Power Station has beneficial effects on the ecology of Cavendish Dock by promoting the growth of beaked tasselweed. This in turn has benefits for estuarine birds including

SPA qualifying species. The applicant states that the proposed biomass power station would continue to provide this warm water discharge to Cavendish Dock.

4.42 Specific measures are proposed to minimise the disturbance on estuarine birds in the closest parts of the Morecambe Bay SPA/Ramsar site including reducing both the visual and noise disturbance. The noisiest activity likely to be associated with the construction work at Ramsden Dock would be percussive piling. This would only take place over the period April to September avoiding the main wintering period for estuarine birds.

4.43 The infilling of the small section of the northeast corner of Cavendish Dock would take place between June and August (when the lowest number of birds are present in Cavendish Dock) to minimise disturbance.

4.44 The proposed landscape strategy includes planting of scrub habitat to provide habitat for locally breeding birds in order to offset the potential loss of nesting habitat. The landscaping strategy also includes the development of a landscaped bund with shrub planting. The applicant claims that this would screen all or most of the activity taking place within the proposed site and thereby minimising the visual disturbance of waterbirds across Roosecote Sands.

Landscape and visual effects.

4.45 The applicant has assessed the potential landscape and visual effects of the proposed biomass development. The assessment study area extended 10km from the site of the proposed biomass power station, and additional viewpoints in the Lake District National Park and the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty beyond this were also considered.

4.46 The applicant considers that the operational biomass power station would have effects on landscape character of no more than a minor adverse level of significance. The visual effects on representative viewpoints in both the Lake District National Park and the Arnside and Silverdale AONB are assessed as of negligible significance. Areas where there would be visual effects of some significance would be the Dowie Close and Hornbeam Crescent residential areas of Barrow-in-Furness.

4.47 The applicant accepts that there would be significant effects during construction and in the early years of operation on views from the Cistercian Way/Cumbria Coastal Way/Westfield Greenway footpath/cycleway, where it passes adjacent to the power station site. Once proposed landscape planting in this area is established, they consider the visual effects on this recreational route would be reduced to minor levels.

4.48 The power station would need to be lit for safety and operational reasons and a lighting strategy would be developed taking account of landscape, ecological and visual issues. The applicants state that key principles have been agreed such as using task specific lighting, which is only turned on when actually needed, the use of luminaires, which minimise light pollution in terms of light trespass, sky glow and glare.

Archaeology and cultural heritage

4.49 The applicant considers that the potential for the presence of previously unidentified archaeological remains within the power station site is very low. Much of the land was formerly tidal sands and mudflats that were reclaimed following the construction of a railway embankment. The remaining areas within the power station site have been subject to extensive extraction of sand. The land required for the port facilities and transport routes also has a very low potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains. The applicant considers that there would thus be no adverse effects on any archaeological remains.

4.50 In the wider landscape, designated and non-designated heritage assets have been identified and visited in order to understand their significance and the role that their setting plays in contributing to that significance. No historic buildings would be demolished or physically altered by the proposed scheme, Furness Abbey and Bow Bridge are both located in a valley, and the protection of these assets would not be significantly changed. The power station would be visible from Piel Castle, although the castle is 4.9km from the proposed development. The applicant states that the key views of the castle would not be affected.

4.51 The proposed new power station and stack would be clearly visible in views along Dungeon Lane. The applicant considers that the effect would be minor. A number of minor temporary adverse effects would occur during construction, and minor reversible adverse effects would occur during operation. The applicant considers that no effects that would be considered to be significant have been identified.

Traffic and Transport

4.52 The applicant has assessed the existing transport network, including the adjacent highway network, facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, and public transport provision.

4.53 The applicant has carried out their own traffic surveys to establish details of existing traffic flows along the adjacent highway network. In addition, to estimate future traffic flows, the applicant has applied traffic growth rates to account for the projected growth in traffic and the effect of other committed developments in the area. The applicant claims that the observed traffic flows are as expected, and do not show anything out of the ordinary.

4.54 Access to the site is currently either by road via the power station access road off Road, or via a footpath/cycleway along the western boundary of the power station. Use of this latter route as an alternative form of access by employees is already encouraged with a pedestrian access gate established at the west of the site.

4.55 There is an existing bus service on Rampside Road with bus routes between Barrow-in-Furness, Roa Island, Coast Road and Ulverston. The applicant proposes to provide an additional bus stop within 400m of the access road to encourage employees to travel to the site by bus. There is a railway station

at Roose with services running between Carlisle, Barrow, Lancaster and Manchester Airport.

4.56 The applicant anticipates that a proportion of the construction workers would already be living in close proximity of the site or would be staying in temporary local accommodation. Therefore they could use the existing pedestrian and cycle routes to access the site.

4.57 A Framework Construction Travel Plan has been prepared by the applicant, which sets out measures to reduce the traffic impact during the construction phase including specific targets to minimise the use of single occupancy vehicles, to ensure operational vehicles use appropriate routes, to maximise the use of public transport and to maximise the efficiency of operational vehicles. They propose that this Travel Plan would be reviewed and consulted with Cumbria County Council and other relevant parties before being finalised.

4.58 Construction materials would be sourced locally where reasonably practicable. Construction materials would generally be transported by road. The site’s location provides the opportunity to deliver fuel for the proposed biomass plant (wood pellets, virgin wood chips and recycled/waste wood) by alternative methods to road transport. All fuel would be delivered to the power station by ship to the Port of Barrow and then by rail to the power station, or by train from the main rail network.

4.59 In terms of total traffic, the applicant considers that the operation of the power station is unlikely to have any significant environmental effect.

4.60 In terms of the County Council’s assessment of the effects of the development from a Highways and Transport point of view, it would seem that the details submitted so far are considered inadequate and would require further information in order to properly assess the full impacts of the development and to ensure that proper mitigation is provided as part of the scheme.

Noise and vibration

4.61 The applicant has assessed noise and vibration during the construction and operation of the Biomass power station. Noise and vibration during the construction and operation of the biomass power station, railway and fuel handling facilities have been predicted and assessed by the applicant using British Standard methodologies.

4.62 The applicant’s baseline surveys indicate that noise levels are low at all areas potentially affected by the development. However, their report states that there is a large variation in baseline noise levels that is likely to be due to variations in weather and atmospheric conditions. Measures to minimise the adverse effects of noise during construction, include routing and programming of construction vehicle movement to minimise disturbance to local residents, HGV and site vehicles equipped with broadband, non-tonal reversing alarms, site hoardings to minimise noise propagation outside the site boundary and selection of piling techniques, which minimise noise and vibration where practicable.

4.63 Monitoring of noise levels would be carried out throughout the construction programme. A local community liaison strategy would be established by the applicant.

4.64 Construction noise and vibration effects would be negligible at residential areas due to the separation distance between houses and the site. There would be minor adverse effects of construction noise at neighbouring footpaths, cycleways, and fishing locations at Cavendish Dock.

4.65 During operation, other potential noise emissions have been identified including noise associated with rail and ship unloading facilities, noise from road vehicles delivering process materials and transporting waste, and noise and vibration from fuel delivery trains. The design of the process and infrastructure has incorporated measures to minimise the adverse effects of noise emissions in line with the Government’s Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE). Measures proposed by the applicant include selection of quiet plant and processes, design of the building fabric to provide sound insulation, and specification of high performance silencers on stack outlet, exhausts, steam vents and other external noise sources.

4.66 An Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP) would be established by the applicant, with measures to control noise during operation of the power station. This would include a noise monitoring strategy, which would be developed prior to commencement of operations. This would monitor noise at locations on the boundary of the power station site and the boundary of the fuel storage and handling site at the Port of Barrow.

4.67 This aspect of the proposal will be assessed by Barrow Borough Council as part of their statutory responsibilities, which will be included in the County Council’s Local Impact Report.

Waste generation

4.68 The existing Roosecote Power Station currently has a waste management procedure for its operational wastes. Wastes are stored in a dedicated area of the site, with hazardous waste stored separately in appropriate containers.

4.69 Where it has been deemed appropriate, reuse of buildings and infrastructure has been incorporated into the proposals. This includes retention of the turbine building, admin building and the workshop/stores; reuse of the existing water cooling infrastructure including retention of the water treatment plant building, the raw and demineralised water tanks, the cooling water pump house and pipes; and retention of the access road to the sub- station and the emergency access to the Barrow Gas Terminals.

4.70 A pre-demolition audit would be undertaken by the applicant to identify materials that can be reused within the development or off site. This would include other construction wastes include dredgings from the construction of the new berth at Ramsden Dock, spoil and arisings, and general construction waste. A Site Construction Waste Management Plan has been drafted by the applicant to define how these wastes would be managed.

4.71 During operation, the main solid waste product of the plant would be ash. This is removed from the process as bottom ash, boiler fly ash or Flue Gas Treatment (FGT) residue. The bottom ash would be screened with the finer material recycled to the bed material. The FGT solid residue would comprise of a small quantity of fly ash, excess sorbent, sulphide and chloride salts, excess carbon and volatile heavy metals including mercury. Due to the inclusion of recycled/waste wood in the fuel mix and the potential for the presence of heavy metal contaminants this would be disposed of as hazardous waste. It has been identified that it is feasible to use the fly ash waste and FGT residue as a raw material substitute in cement production.

4.72 Wastes would also be generated from the screening the waste/recycled wood, and oversize materials. An operational waste management strategy has been prepared by the applicant to identify potential options for the disposal of the wastes, considering opportunities to divert all the major wastes from landfill. This would continue to be developed as the operation commences. It is understood that the applicant has had ongoing discussions with waste management contractors and regulators in the vicinity to identify waste management options for the operational wastes, in particular the FGT residue.

Socio and economic effects

4.73 The applicants have used a number of sources to establish the baseline socio-economic effects.

4.74 The key findings are that Barrow-in-Furness is a relatively isolated area, which shows significant deprivation in many but not all parts, and on some but not all indicators. The town and surrounding area have considerable natural and historic assets. These are, however, not among the most popular attractions in Cumbria, partly as a result of the area’s comparative isolation.

4.75 The project is expected to provide a significant number of jobs in the construction phase. Many of these would require specialist skills which are more likely than not to be brought in from outside the area. The most likely benefits therefore are employment for local people to the extent that their skills can match requirements and the measures available to create the best match. There would also be benefits to local hotels and providers of other accommodation catering for workers who would be brought in from outside the area.

4.76 Once the plant is in operation, it is hoped that the majority of the 50 jobs would be available to local people. In terms of local amenity, steps would be taken to ensure that rights of way remain open in the construction and operational stage with local diversions where necessary.

Aviation and Telecommunications

4.77 This matter is left for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), OFCOM, Cable & Wireless Worldwide plc, BT and associated organisations as being the relevant consultation bodies.

Safer communities

4.78 With regard to fire safety and emergency planning matters, the applicant states that the site does not have unrestricted public access, and therefore they consider that designing for community safety is not a key concern for the development. However, in the interests of good design, they consider the following core principles have been considered within the concept proposals:

• environmental quality and sense of ownership

• natural surveillance

• access and footpaths

• open space provision

• lighting

4.79 The applicant states that further discussions will be held with the local police Architectural Liaison Officer to determine relevant standards appropriate to the local area. The applicant aims to incorporate sensible security measures during the development of the facility to reduce levels of crime and fear of crime and disorder.

4.80 This matter will be considered by the County Council’s Fire Safety Officers, and will be reported in the Local Impact Report.

5.0 RESOURCE AND VALUE FOR MONEY IMPLICATIONS

5.1 Whilst there are no specific financial implications arising from the recommendations in this report, the preparation of the Local Impact Report has required support from within the County Council’s resources as well as external support to cover certain technical areas. It is intended that the cost of carrying out the detailed assessments contained in the Local Impact Report will be accounted for through the signing of a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) with the applicant. This is still to be finalised with Centrica RPS, and will require Cumbria County Council to be the accountable body.

6.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

6.1 The Planning Act 2008 provides that the Secretary of State, not Cumbria County Council, will determine whether or not a Development Consent Order will be made in response to Centrica RPS’s application. Cumbria County Council’s role (conducted by Development Control & Regulation Committee and Cabinet) is to approve the Local Impact Report, giving details of the likely impact of the proposed development, and make representations to the Secretary of State about the proposed development.

6.2 Barrow Local Committee is being asked, as the Committee in whose area the development is taking place, to input into this process and advise Cabinet of any representations that they wish to make. The Local Committee has the following powers in this regard:

6.2.1 Paragraph 4 on page 72 gives the Local Committee the power to “support the development of community empowerment through locality working [] and to make recommendations to the Council, Executive or Overview and Scrutiny thereon as appropriate”.

6.2.2 Paragraph 15(c) on page 74 gives the Local Committee the power to “co- ordinate for the Council processed for consultation and engagement within their area and arrange for consultation with communities on matters referred to them by the Council, the Executive, another committee or officers”.

6.2.3 Paragraph 15(e) gives the Local Committee the power to “liaise on behalf of communities within their area with Council departments and other public bodies and utilities”.

6.2.4 Paragraph 15(g) gives the Local Committee the power to “contribute to the formulation of all strategies, plans and policies of the Council with reference to the circumstances and characteristics of their area”. [TEB]

7.0 CONCLUSION

7.1 At this stage, no formal view has been concluded on the merits and impacts of the proposed Biomass development. The Local Impact Report is currently being prepared by Officers in both Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council, and it will contain the joint technical assessment of the impact of the development upon the local area covering the aforementioned topic areas. It is intended that as part of that technical assessment, the Local Impact Report will include the views of Barrow Local Committee.

7.2 Taking into account all of the matters raised in Section 4.0 above, and Member’s own understanding of their area, the views of Barrow Local Committee are therefore sought at this stage as to what it thinks the impacts of the development will be upon the local area.

Iain Fairlamb – Planning Services Manager

29 August 2012

APPENDICES

Electoral Division(s) : All in Barrow

Executive Decision Yes

Key Decision No

If a Key Decision, is the proposal published in the current Forward Plan? N/A

Is the decision exempt from call-in on grounds of urgency? No

If exempt from call-in, has the agreement of the Chair of the relevant N/A Overview and Scrutiny Committee been sought or obtained?

Has this matter been considered by Overview and Scrutiny? No If so, give details below.

Has an environmental or sustainability impact assessment been N/A undertaken?

Has an equality impact assessment been undertaken? N/A

N.B. If an executive decision is made, then a decision cannot be implemented until the expiry of the eighth working day after the date of the meeting – unless the decision is urgent and exempt from call-in and necessary approvals have been obtained.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT COUNCIL OR EXECUTIVE DECISIONS [including Local Committees]

Not Applicable

CONSIDERATION BY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Not considered by Overview and Scrutiny

BACKGROUND PAPERS

The draft Development Consent Order (DCO) and all the relevant EIA and other information is now posted on the Planning Inspectorate website, and you can download it as follows:

http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/north-west/roosecote-barrow- biomass-power-station/?ipcsection=app

REPORT AUTHOR

Contact: Graham Hale – Spatial Planning Team Leader – 01228 226716 – [email protected]