A.2 (S) Local Members' Interest I. Parry Stone Rural PLANNING COMMITTEE – 16 AUGUST 2007 MINERAL COUNTY MATTER – Stafford: S.06/25/401 M Date Received: 18 August 2006 Further Details Received: Cross-section/sightline plans (13/11/06); Proposed unilateral agreement & vehicle routing plan (28/11/06); Additional supporting site plans (24/11/06); revised landscaping scheme and planting schedule (30/11/06); Consideration of alternative sites/options (10/11/06 and 1/12/06); Protected species survey report (21/5/07) Greenpark Energy Limited for an application to extract and utilise mine gas (methane) from the former Florence Colliery for the production of electricity comprising of the installation of a temporary borehole platform and drill, erection of gas extraction and power generation plant and ancillary apparatus and construction of a new site access at land off Cocknage Road, Cocknage Farm near Lightwood Background This planning application was first considered by Planning Committee at its meeting held on 12 July 2007 when it was resolved to defer determination pending the outcome of a site visit. Set out below is a copy of the July Committee report to which the following amendments have been made. • The report has been updated (Section 8) to detail the Member’s Site Visit which took place on 31 July 2007. • The report has been updated to take into account the great crested newt discovery which was reported to the County Council and verbally presented to the Planning Committee at the meeting held on the 12 July. A summary of the advice received and mitigation proposed in response to this matter is provided in paragraphs 9.19 and 9.20. • Two further ‘alternatives’ to the proposals had been suggested during the Planning Committee meeting in July and the Planning Committee’s visit to the site on 31 July 2007. The ‘alternatives’ suggested are; (i) the transportation of the underlying gas to a similar development at Trentham Lakes via an existing disused gas pipeline and; (ii) the construction of a new pipeline between the application site and the similar development at Trentham Lakes. The applicant has been asked to respond to these suggested ‘alternatives’ and a summary of the response is detailed in paragraphs 9.42 to 9.44. - 38 - Introduction This application seeks to extract and utilise mine gas (methane) associated with the former deep-mine coal workings known as Florence Colliery near to Lightwood, Stoke- on-Trent. Whilst the former Florence Colliery lies within Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s administrative area the surface installation and extraction plant would lie within the Staffordshire County boundary. As a result, the overall responsibility for the determination of this application rests with the Members of Staffordshire County Council’s Planning Committee. For the purposes of this report the proposals have been divided into two separate phases; Phase 1 - Temporary site investigation and borehole drilling and; Phase 2 - Full construction and installation of generation equipment. Details of the works involved for each of these phases are set out in turn below. Both phases require planning permission however, the implementation of Phase 2 would be dependant upon the findings and outcomes of the Phase 1 works. The applicant is seeking full planning permission for both phases of these works and therefore for the avoidance of doubt Members are being asked to consider both phases of this development. 1. Summary of Proposals Phase 1 - Temporary site investigation works and borehole drilling 1.1 This phase would involve temporary works to facilitate the drilling of a borehole from the surface into the abandoned coalmine workings of the former Florence colliery. The borehole would be drilled from the application site and directionally drilled so as to intercept the top of a vertical shaft lying approximately 145m north-east of the surface site and at a depth of approximately 337m below ground level. The purpose of the borehole is to verify that the underground works are open and are not flooded by rising mine waters and that there is sufficient mine gas within the void to make the scheme viable. 1.2 The temporary works would involve opening up an existing field access off Cocknage Road and forming a temporary access track to the proposed borehole site using crushed hardcore or stone. Topsoil and subsoil would be excavated from an area measuring approximately 70m x 50m in order to form a level ‘borehole platform’. This area would then be surfaced using crushed hardcore at a minimum depth of 300mm thick. Topsoil and subsoil stripped during these works would be stored in separate temporary bunds which would be positioned to the north and east of the site. In order to attenuate the noise from the drilling operations temporary screening barriers would be erected around the drill site in the form of straw bales. The straw bales would be constructed to a height of 4m and retained throughout the drilling operation. Should the initial site investigation works prove to be successful then it is envisaged that the hardcore ‘borehole platform’ would be retained so as to provide the hard standing for the generation equipment and that the landscaping earthworks would also be retained and planted in order to screen the generation plant and equipment. 1.3 The applicant proposes that the initial site construction works (i.e. earthworks and access construction) would take place between 07:00 and 19:30 hours Monday to Saturdays and between 07:00 and 15:00 hours on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The drilling rig would extend approximately 30m (100ft) above the ground surface and would operate 24 hours per day for a period of approximately 3 weeks. The total construction - 39 - and commissioning works (including the 3 week drilling operation) are expected to take around 12-16 weeks. 1.4 If the initial preparatory works and drilling were to be unsuccessful then the hardcore platform would be removed, the borehole would be filled and made safe and the site would be restored back to existing levels. It is anticipated that these restoration works would be completed within 3 months from the date that the decision is made to not progress the scheme onto Phase 2. Alternatively, should the initial drilling works prove to be successful then the temporary infrastructure would be removed and replaced by the Phase 2 works as detailed below. Phase 2 - Full construction and installation of generation equipment 1.5 Subject to the results of the initial site investigation works (Phase 1), the Phase 2 works would then be implemented which comprise of the installation of the mine gas extraction and generation equipment and associated infrastructure. The compound area would contain the gas extraction, generator units and associated servicing which include the following; • Two electrical power generators and one gas pump housed within sound-proofed steel container units • Gas filter and analyser unit • Two electrical transformer units (converting 415V to 11kW) • Generator cooling radiators • Clean and dirty oil tanks • Water storage tank • 7500 litre condensate storage tank • Portable toilet unit • Coolant store • Electrical switch room • General storage unit • 4.3m high acoustic barrier/fencing • 2.8m high compound security fence • 1.1m wire and post fencing (along the site access track) • Other site formation and engineering works including the placement of underground and surface pipework, foundation excavation and concreting, construction of a permanent site access and re-profiling of the existing ground so as to achieve the proposed landscaping mounds. 1.6 The main structures are generally below 4.3m in height but the flue stacks on top of the generator units would be approximately 8m above ground level. In order to mitigate any impacts upon the landscape character and visual amenity of the area screening bunds would be constructed to the south-western, north-western and north-eastern side of the compound. These bunds would be planted with tree and shrub species in accordance with the planting scheme submitted in support of the application (or as otherwise agreed with the Minerals Planning Authority) as well as additional new and replacement hedgerow planting around the site. 1.7 The applicant proposes that the Phase 2 construction works would take place between the same hours as those cited in paragraph 1.3 above. Following the completion of these works the extraction of gas and generation of electricity would be carried out 24 - 40 - hours per day for an estimated period of up to 25 years. Although the site would be unmanned, contractors would carry out regular monitoring and maintenance visits (up to a maximum of twice a day) and the site would be remotely monitored from the applicant’s offices in Chesterfield and the offices of the company carrying out the maintenance contract. 1.8 Following the completion of the extraction operations it is envisaged that the foundations would be broken up and the security fencing removed and then the site would be restored to create a small coppice. This would include the retention of the established screen planting and additional planting would be undertaken within the site to supplement these features. Details with regard to this restoration scheme would be agreed with the Mineral Planning Authority at the appropriate time. 1.9 In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999, the County Council has conducted a “Screening Opinion” on the proposals (ref: SCE.10/401M) which concluded that the proposed development is not EIA development and therefore need not be supported by an Environmental Statement. Although a full Environmental Statement is not required a planning statement has been submitted in support of the application which assesses the potential environmental impacts of the development and includes details of any measures to be taken so as to mitigate and minimise against any impacts.