Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
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DONCASTER METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL Agenda Item No 4 Date 17th February 2009 To the Chair and Members of the PLANNING COMMITTEE PLANNING APPLICATIONS PROCESSING SYSTEM Purpose of the Report 1. A schedule of planning applications for consideration by Members is attached. 2. Each application comprises an individual report and recommendation to assist the determination process. Human Rights Implications Member should take account of and protect the rights of individuals affected when making decisions on planning applications. In general Members should consider:- 1. Whether the activity for which consent is sought interferes with any Convention rights. 2. Whether the interference pursues a legitimate aim, such as economic well being or the rights of others to enjoy their property. 3. Whether restriction on one is proportionate to the benefit of the other. Andy Gutherson Assistant Director of Development and Planning Directorate of Development and Planning Contact Officers: Mr M Roberts (Tel: 734897), Mr G Stent (Tel: 734994) and Mrs D Holgate (Tel: 734925) Background Papers: Planning Application reports refer to relevant background papers Summary List of Planning Committee Applications ( 6 ) NOTE:- Applications are in NUMERICAL order except those deferred from previous meetings for a Site Visit which are marked 'SV' and appear first and Major Proposals which are marked ‘M’. Schedule Application No Ward Parish No 1. SV 08/02575/FULM Bentley 2. SV 08/03479/FUL Conisbrough And Denaby 3. 08/03383/OUTM Hatfield Hatfield Parish Council 4. 08/03386/OUTM Rossington Rossington Parish Council 5. 08/03349/FULM Bentley 6. 08/03526/RET Askern Spa Norton Parish Council Schedule No: 1. Application No: 08/02575/FULM Ward Bentley Parish Proposal Construction of anaerobic digestion plant to process 45,000 tons of waste material to generate electricity including 9no storage vessels and steel portal building (30m x 35m) Location Prosper Demulder Limited, Ings Road, Bentley, Doncaster Applicant Prosper Demulder Limited Agent John Hill Associates Date of Valid Application: 15th September 2008 ** APPLICATION PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED BY PLANNING COMMITTEE** THE ABOVE APPLICATION WAS CONSIDERED BY THE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON 27TH JANUARY 2009 AND WAS DEFERRED FOR A SITE VISIT ON 13TH FEBRUARY 2009 IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE AMENITY OF THE NEIGHBOURS. A VERBAL REPORT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE SITE VISIT AND THE RESULTANT RECOMMENDATION WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING =================================================================== MAIN POINTS OF REPORT * Prosper de Mulder Ltd (PDM) are applying for planning permission to construct an Anaerobic Digestion Plant on O.82 hectares of land within their ownership on their present site at Ings Road, Bentley, Doncaster. * The PDM Doncaster plant processes meat, poultry and fish products to produce a range of chilled and frozen pet food ingredients. Part of the site is also dedicated to food production and produces a range of edible fats and oils for retail. These activities produce residue/waste which is currently transported off-site to landfill or incineration. * The company also provide a collection service for unsold or unusable food products which are collected from supermarkets, shops, restaurants and canteens in the region. This material is collected on a daily basis and then shipped out to other factories to be recycled to produce biofuels or to generate renewable energy. Unusable materials are disposed of to landfill or incineration. * The applicant company also operate their own on-site effluent treatment plant which produces 'activated effluent sludge'. This waste is currently transported off-site to land injection. It is also proposed to utilise this waste stream in the Anaerobic Digestion Plant. * It is proposed that the Anaerobic Digestion Plant will utilise the various waste streams referred to above. The process involves the anaerobic (in the absence of air) digestion of the biomass material within totally enclosed and sealed vessels. Micro- organisms break down the biodegradable material and produce methane gas which is collected in a biogas storage vessel and used to fuel the engines which drive the turbines to produce electricity. The use of the above waste materials in the Anaerobic Digestion Plant will reduce the amounts currently going to landfill and incineration, and therefore reduce traffic movements from the site. * The proposed plant will process approximately 45,000 tonnes of biomass per annum, creating methane gases which will be burned to create energy and generate 2MWe of renewable electricity per hour, which can be used on site or alternatively exported off site to the National Grid. * Diverting waste from landfill (and incineration) for treatment in an Anaerobic Digestion Plant (i.e. "Moving waste up the waste hierarchy") at the nearest appropriate location and producing renewable energy is in accordance with Government guidance and RSS policies (ENV12 and ENV5). * The plant will be designed to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will create over 30 new jobs. * Concerns have been expressed by local residents over traffic, flooding and odour issues. A petition including 20 signatories has been submitted. * The applicants have proposed to make a financial contribution to carry out localised improvements to Ings Road to arrest the deterioration which has taken place. DMBC Highways DC has no objections to the proposal. * The local Internal Drainage Board and the Environment Agency have raised no objections on flood risk issues. * The Environment Agency and DMBC Environmental Health Officers have raised no objections on odour and emissions to air issues. RECOMMENDATION - PLANNING PERMISSION BE GRANTED SUBJECT TO THE COMPLETION OF A LEGAL AGREEMENT UNDER SECTION 106 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) MEMBERS RESOLVE TO ENDORSE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO ACCOMPANY THE DECISION NOTICE (SUBJECT TO SUCH AMENDMENTS AS MAY BE AGREED BY MEMBERS AT THE MEETING): STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR DECISION TO GRANT PERMISSION The Local Planning Authority has decided to grant planning permission :- 1. Having regard to the policies and proposals in the adopted Doncaster Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and the Regional Spatial Strategy for Yorkshire and the Humber (RSS) set out below, and all relevant material planning considerations: UDP Policies SWD1: Waste Management Strategy WD1: Reclamation and Recycling WD8: Environmental Protection EMP6: Existing Land and property RSS Policies ENV5: Energy ENV12: Regional waste management objectives ENV13: provision of waste management and treatment facilities ENV14: Strategic locational criteria for waste management facilities. YH2: Climate Change and Resource Use 2. For the following reasons: Having taken into account all the planning considerations raised in the consultations and representations, against the policy background referred to above, it has been concluded that the proposed development is acceptable. In particular, the Local Planning Authority is of the view that its accordance with the relevant policies of the adopted UDP and the RSS, taken together with advice in the relevant national planning policy guidance, justify development involving waste treatment facilities in this location on the scale proposed. It is considered that the design of the proposed development is appropriate to its setting and would safeguard the living conditions of neighbouring residents having regard to light, privacy, noise, odour and disturbance arising from construction activity, operation, and outlook, in so far as such matters can be regarded as material planning considerations and subject to mitigation by the attached planning conditions. ==================================================================== Introduction 1. This application is for an Anaerobic Digestion Plant (ADP) on O.82 hectares of land within their ownership on their present site at Ings Road, Bentley. The Anaerobic Digestion Plant will require the construction of large storage tanks as follows: Reinforced concrete/steel framed enclosed Anaerobic Digestion vessel 35m diameter x 23m high, 4 enclosed reinforced concrete/steel framed storage vessels 20m x 15m high and 4 blending vessels 5m diameter x 10m high. The proposal also includes a new building steel framed building clad in metal sheeting. The new building will have two areas, the de-packaging area and combined heat and power area (CHP). The de-packaging area has been designed to provide adequate space for the de-packaging of food waste from shops and supermarkets, and therefore accommodate the specialist plant and equipment required. The CHP area will accommodate the engines which are required to burn the methane gas produced and the turbines to produce the electricity. 2. The de-packaging area will receive packaged food waste from supermarkets, shops and other retail outlets, and food wastes from restaurants. Packaged food waste will be deposited in a de-packaging machine, which is an assembly of equipment separating the food waste from the packaging in readiness to be pumped to the storage vessels. Food waste and other raw materials for the ADP will be delivered to site in enclosed collection vehicles to minimise the potential for fugitive release of odour during transit. The building will be completely enclosed and will operate under negative pressure in order to prevent the release of odour. Site and Surroundings 3. The site is an established industrial area with steel framed buildings