Seven Star Natural Gas Limited Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2 Application to extract underground gas for power generation on land at Three Nooks Farm, Horton, Leek Planning Statement P41396 JULY 2012 Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2 Planning Statement RSK GENERAL NOTES Project No: 41396 Title: Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2 Planning Statement Client: Seven Star Natural Gas Limited Date: 13 July 2012 Office: Helsby Status: Final Author: Laura Green Technical Reviewer: Jamie Gleave Signature: Signature: Date: 13/07/2012 Date: 13/07/2012 RSK Environment Ltd (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. 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RSK Environment Ltd Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2 Planning Statement CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the Application.................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background to the Applicant..................................................................................................... 2 2 NEED FOR THE PROPOSED SCHEME ................................................................................... 3 2.1 UK Climate Change and Natural Gas Supplies........................................................................... 3 2.2 Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences .................................................................. 3 2.3 Benefits of the Proposed Scheme ............................................................................................. 4 3 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITE.................................................................................. 5 3.1 Site Location and Land Ownership............................................................................................ 5 3.2 Overview of the Existing Environment...................................................................................... 5 4 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTATION.................................................................. 9 4.1 Shell UK Limited ........................................................................................................................ 9 4.2 Seven Star Natural Gas Limited................................................................................................. 9 4.3 Phase 1 .................................................................................................................................... 10 4.4 Phase 2 .................................................................................................................................... 10 4.5 Pre‐Application Consultation .................................................................................................. 12 5 THE PROPOSED SCHEME ................................................................................................. 15 5.1 Site Boundary and Layout ....................................................................................................... 15 5.2 Proposed Scheme Design and Key Components..................................................................... 15 5.3 Construction Routes, Access and Parking ............................................................................... 18 5.4 Preparatory and Enabling Works ............................................................................................ 19 5.5 Construction Operations and Site Activity .............................................................................. 20 5.6 Construction Management ..................................................................................................... 22 5.7 Site Demobilisation ................................................................................................................. 23 5.8 Site Restoration, Landscaping and Aftercare .......................................................................... 23 5.9 Operational Security and Maintenance .................................................................................. 24 5.10 Operational Lifespan ............................................................................................................... 24 5.11 Project Programme and Timescales........................................................................................ 24 5.12 Vehicle Types and Movements ............................................................................................... 26 6 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................................................ 28 6.1 Environmental Impact Assessment......................................................................................... 28 6.2 Design and Access Statement ................................................................................................. 28 6.3 Scoping Review ....................................................................................................................... 28 6.4 Noise ....................................................................................................................................... 31 6.5 Landscape and Visual Impacts................................................................................................. 35 6.6 Ecological Impacts................................................................................................................... 45 7 PLANNING POLICY........................................................................................................... 56 7.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 56 7.2 Policy Context.......................................................................................................................... 56 8 SUMMARY...................................................................................................................... 59 8.1 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 59 RSK Environment Ltd i Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2 Planning Statement Figure 1 Site Location and Context Figure 2 Site Photography Figure 3 Potential Underground Cable Connections Figure 4 Planning Application Boundary Figure 5 Barn and External Equipment: Layout Plan Figure 6a Barn Design: Elevations (Sheet 1 of 2) Figure 6b Barn Design: Elevations (Sheet 2 of 2) Figure 7 Silage Clamp: Layout Plan Figure 8 Silage Clamp Design: Elevations Figure 9 Primary Route for Construction Vehicles Figure 10 Public Rights of Way Signage Figure 11 Tree Survey and Protection Details Figure 12 Sections and Soil Handling Details Figure 13 Site Restoration and Aftercare Figure 14 Landscaping Plan Figure 15 Monitoring and Receptor Locations Figure 16 Noise Model Layout Figure 17 Rating Noise Contours Figure 18 Landscape Character Areas and Designated Sites Figure 19 Viewpoint Locations Figure 20a Panoramic Photographs (Sheet 1 of 2) Figure 20b Panoramic Photographs (Sheet 2 of 2) Figure 21 Phase 1 Habitat Survey Appendix 1 SCC Consultation Responses Appendix 2 Wider Consultation Responses Appendix 3 Outline Site Waste Management Plan Appendix 4 Ecological Target Notes Appendix 5 Bat Survey Results Appendix 6 Plant and Equipment Specification Appendix 7 Houghton Main Data Appendix 8 Noise Monitoring Results Appendix 9 Prediction Method RSK Environment Ltd ii Three Nooks Farm: Phase 2 Planning Statement 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Application 1.1.1 This Planning Statement provides information in support of a planning application submitted to Staffordshire County Council (SCC) under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) by Seven Star Natural Gas Limited (the applicant). 1.1.2 The applicant is seeking planning consent for a proposal to harness and utilise underground methane gas to generate electricity through the implementation of gas to power technology (the proposed scheme) on land at Three Nooks Farm in Horton, Leek (the site). 1.1.3 This application falls to SCC to determine as the Minerals Planning Authority. 1.1.4 The proposed scheme forms Phase 2 of planned operations at the site. Details of the Phase 1 are contained in planning application ref: SM.11/18/161 M; this was granted permission by SCC on 5th April 2012 and is currently in the process of being implemented on site by the applicant. The relationship between Phases