N DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATORY BOARD 18TH SEPTEMBER 2003 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES APPLICATION UNDER REGULATION 3 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING GENERAL REGULATIONS LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL – HABITAT AND ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS (PHASE II) INCLUDING (i) CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROAD, CAR PARK AND PUMPING STATION (ii) PROVISION OF BIRD HIDE (iii) FORMATION OF PATHS (iv) CREATION OF NOISE MOUND; (v) EXCAVATION OF LAKE AND EXTENSION OF REED BEDS, WATERMEAD COUNTRY PARK , WANLIP ROAD, SYSTON (CHARNWOOD BOROUGH) 2003/2094/02 – 17th July 2003 Background 1. This proposal forms part of a wider scheme for environmental improvements at the County Council’s Watermead Country Park, being the second phase of a programme of operations on the north-west side of the Park. The first phase of improvements has been carried out in the last few months, following the grant of planning permission in March 2003, under ref. no. 2003/0395/02. That consent related to the extension of existing reedbeds, by excavation of material adjacent to these beds and its temporary storage at the northern end of the site. 2. At the same time, certain ‘permitted development’ operations including maintenance works to clear ditches and remove vegetation from parts of the site and lay out a new gravel footpath has been undertaken. A new wildflower meadow is being planted in the locality, along with hedgerows and new fences on site. Phase One operations have utilised grant aid from English Nature that needed to be spent during the last financial year. These were completed in the summer months. 3. About 2150 cu. m. of soils and sub-soils are being stored in a temporary stockpile at the northern end of the Park, on an elevated hard pad remaining from previous concrete batching operations in this vicinity. The current application relates to a combination of works within Phase Two of the overall improvements. These works are jointly funded by grants from English Nature, the Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, LACP, and Charnwood Borough Council. 2 2003/2094/02 – continued DC&REG. BOARD 18/09/2003 3 2003/2094/02 – continued Description of Proposal 4. This part of Watermead Country Park is an area of uncultivated land and managed water (reed beds) within and adjacent to the washland of the River Soar. There are significant groups of trees established around the edge of the site and alongside the River itself. The A46 Leicester Western Bypass skirts the Park on its northern boundary, with a one-way exit road for Wanlip Lane. The northern entrance to the Park is situated off Wanlip Lane, joining the main access road through to the centre of the Park. 5. It is intended to carry out the following works as part of the current application: (i) construct a new car park for 50 vehicles at the northern end of the Park, off the existing service road; (ii) excavate a new lake having a water level of 46.6m AOD; (iii) use the excess soils from the lake excavation to create a new mound on the north side of the proposed lake (iv) extend the existing reed beds on the site in adjacent to phase one operations and provide a new water channel to the existing beds; (v) provide new path ways around the site, including those suitable for disabled access; (vi) erect 3 new bird hides around the east side of the water areas; and (vii) install a submerged pumping station in the north east corner of the site. 6. At the same time, certain ‘permitted development’ works will be carried out to plant hedges and erect fences within the site. It is intended that a new visitors centre/base building will be erected at the northern end of the site, largely within the new earth mound, but details of that building are not yet available. About 15,500 cu. m. of surplus soils will be tipped on the site to create this mound from the excavated materials. Planning Policy 7. Watermead Country Park is within the designated ‘Green Wedge’ between Birstall, Leicester and Thurmaston (Soar Valley North). Environment Policy 3 of the approved Structure Plan seeks to maintain the open and undeveloped character of this area. Any new development normally will be restricted to appropriate uses, including recreational uses, provided they do not damage the visual character of the green wedge. 8. Environment Policy 9 of the Structure Plan seeks to safeguard natural watercourses and adjoining flood plains, which provide essential drainage of land and a valuable wildlife environments and amenity areas. These will be protected from adverse developments. 9. Policy CT/3 (as modified) of the Draft Local Plan for Charnwood Borough sets out the objectives for new development in the Green Wedge. This will be permitted where it protects the open and undeveloped character of the area, does not impinge on the function to provide separation between settlements, maintains or enhances public access, and secures landscape improvements. Policy CT/6 (as modified) sets out criteria for development that involves appropriate new buildings, and the impact on visual and nature amenities of the area. DC&REG. BOARD 18/09/2003 4 2003/2094/02 – continued 10. More particularly, Policy RT/14 relates to the boundaries of Watermead Country Park, as identified on the Proposals Map. It states that planning permission will be granted for appropriate developments, buildings related to the leisure and recreation uses within the country park, including an information centre, footpaths/bridleways/cycleways, and minor buildings. These should not have any adverse impact upon habitats of greater value to the conservation and enhancement of wildlife. 11. Policy EV/33 relates to floodplains and states that planning permission will not be granted for development likely to increase flood risk, unless there is a need for such development and adequate mitigation measures are included in the proposal. A separate statement in the Plan identifies the intention to encourage measures that will improve the natural environment outside of the built-up limits, such as enhancement of existing wildlife habitats. 12. The Wanlip Action Area Plan (1985) identifies the application site within a wider area for informal recreation and agricultural uses, including a main car park in the north-west corner of the Country Park. Whilst this remains part of the adopted development plan, it will eventually be replaced by the District-wide Local Plan for Charnwood Borough, and the replacement policies for the area in that Plan. Consultations Charnwood Borough Council (Planning) 13. Reply not received at the time this report was published Syston Town Council 14. Reply not received at the time this report was published Wanlip Parish Meeting 15. Reply not received at the time this report was published Environment Agency 16. No objection, subject to conditions relating to the prevention of surface water pollution and the use of uncontaminated, inert materials of construction.. Attention is also drawn to the proximity of a former landfill site in the vicinity and the possibility of further generation of landfill gas at that site. 17. There is no objection from a flood defence aspect. The County Council will require a Land Drainage Consent, which is currently the subject of consultation between the Agency and the County Council. Highways Agency (A46 Trunk Road) 18. No objection. DC&REG. BOARD 18/09/2003 5 2003/2094/02 – continued Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management 19. There is no objection to the proposal from a highway safety and transportation aspect, subject to the permanent closure of the existing vehicular access serving John Merricks Lake, to discourage on-street parking in this vicinity and ensure that all traffic uses the main access to the Park. The new parking facilities should be made available before the development is brought into use and thereafter maintained for use. English Nature 20. The proposals are supported, as they will help to deliver important biodiversity benefits to the site and promote better public access. The proposed works will help to deliver significantly to the targets for reed bed habitat in the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan (LLR.BAP). They will also help to diversify the range of habitats on the site. Heritage Services (Ecology) 21. The proposals include habitats prioritised within LLR.BAP. The following recommendations are put forward: (i) A method of working should be devised and implemented by the applicant to ensure that existing areas of ecological significance are not damaged; (ii) Excess soils must be removed from site or placed in areas of low ecological significance, to diminish the risk of weed infestation; (iii) Areas of bare ground should be left in suitable locations to attract mining bees and basking butterflies; (iv) Plant species should be native, common to the area and of local provenance; (v) A walk-over survey of protected species should be conducted prior to commencement of works and suitable mitigation of protected species carried out; (vi) weed treatments should be established; and (vii) a management plan should be devised and implemented for the site. Publicity 22. This proposal has been advertised in the local press and by various site notices posted on 18th July 2003. No representations have been received in response to this publicity. Assessment of Proposals 23. The submitted scheme represents the continuation of a wider programme of works within the Country Park, to make improvements to visitor facilities, accessibility and local ecological features. Some of the work does not require planning permission, although this second phase does involve additional engineering and other operations. The proposed improvements are considered to meet specific Local Plan policy objectives for the Country Park, whilst not DC&REG. BOARD 18/09/2003 6 2003/2094/02 – continued conflicting with the objectives of the development plan to safeguard the open character of the Green Wedge.