Environmental Statement Faulkners Down Farm, Volume 3 Mr A C Partridge BSc (Hons) DIP UP, MRTPI Client: Yelspa Ltd. Date: February 2017. Ref: BA/278/AP. SOUTHERN PLANNING PRACTICE LTD Registered Office: Youngs Yard, Churchfields, Twyford, Winchester, SO21 1NN Tel: 01962 715770 Fax: 01962 715880 Email: [email protected] Website: www.southernplanning.co.uk Registered in England and Wales No. 3862030 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd Contents: Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 2.0 STRUCTURE OF ES CHAPTERS .................................................................. 4 3.0 EIA METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 6 4.0 THE APPLICATION SITE ............................................................................. 10 5.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSALS ................................................................ 14 6.0 ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................................... 29 7.0 ECONOMICS ................................................................................................ 31 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.1.1 Southern Planning Practice Ltd has been commissioned by Yelspa Ltd to provide an Environmental Statement (ES) to accompany the application, reference 16/02951/FUL, for development consisting of alterations and additions to plant, including erection of biodigester and installation of hydrolyser; alteration and extension to barns, erection of fencing and retaining wall, construction of tunnel, change of use of workshop to offices, enlargement of biodigester plant to provide Feedstock Store, including re-contouring of land to form sunken terrace with embankments and settling ponds, with associated landscaping, fencing, plant, weighbridge and office, erection of feedstock system building, planting and associated works at Anaerobic Digester at Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, Picket Piece, SP11 6LZ . 1.1.2 If follows from a request by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council that the development requires an Environmental Impact Assessment. Although a request for a scoping opinion has been made under 16/04515/FUL this has not been formally issued. However, the case officer has indicated that the EIA will be limited to noise, odour, vibration, air quality, and impact on ground water. 1.1.3 The ES has been prepared, co-ordinated and managed by Southern Planning Practice Ltd in conjunction with a team of consultants comprising:- Simon Baker Associates Ltd Apple Environmental Ltd Dr Allan Burns Ian Sharland Ltd WHLandscapes Ltd Designs for Lighting Ltd Enims Ltd 1.1.4 The ES in three volumes:- 1 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd 1.1.5 Volume 1 comprises the application consisting of the following documents Application Form Design, Access and Planning Statement Site Plan A : As Approved 278.10A Site Plan B: As Existing 278.11A Site Plan C: As Proposed 278.12A Elevations of Approved Plant/Machinery to be removed 278.13 Elevations of proposed Plant/Machinery 278.14 Elevations/Plan of existing Palisade Fencing and Weighbridge office 278.15 Elevations of Plant / Machinery 278.16 Elevations of Proposed Plant / Fencing 278.17 Elevations, Plan and Sections of Proposed Feedstock Systems 278.18 Elevations and Plans of Existing Farm Building 278.19 Elevations and Plans of Proposed Offices 278.20 Sections of Feedstock Stores and Settling Ponds 278.21 Elevations of Plant / Machinery 278.22 Elevations of Plant / Machinery 278.23 Elevations of Plant / Machinery 278.24 Elevations of Plant / Machinery 278.25 Elevations of Plant / Machinery 278.26 Block Plan A : As Approved 278.27 Block Plan B: As Existing 278.28 Block Plan C: As Proposed 278.29 Elevations of Feed System (Temporary) 278.30 Control Room Floor Plan and Elevations 278.31 Planting proposal ID561.03A 1.1.6 Volume 2 is a short summary of the Environmental Statement presenting an outline of the proposed development, the associated environmental impacts, the mitigation employed to manage these impacts and the overall environmental assessment. 2 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd 1.1.7 Volume 3 comprises the main report and findings and technical appendices. It is split into the following 14 chapters. Table 1 Part 1 Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Structure of ES Chapters Chapter 3 EIA Methodology Chapter 4 The Application Site Chapter 5 Proposed Development Chapter 6 Alternatives Part 2 Chapter 7 Economics Chapter 8 Landscape Chapter 9 Transport Chapter 10 Air Quality Chapter 11 Noise and Vibration Chapter 12 Contamination Chapter 13 Odour Chapter 14 Water Resources Chapter 15 Ecology Chapter 16 pt 1 Lighting Impact Assessment Chapter 16 pt 2 Lighting Strategy Chapter 17 Summary of Likely Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring 1.1.8 Part 1 forms the introductory chapters setting out the context for the scheme and the EIA, while Part 2 provides an assessment of potential impact. 3 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd 2.0 STRUCTURE OF ES CHAPTERS 2.1.0 Within each of the ES chapters the information is structured for consistency, as far as practicable. The ES chapter structure, upon which each of the chapters is based, is set out in the table (Table 2.0) below. Table 2.0 1. Introduction: outlines the main issues 2. Policy Framework: this sets out national and local policies underpinning the assessment 3. Assessment Methodology: provides the method used to undertake the assessment based on desk study, field survey and impact assessment drawing on references to legislation, guidelines and best practice 4. Baseline Conditions: this describes, where appropriate, the original baseline situation of the development approved under 13/02665/FUL, 13/02664/FUL and 15/01892/FULLN prior to implementation of the more recent (retrospective and proposed) development, and current baseline conditions against which the likely significant environmental effects of the proposed development have been assessed. 5. Likely Significant Effects: summarises the potential impacts associated with the construction and completion of the proposed scheme. This may include on-site off- site impact, and all possible likely effects, positive, negative, short/medium/ long term, direct and indirect etc. 6. Mitigation Measures: this outlines the measures that will be used to mitigate the potential significant impacts arising from the proposed scheme. It includes post consent monitoring of mitigation measures during the construction phase and subsequently 7. Residual Impacts: sets out the impacts remaining after the mitigation measures have been implemented and assesses the significance of the residual impacts 8. Summary and Conclusion: summarises the significance of the impacts, proposed mitigation measures and residual impacts 4 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd 2.1 Obtaining Copies of the ES 2.1.1 Since the application straddles the Boroughs of Test Valley and Basingstoke and Deane, the ES will be made available during normal opening hours at B&DBC’s offices at Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH & TVBC’s Offices at Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, SP10 3AJ. It should also be available online at www.basingstoke.gov.uk & www.testvalley.gov.uk 2.1.2 Copies of the ES and Non-Technical Summary (NTS) are available in hard copy or on CD, costing the following:- Paper Copy of the ES and NTS £300 Paper Copy of the NTS £20 CD copy of the ES and NTS £10 2.1.3 Copies can be purchased from Yelspa Ltd at the Farm Office, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, Pickets Piece, SP11 6LZ. 5 Environmental Statement - Biomass Generating Plant, Faulkners Down Farm, Walworth Road, SP11 6LZ Yelspa Ltd 3.0 EIA METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 This chapter outlines the methodology used for undertaking the EIA. It includes details of how the potential impacts of the proposed scheme are assessed, the methods for mitigation and the scope of the EIA. 3.2 Legislative, Regulatory and Policy Framework 3.2.1 The EIA has been prepared in accordance with:- Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) England and Wales (Regulations) 2011 NPPG Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment (Institutes of Environmental Management and Assessment) 2004 Guidance on EIA EIS Review June 2001 European Commission 3.2.2 Further details of the legislative context undertaken in this Environmental Statement are provided where appropriate under each chapter. 3.3 Identification of Key Impacts 3.3.1 The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations provides clear guidance on what is expected to be included in the ES. The focus of an ES should be on significant environmental effects. Paragraph 033 of the NPPG states:- “Whilst every ES should provide a full and factual description of the development, the emphasis of Schedule 4 (of the EIA Regulations) is on the ‘main’ or ‘significant’ environmental effect to which a development is likely to give rise. The Environmental Statement should be proportionate