GP PLANNING LTD POST SUBMISSION REPORT APPENDIX 1: Consultation Responses from Statutory Consultees P002-04 Additional Information / NM Appendix 30/07/13 Cedar Drive Thrapston Northamptonshire NN144LZ Telephone 01832742000 Email [email protected] www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk I NO~THAMPTONSHIRE I vVU," I Y COUNCIL Claire Spokes Northamptonshire County Council 5- APR 2013 Floor 3, Guildhall Road Block County Hall ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING Northampton NN1 1DN Please ask for Direct Dial Our Ref. Your Ref. Date: Mandy Dennis 01832742037 13/00278/NCC 12/00093/MINFUL 03 April 2013 Environmental Protection 01832 742263 Dear Ms. Spokes, Re: Stonepits Quarry (12/00093/MINFUL) We have been asked to comment of the planning application for the extraction of limestone and restoration of Stonepits Quarry situated between Upper and Lower Benefield. Comments were made on the scoping opinion for the breadth and depth of the Environmental Impact Assessment. Noise An assessment of the impact of noise has been submitted based on background measurements made at the nearest noise sensitive premises to the proposed quarry as per the scoping opinion. We had no objection to these background noise measurements being used in the assessment. The predicted noise levels from various operations at the quarry have been derived and assessed in line with the NPPF technical guidance on mineral workings. The phase of work likely to generate the highest noise levels is the site strip and preparation phase. From the submitted information noise from this phase should be at least 20dB below the noise limit of 70dBLAeq, 1hour contained within the NPPF guidance. Thereafter. 'normal' quarry activity complies with the lower limit of 50dB LAeq, 1hour. Therefore. we have no objection to the planning application on the grounds of noise. Air Quality (dust) An air quality assessment has been submitted in support of this planning application. This advocates that dust emissions from quarrying can be controlled through good site management and we would agree with this statement. Therefore, we would ask that conditions are placed on the planning permission for the submission and approval of a dust management plan. Private water supplies The hydrogeological assessment submitted in support of the planning application has assessed the risk of quarrying and restoration on the two private water supplies at Churchfield Farm, The assessment has concluded that the zone of influence during dewatering of the quarry should not have any significant impact on the supplies. Furthermore, after restoration the groundwater flow should not be significantly impacted as well. Council for the District of East Northarnptonshire www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk It has been noted that there is potential for groundwater pollution from spills of fuels, oils, etc during works but this can be controlled though good site management. Therefore, we have no objection to the planning application on the grounds of water quality. Adverse effects from light and vibration were not identified as being significant during the scoping exercise and as such are not considered cause for concern. We trust you find the above useful but please call if you wish to discuss any of the points raised in this letter. Yours sincerely Mandy Dennis Senior Environmental Protection Officer Cc: Arnie Baxter, East Northarnptonshire Council Council for the District of East Northamptonshire www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk EAST MIDLANDS OFFICE Ms Claire Spokes Direct Dial: 01604 735400 Northamptonshire County Council Direct Fax: 01604 735401 PO Box 163, County Hall Guildhall Road Our ref: P00226755 Northampton Northamptonshire NN1 1AX Dear Ms Spokes Notifications under Circular 01/2001, Circular 08/2009 & T&CP (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010 STONE PITS QUARRY, BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER BENEFIELD A427, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE , PE8 5AN Application No 12/00093/MINFUL Thank you for your letter of 14 February 2013 notifying us of the application for planning permission relating to the above site. We do not wish to comment in detail, but offer the following general observations. English Heritage Advice The proposals involve the development of a conservation stone quarry to extract Blisworth Limestone (Oundle variety) at Stonepits Quarry, Benefield. The plans involve extraction, creation of a new haul road and junction with the A427, ancillary works including operational infrastructure and planting regimes, and restoration of the worked area for return to agriculture at the end of the lifespan of the quarry. The site of the application is located adjacent to a former quarry site established prior to the late 19th Century towards the base of the valley between Upper and Lower Benefield. Oundle Stone was used locally as a building material in the settlements of north-east Northamptonshire, contributing to their character. The proposed lifespan of the quarry is 17 years with restoration occurring progressively in line with the extraction phases. English Heritage would advise your planning authority to consider the proposals on the basis of NPPF para 128 the need to understand from the applicant the significance of any heritage asset affected, and NPPF para 129 the need for your authority to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected. The Heritage Assessment provided by CgMs assesses the impact of the proposals on the basis of the direct visibility of the quarry site from those locations, only commenting in detail on the scheduled monument of Benefield Castle (SM17130; List Entry 44 DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON, NN1 1UH Telephone 01604 735 400 Facsimile 01604 735 401 www.english-heritage.org.uk English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in the FOIA or EIR applies. EAST MIDLANDS OFFICE Number 1015535), The Grade II* listed Church of St Mary in Lower Benefield (List Entry Number 1189042) and the Conservation Area of Upper Benefield as a result of English Heritage comments on the EIA Scoping Report. The extent and importance of setting is often expressed by reference to visual considerations. Although views of or from an asset will play an important part, the way in which we experience an asset in its setting is also influenced by other environmental factors such as noise, dust and vibration. The spatial extent of the assessment of impact is based on the Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) in the submitted Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and illustrated as the Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI). English Heritage would advise that in determining this application your authority should be satisfied that the ZVI has been accurately identified. The Heritage Assessment states that no designated assets are located within the ZVI. This is difficult to confirm at the scale at which the ZVI is illustrated in the Landscape and Visual Assessment document. A number of the Grade II listed buildings within the Upper Benefield Conservation Area lie towards the southern edge of the Conservation Area and therefore the northern extent of the identified ZVI. Grade II listed buildings are of national significance and should be considered in the same way as Grade II* and Grade I listed buildings. English Heritage would advise that in determining this application your authority should ensure that, in accordance with NPPF para 144, in granting permission there are no unacceptable adverse impacts on the natural and historic environment, any unavoidable noise, dust and vibrations that might have an adverse impact on the setting of heritage assets are controlled, mitigated or removed at source, and that the proposed landscape restoration schemes meet the required standards in order to ensure that any permanent impact on the landscape and setting of heritage assets is appropriately mitigated. Recommendation We would urge you to address the above issues, and recommend that the application should be determined in accordance with national and local policy guidance, and on the basis of your specialist conservation advice. It is not necessary for us to be consulted again. However, if you would like further advice, please contact us to explain your request. Yours sincerely Helen Woodhouse Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments E-mail: [email protected] cc Tim Allen, Inspector of Ancient Monuments 44 DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON, NN1 1UH Telephone 01604 735 400 Facsimile 01604 735 401 www.english-heritage.org.uk English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in the FOIA or EIR applies. EAST MIDLANDS OFFICE 44 DERNGATE, NORTHAMPTON, NN1 1UH Telephone 01604 735 400 Facsimile 01604 735 401 www.english-heritage.org.uk English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in the FOIA or EIR applies. Form C.R.2 (c) Notification of the views of the Northamptonshire County Council as Highway Authority relating to the application for development referred to below:- _____________________________________________________________________