Archived decisions

Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext. 6728

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought to retain the temporary Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at Poles Lane, Otterbourne for a further period to 31 December 2005. Whilst the retention of the facility is supported, it is considered that five years is too long. Therefore, it is recommended to grant planning permission for a period to 31 December 2003.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The Poles Lane site was formerly the site of the Otterbourne Incinerator. This has now been demolished and the site partially redeveloped to provide a waste transfer station, waste storage facilities and offices. The planning permission for the redevelopment of the site included a permanent MRF, but this has not been built.

2.2 However, a temporary MRF had been developed at the site prior to the redevelopment and has continued in operation. The MRF was originally granted consent in 1994 and renewed in 1997 for a temporary period to 31 December 2000, which was subsequently extended to 30 June 2001. The proposal is to retain this facility for a further period to 31 December 2005.

2.3 The MRF takes dry recyclable waste (comprising paper, magazines, plastics and metal cans) which is collected separately by the district councils as part of the normal household waste collection. The MRF sorts these materials and bales them ready for transport to recycling plants elsewhere in the country. This MRF, together with the much larger permanent MRF at Portsmouth, makes an important contribution to Hampshire's success in increasing the recycling of household waste through Project Integra.

2.4 The current requirement of Project Integra is for an MRF with a larger capacity than that considered necessary when the planning application was made at Otterbourne. Owing to the size, the preference is for this new MRF not to be located at Otterbourne. Planning permission was granted for a new MRF at Nursling, but the applicant was not able to acquire the site for it to be developed. Therefore, the extension of time is to retain the temporary MRF until the development of a new facility.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted December 1998) Policy 46 concerns proposals for waste recycling facilities.

4. Consultations

4.1 The County Surveyor (Highways), the Environment Agency and Winchester City Council's Environmental Health Officer raise no objection.

4.2 The County Surveyor (Waste Management) comments that the Otterbourne MRF plays a vital role in achieving recycling levels in Hampshire.

4.3 Otterbourne Parish Council raises no objection, but suggests a further three year period would be preferable to five years.

4.4 The local Member, Councillor Mrs Bailey, objects most strongly to this proposal, stating that the access is the main land use constraint affecting this site and that the village cannot go on accommodating 40 tonne lorries. A short extension of six months is the only reasonable proposal to allow a little more time to find a suitable alternative on an industrial site.

4.5 Seven letters of objection have been received from local residents. These objections are on the grounds of the adverse impacts and the number of lorries visiting the site, the amount of rubbish strewn along Poles Lane from vehicles visiting the site, that the access should be direct from the M3, and a 12 month period for relocation should be the maximum period.

5. District Council's Views

5.1 Winchester City Council raises no objection, subject to conditions stating that the operations shall cease on or before 31 December 2005 and all vehicles carrying waste into or out of the Otterbourne site, which are not fully enclosed, being covered with sheeting or netting as appropriate.

6. County Planning Officer's Comments

6.1 The temporary MRF at Otterbourne provides an important facility for recycling dry recyclables. The operation of the MRF has not in itself given rise to complaint.

6.2 It is recognised that the main concerns about the operation of the waste transfer station and MRF at Otterbourne relate to lorry traffic. Consequently, the preference is to develop a larger permanent MRF at a new site.

6.3 Hampshire Waste Services Limited states that during the month of July 2001 the site generated 1,174 lorry movements. However, the main traffic generation relates to the waste transfer activities, and the company calculates that the removal of the MRF would have reduced lorry movements by about 78 during the month. The removal of the temporary MRF would therefore have negligible impact on the lorry traffic, but would reduce recycling capacity.

6.4 The retention of the temporary MRF until a new MRF is developed is supported, although a shorter period, as suggested by the Parish Council, would provide sufficient time to develop a new, larger facility.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the retention of the Materials Recovery Facility, Poles Lane, Otterbourne (Application No. W00965/07) be granted, subject to the following conditions:

(1) The operations hereby approved shall cease on or before 31 December 2003, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of the amenities of the area.

(2) All vehicles carrying waste into or out of the Otterbourne site, which are not fully enclosed, shall be covered with sheeting or netting as appropriate.

Reason: In order to prevent litter in the interests of local amenity.

6670/PDC

APPENDIX

HAMPSHIRE, PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN (ADOPTED 17 DECEMBER 1998)

Policy 46

The Waste Planning Authorities will normally permit the use of land and the erection of plant and buildings for the recycling, transfer, storage and other treatment or handling of waste (excluding waste processing facilities covered by Policy 45) provided that:

(i) the proposed site is located near to the likely source(s) of waste and/or the market(s) for the recycled or recovered materials; and

(ii) the proposed site is located close to and has adequate access to the Hampshire Lorry Route Network (as shown on the proposals map), so that the development would not be likely to cause unacceptable traffic impact (including the environmental impact of traffic) on the local highway network; and

(iii) the proposed site is located:

(a) within an existing industrial site or on land which is permitted or allocated for industrial development; or

(b) within an area of land in the countryside that has already been disturbed by permanent development (a brownfield site); or

(c) at a waste disposal landfill or landraising site provided that the proposed development is connected with the waste disposal operation and is for a temporary period commensurate with the operational life of the waste disposal facility; and

(iv) the proposed site is located and the proposal includes adequate measures to ensure that no unacceptable impact would be likely to be caused to the occupants or users of houses, other residential buildings, schools, hospitals and other environmentally sensitive buildings and land uses by reason of noise, dust, fumes, smell or other cause; and

(v) the proposed site is located so as to avoid unacceptable impact on landscape, nature conservation and archaeological interests; and

(vi) the proposed site is located and the proposal includes adequate measures to ensure that there would be no significant risk of pollution or danger to public health or safety; and

(vii) the proposed site is located and, if necessary, the proposal includes landscaping measures to ensure that the development would not cause unacceptable visual intrusion.