Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for a temporary consent to store old refrigerators and freezers at the Hampshire Waste Services lorry depot at Harts Farm Way, pending their disposal. The need for storage has arisen from the implementation of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations 2000 which came into force at the beginning of 2002. The application is retrospective as storage at the site has started. The recommendation is to approve the application, subject to conditions.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site, illustrated on the attached plan, comprises an area of 0.8 hectares within the area of the former Havant incinerator. The old incinerator has now been demolished. The site adjoins the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), and part of the former Havant incinerator site is used as a transport depot and for skip storage by Hampshire Waste Services on a temporary basis. The site adjoins the Brockhampton stream, which flows into Langstone Harbour, and is next to the A27. The neighbouring land is in industrial use. Access would be via the current entrance onto Harts Farm Way. The lorry depot generates 41 trips (82 lorry movements) per day. The refrigerator storage would increase this by about 12 trips per day.

2.2 The County Council, as waste disposal authority, is required to accept old domestic refrigerators and freezers from households and HWRCs, which are then sent for disposal. Hampshire Waste Services, under the terms of the Waste Contract, are required to deal with this waste. The need for storage has arisen following implementation of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations 2000, which means that the previous methods of disposal have not been acceptable since the end of 2001. The proposal is to regularise the storage of waste refrigerators and freezers for a temporary period on 0.8 hectares of open land within the site of the old incinerator. There is the need for temporary storage until alternative disposal is available. It is anticipated that new disposal facilities will be available in about one year, with a further year to clear the backlog. Approximately 30,000 refrigerators and freezers per year will need to be dealt with. Storage capacity at the site would be for about 10,000 units.

2.3 Following the submission of the application the storage of refrigerators started, because this was necessary following the Regulations coming into force.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted December 1998) Policy 46 concerns proposals for waste transfer and recycling; the former Havant Incinerator site is Preferred Area F (see attached appendix).

4. Consultations

4.1 The County Surveyor (Highways) raises no objection.

4.2 The County Surveyor (Waste Management) states that the application is fully supported as part of the solution to provide storage space for refrigerators which, due to the implementation of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations 2000, can no longer be disposed of using previous methods.

4.3 The Environment Agency raises no objection, subject to conditions.

4.4 Havant Borough Council's Environmental Health Officer has no comments.

4.5 English Nature comments that the proposal is unlikely to have a significant effect on the interest features of the Chichester and Langstone Harbours' SPA (Special Protection Area)/Ramsar/cSAC (candidate Special Area of Conservation), and therefore does not require appropriate assessment in accordance with the Regulations. The wider nature conservation interests of the Site of Special Scientific Interest are also unlikely to be adversely affected.

4.6 The local Member, Councillor Mrs Wride, has been informed.

4.7 The Warblington Residents' Association raises the following concerns:

(i) It may be some years before proper disposal facilities are provided.

(ii) There may be leakage of CFC gases during holding period.

(iii) The quantities involved would be excessive if serving a large area of Hampshire.

(iv) They may pose a fire risk.

4.8 One letter of objection has been received on the grounds that there is a danger associated with the storage.

5. District Council's Views

5.1 Havant Borough Council's views are awaited.

6. County Planning Officer's Comments

6.1 There is a clear need for the proposed storage as a result of the new Regulations. The site is not the only one under consideration, but was the first to be proposed as there was no physical impediment for its use. Other sites will be required, the extent being dependent on the length of time which elapses before a waste processing plant becomes available for the disposal of refrigerators.

6.2 With regard to leakage of CFCs, they do not inherently pose a threat to human health and the impacts of leakage would be minimal. However, any damaged units would be degassed prior to delivery and storage. The CFCs in the insulation foam would only be released when the units are processed and do not present a problem for storage.

6.3 The storage will also require a waste management licence from the Environment Agency, which would include provisions for preventing pollution to water resources.

6.4 With regard to health and safety, the site is surrounded by security fencing and subject to 24 hour supervision through staff at the depot and out of hours security. The refrigerators are disconnected from electricity and not inherently combustible. Therefore any fire risk would be minimal.

6.5 Whilst retrospective applications are normally discouraged, it is accepted that there was an urgent need for storage due to the short notice concerning these Regulations. In these circumstances enforcement action would not be taken prior to the planning application being determined. In conclusion it is considered that there is a clearly established need for refrigerator storage due to the new Regulations, and that the Harts Farm Way site is suitable for this temporary use.

6.6. The former Havant incinerator site is part of major proposals for industrial/commercial redevelopment supported by the County Council, Havant Borough Council and SEEDA. The temporary storage of refrigerators and freezers would not prejudice these proposals as the site is required by Hampshire Waste Services until the Portsmouth Incinerator is commissioned, which should be in two to three years' time.

Recommendation

That the temporary open storage of old refrigerators and freezers, pending availability of dismantling/disposal facilities at Havant Depot and Lorry Park, Harts Farm Way, Havant (Application No. 02/56960/005) be approved, subject to the following conditions:

(1) The use of the land for temporary storage of old refrigerators and freezers shall cease, and all materials removed, by 31 December 2003.

Reason: In the interest of local amenity.

(2) The storage of refrigerators and freezers shall be no more than two units high.

Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and safety.

(3) No sewage or trade effluent (including vehicle wash or vehicle steam cleaning effluent), except site drainage, shall be discharged to any surface water drainage system.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(4) Prior to being discharged into any watercourse, surface water sewer or soakaway system, all surface water drainage from parking areas and hard standings shall be passed through an oil interceptor designed and constructed to have a capacity and details compatible with the site being drained. Roof water shall not pass through the interceptor.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(5) The freezers and refrigerators shall be stored and treated (eg washing, degassing, removal of oil) in an area with an impermeable surface. Drainage from high risk areas, eg loading bays and waste treatment areas, shall not be discharged to any watercourse, surface water sewer or soakaway. The applicant should consider the risks associated with these areas and incorporate appropriate pollution prevention measures at the design stage.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(6) Inspection manholes shall be provided and clearly identified on foul and surface water drainage systems.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(7) Soakaways shall not be located in areas identified as contaminated land.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(8) Any facilities for the storage of oils, fuels or chemicals shall be sited on impervious bases and surrounded by impervious bund walls. The bund capacity shall give 110% of the total volume for single and hydraulically linked tanks. If there is multiple tankage, the bund capacity shall be 110% of the largest tank or 25% of the total capacity of all tanks, whichever is the greatest. All filling points, vents, gauges and sight glasses and overflow pipes shall be located within the bund. There shall be no outlet connecting the bund to any drain, sewer or watercourse or discharging onto the ground. Associated pipework shall be located above ground where possible and protected from accidental damage.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

7016/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.