Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728

1. Summary

1.1 The planning application for construction waste recycling at North Camp, Hollybush Lane, Farnborough was refused planning permission by the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 24 July 2001. Lafarge appealed against the refusal, the appeal was dealt with under the written representations procedure. The appeal was dismissed.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site, illustrated on the attached plan, is about one hectare in area and is located off Hollybush Lane at North Camp within the Strategic Gap between Aldershot and Farnborough. The site is part of a larger area which was formerly the processing plant site for the adjacent gravel pits. The working ceased several years ago and the processing plant was removed. There is a concrete batching plant next to the application site, which has a valid planning permission but has not been used for several years and is derelict.

2.2 The proposal was for using the site for recycling about 50,000 tonnes per year of construction/demolition waste. Access to the site would be to the Blackwater Valley Road at North Camp via the northern part of Hollybush Lane.

3. County Council's Decision

3.1 The planning application was refused by the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 24 July 2001, following a site visit on 11 July 2001. The reasons for refusal were as follows:

1.The proposal is contrary to policies G1 of the Hampshire County Structure Plan 2011 and 7(iv) of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (1998) and Policy ENV3 of the Rushmoor Borough Local Plan in that the application would intensify development within the Blackwater Gap.

2.The proposal is contrary to policy 46 (vii) of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (1998) in that it does not include landscaping measures to ensure that the development would not cause unacceptable visual intrusion.

4. Appeal Decision

4.1 Lafarge appealed against the refusal of planning permission. The appeal was dealt with under the written representations procedure.

4.2 The Inspector considered that the main issue in the case was whether the contribution the proposed site would make towards meeting national and local objectives for reuse and recycling was sufficient in itself to outweigh any potential harm to the integrity of the Strategic Gap.

4.3 The Inspector's conclusion was that the case was finely balanced, with material policies pulling in opposite directions. The proposal on its own would not be visually intrusive because of extensive woodland around the site, but as development within the Strategic Gap it would have the effect of physically diminishing the amount of open land. On its own it might be considered that the harm would be outweighed by the merits of the scheme and other policy support. However, the County Council raised concern about the potential for other development, in particular the reactivation of the concrete batching plant and the cumulative impact that would have on the Strategic Gap. The Inspector's view was that the cumulative impact of both operations would compromise the integrity of this part of the Gap and could not be considered to maintain its rural appearance, therefore concluding that the degree of harm that was likely to be caused would not be outweighed by the policy supporting the proposal.

4.4 The Inspector's decision was to dismiss the appeal.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7274/PDC