Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

10 September 2002

Household Waste Recycling Centre, Winchester

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 2

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING CENTRE, WINCHESTER

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

NOVEMBER 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

OCTOBER 2003

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2002 prices)

at 2002/03 to 2004/05

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

Fees

1,543-2,644

900

1,543-2,644

900

Less developers/

other contributions

1,543-2,644

900

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

900

(b) Other

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

900

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £336,000 to £615,000

(refer to section on Land Requirements)

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

-

-

Capital charges

Subject to final capital value of the asset

TOTAL net expenditure

-

-

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

Background

The existing household waste recycling centre (HWRC) at Garnier Road, Winchester is subject to a temporary planning consent which expires on 31 December 2002. The County Council's former Asset Management Sub-Committee and Business Sub-Committee considered reports in September and November 2000 respectively, which identified the County Council's Bar End depot as a potential replacement site, subject to a detailed feasibility study and development of proposals for the rationalisation and redevelopment of the whole site.

Initial considerations were to develop the site to accommodate up to five County Council client functions, as well as the HWRC and an associated resource park operated by local charities. Early assessments were that the site would be capable of accommodating both the HWRC and resource park, and other activities. However, it has not been possible to develop a detailed overall development plan for the site as the timescale for relocating other County Council functions has meant that original proposals have been superseded. Instead, it is now proposed to develop the site in two phases, with the first phase being the HWRC and resource park. It is proposed that these activities be located on the eastern half of the site. The second phase will then be developed according to the Local Plan as commercial/light industrial development in which the County Council may wish to retain some interest for future Natural Resources Initiative development.

Development Framework

The underlying principle proposed for development of the Bar End site is that it should exemplify sustainable development in its design, construction and use. The proposed HWRC and resource park should be a showcase for sustainable development and construction, using innovative design and materials.

Any proposal for development of the Bar End site, including an HWRC, also needs to be seen in the context of its surroundings and other proposals for the site. Although a `brownfield' proposal, the depot is adjacent to the Bar End Industrial Estate and the proposed Park and Ride site, as well as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the boundary of the proposed South Downs National Park. The site is also overlooked from St Catherine's Hill, presenting obvious landscape issues which will influence proposals for the site.

These constraints, objectives and development principles are outlined in a proposed Development Framework which is attached as Appendix 1. The Development Framework gives guidance and direction for the design and development of the site, and will help to define the look and feel of the HWRC, resource park and other developments. The principal development objectives included in the proposed Development Framework are:

(i) developing brownfield land, thus safeguarding greenfield land resources;

(ii) conserving and enhancing wildlife habitats during construction and operation;

(iii) providing linkages between site features and adjacent habitats;

(iv) increasing biodiversity;

(v) conserving and enhancing existing landscape features on the site boundary and within the site to minimise views onto the site;

(vi) layout and landform designed to encourage microclimate diversity;

(vii) improving the treatment of surface water drainage through the introduction of a sustainable urban drainage system;

(viii) minimising pollution on and off site;

(ix) minimising traffic impact during construction and operation;

(x) minimising the use of raw materials during construction;

(xi) increasing the use of recycled materials during construction;

(xii) reducing the quantity of construction wastes and excavated material for disposal; and

(xiii) reducing the demand for services and consumption of natural resources, eg water and power by the reuse of roof water and use of photo-voltaic cells.

Project Design

An initial architectural concept design for the HWRC and resource park, based on the proposed Development Framework, is attached as Appendix 2. The design of the HWRC is innovative, based on a circular layout which provides the maximum number of waste containers and parking spaces for the available land, whilst separating public areas from HGVs and minimising the area required to change full waste containers. The design also shows a roof to the public areas which will provide protection from the elements for users and site staff, as well as providing protection for recycled materials and preventing rainwater adding to the weight of waste being disposed. Plans showing the initial engineering design for the HWRC will be displayed at the meeting. The detailed design will be completed on approval of planning consent by the County Council's Regulatory Committee.

Project Timetable

The immediate critical deadline is to secure continued planning consent from the Regulatory Committee for the extension of time for the existing HWRC at Garnier Road whilst the replacement site is developed. However, it is unlikely that such a planning consent will be granted without a suitable alternative being identified and a commitment given to its development. Approval to the proposals in this report, together with the release of the required land and funds, is likely to provide that commitment.

The securing of planning consent for the new facility will then enable detailed design and the procurement process to start. The programme currently shows a completion date of September 2003.

Finance

Subject to the completion of the detailed design, the total costs for delivery of the HWRC and access road could be up to £2.644 million. A breakdown of the costs is given in Appendix 3 and includes for the HWRC to be roofed and for the HWRC and access road to be built to high standards. It also includes significant investment in sustainable features, eg drainage. This cost is significantly greater than has been incurred for comparable schemes in recent years and is mainly due to the conditions and constraints associated with the site. For comparison, the costs of constructing the proposed development on a greenfield site, allowing for the same length of access road and roof to the HWRC, would be approximately £1.530 million.

Costs can be reduced to more affordable levels by omitting the roof and constructing the access road to lower standards. The costs of this reduced standard facility would be about £1.550 million.

Up to £900,000 of this could be funded from the local capital programme for HWRC developments for 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05 leaving some £650,000 to be found from other sources. Discussions are continuing to identify further sources of funding.

Conclusion

The Bar End depot provides an ideal opportunity to replace the temporary HWRC at Garnier Road, Winchester with an improved and modern facility using an innovative and sustainable design. It also provides a unique opportunity to integrate the HWRC service with local charities offering significant social, environmental and economic added value. The project also fulfils many of the objectives of the Corporate Strategy.

3.

DETAILS OF PROPOSAL

Policy context

The County Council has a statutory duty under Section 51 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to provide places where residents may deposit their bulky household waste for disposal free of charge. The County Council discharges this duty through the provision of a network of 24 HWRCs.

The County Council also has statutory minimum recycling performance standards for household waste of 33% by 2003/04 and 40% by 2005/06. Some 22% of household waste was recycled during 2001/02, with the HWRCs accounting for approximately half of this amount. Continued provision of HWRC services is an essential element of plans to meet statutory obligations.

Details of scheme and design standards

Design standards according to proposed Design Framework (Appendix 1); initial design shown in Appendix 2.

Environmental impact

The proposals will enable increased recycling performance by more modern and efficient HWRC design. Traffic congestion will be minimised by additional parking facilities and separation of the public from HGVs during emptying of containers. Detailed design and material specification will promote sustainable development and resource conservation. Potential landscape and ecology impacts will also be minimised and mitigated through environmental management proposals.

Land requirements

An extensive site search within the catchment area has identified the County Council owned land at Bar End Depot, Winchester as being the only suitable site available for the provision of a permanent HWRC, subject to securing planning consent for the project. It has not been possible to identify alternative sites due to the reluctance of other landowners to make land available.

The overall Bar End Depot site amounts to 2.22 hectares (5.48 acres) and is currently used in conjunction with several County Council operations, principally offices for Business Services (Hampshire Transport, Hampshire Cleaning, Hampshire Caterers and the Courier Service); the depot used by the Council's Highways Term Maintenance Contractor; and the main centre of operations for the Soils and Materials Testing Laboratory.

Development of a new HWRC will require approximately 0.44 hectares (1.08 acres) of the overall site which will necessitate the relocation initially within the site of the Business Services offices and the Term Maintenance Contractor depot activities. In addition, the configuration of the overall depot site will result in costs in opening up the overall site to improve the access road and provide surface water and foul water recovery.

The opportunity cost of bringing part of the depot site into HWRC use has been estimated to be £336,000. This assumes that the access road is improved to adoptable highway standards. Preliminary estimates have been provided in relation to carrying out a lesser standard of improvement showing significantly reduced costs. If this is acceptable to the Highway Authority, the value of the Council's land intended for the development of the HWRC will need to be reassessed to £615,000.

Statutory procedures

In order to allow continued operations at Garnier Road after 31 December 2002 a planning application will need to be submitted in September 2002 for consideration by the Regulatory Committee in November 2002.

It is not envisaged that an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required to support applications for the Bar End depot site. However, it will be necessary to seek formal opinion on this matter through a `Request for Screening Opinion' under Part II (5) of the 1999 Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations.

Planning permission will be required for the redevelopment of the Bar End site. Consent from the Regulatory Committee will be required for the improved road junction, new access road and the HWRC. An application would also need to be made by the Charities for the Resource Park. The planning submissions would be supported by a Planning Brief which would consider the planning and design issues relating to both Phases 1 and 2.

Public consultation

Proposals for development of the Bar End site, including the HWRC and associated resource park, have been developed informally in conjunction with the City Council and an alliance of local charities. Formal consultation, involving a wider network of stakeholders, will be necessary to develop proposals further and to translate the proposed Development Framework (Appendix 1) into an agreed Development Brief which will be used to guide future planning applications and detailed design. It is proposed to carry out the consultation over the winter period of 2002/03.

Facilities for the disabled

Detailed design to be audited for compliance with Disability Discrimination Act. Operators to provide manual handling assistance when required.

Maintenance implications

Maintenance provided from within the Waste Management revenue budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Detailed design to be audited to ensure compliance with Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Sustainability

The proposed Development Framework (Appendix 1) identifies sustainable development as primary design criteria.

4.

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Closure of the existing site without replacement

Closure of the site without a replacement would remove a valuable and popular local service used by some 53,000 people on average three times per year. It would also seriously prejudice the County Council's ability to meet its statutory recycling performance standards. There would be a significant increase in demand on the City Council's refuse collection service and a probable increase in illegal deposits of waste and fly tipping.

Development of lower standard facility

Regulatory conditions limit the opportunity to develop waste management facilities unless they are provided to high environmental standards. A more basic, single level, facility similar to the existing HWRC at Garnier Road would have been environmentally acceptable but would not have satisfactorily addressed problems of traffic congestion and delays in using the site during peak periods. Split level facilities are more accessible and customer friendly.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

Initial project costings - working file

County Surveyor's Department

Waste Management Section

HRWC

£000

Access Road/ Drainage

£000

Total

£000

Works

776

350-930

1,126-1,706

Preliminaries and Contingencies

205

77-247

282-452

Design and Supervision

98

37-118

135-216

Total

1,079

464-1,295

1,543-2,374

Relocation of Property Business and Regulatory Service Businesses

270

(provisional)

Grand Total

1,813-2,644