Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728

1. Site and Proposal

1.1 The site, illustrated on the attached plan, is 1.9 hectares in area, and is currently being used by the Blackmoor Estate for green waste composting, the compost being used on the Estate. The nearest houses are at South Lodge (about 75 metres away), the houses fronting the A325 (about 120 metres away) and Keepers Cottage (about 150 metres away). The site adjoins the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is within the proposed South Downs National Park. Woolmer Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), part of which is a candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is to the east of the A325. The Woolmer Forest SSSI is also part of the Wealdon Heaths Phase II Special Protection Area (SPA).

1.2 The proposal is for mobile soil screening with associated storage, portacabin office and parking, together with continuing green waste composting. The soil screening would be a relocation from Williams of Bordon's existing facility at Headley Down. It is also proposed to mix recycled soil with compost to extend the range of products. Planning permission is sought for a temporary period of five years.

1.3 Access to the site would be to Blackmoor Road via an existing Estate road, and then to the A325. The proposed hours of operation would be 0800 to 1630 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1100 on Saturday, with no working on Sunday or bank holidays.

1.4 The applicant has undertaken an extensive search locally to find an alternative site to that at Headley Down. The search criteria were:

(i) suitable level ground of at least 0.4 hectares;

(ii) closer to an A class road with normal standards of access visibility;

(iii) avoidance of narrow country lanes open to two-way traffic;

(iv) no more than eight kilometres from the applicant's operating base at Bordon;

(v) away from noise-sensitive land uses; and

(vi) preferably previously developed land with established boundary screening or scope for effective screening.

The application site has been chosen as the applicant considers the current proposal meets these requirements.

1.5 A planning application was put forward last year for soil screening and concrete crushing at a site on the Blackmoor Estate nearer to Greatham. This application was withdrawn in November 2001. The applicant states that the proposal for concrete crushing has been deleted and the current proposal involves soil screening only, together with the green waste composting.

2. Development Plan

2.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted December 1998) Policy 46 concerns proposals for recycling and composting (see attached appendix).

3. Consultations

3.1 The County Surveyor (Development Control) raises no objection, as does not involve significant traffic increases and makes use of the A325, a local lorry route. The relocation reduces travel distance to and from the applicant's main depot and moves site traffic to a less congested location.

3.2 The comments of the Environment Agency are awaited.

3.3 The Environmental Health Officer, East Hampshire District Council has required additional noise information and raises concerns on drainage. The applicant has confirmed that a noise study will be undertaken.

3.4 English Nature raises concern about the potential adverse impact for Woolmer Forest candidate SAC through high nutrient liquors from the composting entering the surface water system. Therefore holding objection pending further information on drainage.

3.5 East Hampshire AONB officer comments that the East Hampshire AONB Planning Panel raises no objection in principle, subject to conditions concerning lorry movements, restricting activity to soil screening and composting only, temporary consent for five years, and restoration of the site to agriculture.

3.6 Whitehill Parish Council raises no objection.

3.7 Selborne Parish Council raises no objection, but has some concerns with regard to lorry numbers and access route.

3.8 Greatham Parish Council raises strong objection to the proposal on the grounds that:

(i) it is contrary to the Development Plan;

(ii) it is not suitable for a site within the AONB and proposed National Park;

(iii) the installation of a commercial/industrial operation is not appropriate in an agricultural area and would set a precedent for further development;

(iv) the current green waste composting has given problems exceeding the capacity limits and planting not carried out;

(v) the junction of Blackmoor Road with A325 is particularly dangerous and additional lorries exiting would increase the hazard;

(vi) the seven houses near the site would be adversely affected by noise and dust from soil screening; and

(vii) the application makes no provision for toilet or washing facilities for staff.

3.9 The local Member, Councillor Cartwright, and adjacent local Member, Councillor Scott, have been informed.

3.10 Ten letters of objection have been received from local residents on the grounds that:

(i) it would change the site from agricultural to industrial use;

(ii) it would have an adverse impact for local residents in terms of noise, air pollution and visual impact;

(iii) the purpose is to assist Williams of Bordon to relocate;

(iv) Blackmoor Estate has failed to plant the tree screen required by planning permission for the estate road;

(v) lorries would have difficulty joining A325 and cause a traffic hazard;

(vi) there is a `hidden agenda' for a concrete crusher to be brought to the site; and

(vii) there is no provision for toilets at the site.

4. District Council's Views

4.1 The comments of East Hampshire District Council are awaited.

5. County Planning Officer's Comments

5.1 The recycling of soil and composting of green waste is supported by policy. Whilst the site is in the countryside, it is outside the AONB. It is also recognised in the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan that green waste composting is similar to farmyard activities and so suitable countryside locations may be appropriate. The issues are whether this specific site is suitable, particularly in relation to the impact for local residents.

7451/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, small 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.