Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for the use of part of Unit 4 Eversley Haulage Park for recycling construction waste, through crushing and screening, to produce secondary aggregate. The site has the benefit of a certificate of lawful use for haulage, and is currently within the area subject to a planning appeal and Public Inquiry. The application is retrospective. The applicant seeks a consent for two years to allow recycling to continue, pending the clarification of the planning issues at the site through the current appeal and forthcoming Public Inquiry. The recommendation is to grant planning permission, subject to conditions.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site, illustrated on the attached plan, is 0.3 hectares in area and is the applicant's operating base. The site is at the rear of the Eversley Haulage Park, adjoining the quarry operated by Lafarge. The site is close to Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley Heaths' Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is a component of the Thames Basin Heaths' proposed Special Protection Area (SPA). The site would recycle about 1,000 tonnes of inert waste per day.

2.2 The Eversley Haulage Park has a certificate of lawful use, however the haulage park, including the application site, is also currently the subject of an appeal against a refusal of planning permission and enforcement action taken by Hart District Council. This relates to the partitioning of the site into separate units and a number of office and workshop buildings being constructed/installed. The Inquiry was adjourned in July and no date has yet been set for reconvening.

2.3 The application site is leased by the applicant and is used as its operating base. The office and workshop on site are subject to the Inquiry. The inert recycling operations were carried out at a permitted facility at Farnham. However, the applicant was forced to vacate the site by the landowners as they wished to redevelop. As an alternative site was unable to be secured, and in order to continue the business, recycling operations commenced at Eversley Haulage Park. Following investigation by the enforcement officer the planning application was submitted to regularise the planning position.

2.4 Therefore the application is retrospective seeking to regularise, the planning position as inert waste recycling is being carried out, until the planning issues concerning the site have been resolved through the appeal.

3. Development Plan

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

4. Consultations

4.1 County Surveyor (Highways) has concerns about any increase in traffic movements onto the relatively fast moving stretch of the A327. However, as there is no significant accident record at the junction, and there is a certificate of lawful use, it is not considered that an objection could be substantiated. A short temporary consent would enable monitoring of the operation.

4.2 The comments of the Environment Agency are awaited.

4.3 Hart District Council's Environmental Health Officer's comments are awaited.

4.4 English Nature considers that if conditions are imposed to ensure acoustic screening and dust suppression mitigation, and are implemented, the temporary use is unlikely to have a significant effect on the Thames Basin Heaths' proposed SPA and is unlikely to cause damage to Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley Commons' SSSI.

4.5 Hartley Wintney Parish Council raises no objections.

4.6 The comments of Bramshill Parish Council are awaited.

4.7 Eversley Parish Council has no objections to a temporary two year consent, provided there would be no impact on the surrounding countryside from pollutants being blown off the site or draining away via rainwater.

4.8 No letters of objection have been received from members of the public.

5. District Council's Views

5.1 Hart District Council's comments are awaited.

6. County Planning Officer's Comments

6.1 It is regrettable that the application is retrospective to regularise the current use, although the commercial imperative resulting from the applicant being forced to move out of its previous site is understood.

6.2 The Eversley Haulage Park has a certificate of lawful use and consequently, in principle, the proposal is in accordance with Policy 46 of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan. The site is well-screened from public view, the adjoining commercial uses are compatible with this use and the site is not near housing. However, the detailed planning position with regard to the Haulage Park remains unclear as it is currently subject to a planning appeal.

6.3 A temporary permission would regularise the current activities and provide a period for monitoring the operations, particularly with regard to the impact of the lorry traffic. It is also considered that a temporary consent would not prejudice the District Council in dealing with the current appeal.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the proposed use of land for the recycling of inert material to produce soils and secondary aggregate, including the installation and use of crushing and screening equipment, at Unit 4, Eversley Haulage Park, Fleet Road, Eversley (Application No. 02/00677/CMA) be granted, subject to the following conditions:

(1) This permission shall be for a temporary period expiring on 31 December 2003, on or before which date the use of land for waste recycling shall cease, all machinery, structures and waste be removed and the land reinstated.

Reason: In order to assess the impact of the use.

(2) Any above ground oil/chemical storage tank/container and associated pipework shall be bunded in a manner so as to retain at least 110% volume of the tank capacity. All filling points, vents, gauges and sight glasses must be located within the bund, which shall be sealed so as to retain any spillages.

Reason: To prevent pollution to the water environment.

(3) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority, no lorries shall enter or leave the site, and no operations shall take place within the site except between 0600 and 2000 hours Monday to Friday and between 0600 and 1300 hours on Saturday, and not at all on Sunday and recognised public holidays.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(4) Within one month of the date of this consent a scheme for controlling and monitoring dust shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(5) Waste imported to the site shall be restricted to inert construction and demolition waste only. All waste to be stored within the areas identified on drawing no. 549-02.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(6) No stockpiles shall exceed four metres in height.

Reason: To minimise visual impact.

7453/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.