Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission for the Marchwood Transfer Station expires at the end of this year, and a planning application has been submitted to extend the period to 31 December 2006, as the facility will be required until the new Energy Recovery Incinerator at the Marchwood Industrial Estate is fully operational. In addition an extension of hours is requested to allow the Transfer Station to open at 0900 hours on Sundays rather than 1000 hours. The recommendation is to grant planning permission.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site, as shown on the attached plan, is the former Marchwood Incinerator on Bury Road, Marchwood. The site adjoins Slow Hill Copse Waste Water Treatment Works, and is on the outskirts of Marchwood. There are houses adjoining the site.

2.2 Planning permission was granted in 2000 for the use of the former Marchwood Incinerator building as a Waste Transfer Station. The Transfer Station handles household waste, waste from Household Waste Recycling Centres and other wastes collected by the District and City Councils. The planning permission was for a temporary period expiring on 31 December 2003. The need for the Waste Transfer would cease when the new Energy Recovery Incinerator, under construction on the Marchwood Business Park, is commissioned. Due to delays in the construction of the new Energy Recovery Incinerator, it is requested that the period for the existing waste transfer station is extended to 31 December 2006.

2.3 In addition it is requested that the hours of operation are amended to allow the site to open at 0900 hours on Sundays rather than 1000 hours as currently permitted.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted December 1998) Policy 46 concerns proposal for waste transfer.

3.2 New Forest District Local Plan Policy DW-E28 applies, as the site is within the Strategic Gap.

4. Consultations

4.1 New Forest District Council raises no objection.

4.2 Marchwood Parish Council supports the application.

4.3 Totton and Eling Parish Council - no comments received.

4.4 The Environment Agency raises no objection.

4.5 New Forest District Council Environmental Health Officer - no comments received.

4.6 The Highways Adviser raises no objection as current traffic movements do not create significant highway implications.

4.7 The local Member, Councillor Kendall has been informed.

4.8 The adjoining local Member, Councillor Randall, has been informed.

5. Representations

5.1 One letter has been received from a neighbouring resident on grounds of odour, dust and general nuisance, but also complaining that the applicant has been constantly breaching conditions regarding hours of operation, by starting earlier, and the number of loads delivered on Sundays.

6. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

6.1 The use of the former Marchwood Incinerator building as a waste transfer station has been necessary to maintain the waste management service for South West Hampshire until new facilities become operational. The new Energy Recovery Incinerator is under construction at Marchwood Industrial Estate; however, it is clear that this will not be commissioned and fully operational before the end of the year, which is when the consent for the Transfer Station expires. Consequently there is a clear need to retain the Transfer Station for a further period.

6.2 Whilst it is anticipated that the new Energy Recovery Incinerator will be constructed well before the end of 2006, it is considered reasonable to allow this period to provide flexibility for the full commissioning of this plant. In addition, waste transfer within the new facility may not be available immediately on construction.

6.3 The hours of operation were previously amended to enable the operation of the site on Sundays, primarily to handle limited volumes of waste from Household Waste Recycling Centres. Temporary extensions to the hours of working have been agreed in the past, and have not given rise to significant complaints. Operationally an earlier start is required to ensure the efficient operation of the HWRCs most of which open at 0800 hours.

6.4 In conclusion it is considered that the retention of the Waste Transfer Station is justified, and the period requested would provide sufficient flexibility to maintain the waste management service until the new Energy Recovery Incinerator is fully operational.

Recommendation

That planning permission for a variation of condition of planning permission 68501 for an extension of time at Marchwood Transfer Station, Bury Road, Marchwood (Application no: 68501) be granted subject to the following conditions:

Duration

(1) The development hereby granted shall be for a limited period expiring on 31 December 2006 or when the Marchwood Energy Recovery Incinerator is fully operational, whichever is the sooner. On or before which date the use of the waste transfer station shall cease and the site be reinstated, unless the prior consent of the Waste Planning Authority has been obtained in writing for a further period of use.

Reason: To enable the reassessment by the Waste Planning Authority.

Restoration and After-care

(2) All buildings, structures, hardstandings and plant shall be removed from the site within six months of the expiry of the planning permission or the cessation of the use of a waste transfer station, whichever is the sooner. A scheme for the restoration of the site shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing within four years of the date of this consent. The site shall be restored in accordance with the approved scheme.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity and to ensure the site does not remain derelict.

Vehicles and Parking

(3) Provision for the turning, loading and unloading of vehicles and the provision of a minimum of 12 car parking spaces shall continue to be made within the site. The areas of land so provided shall not be used for any purpose other than the turning, loading and unloading, and parking of vehicles.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

Odour Control

(4) The approved details to prevent odour nuisance shall be implemented and maintained throughout the period that the development is in use.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Gates

(5) Any gates provided shall be set back a distance of 15 metres from the edge of the carriageway of the adjoining highway.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

Lighting

(6) The approved details of the lighting of the site shall be implemented and maintained throughout the period the development is in use.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

To Safeguard Water Resources

(7) There shall be no discharge of foul or contaminated drainage from the site into either ground water or surface water, whether direct or via soakaways.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(8) All areas where waste is stored, processed, handled or transferred must be underlain by an impervious hardstanding with dedicated drainage to a foul sewer or sealed tanks for disposal at a suitably licensed facility.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

(9) Any facilities for the storage of oils, fuels or chemicals shall be sited on impervious bases, and chemicals shall be sited on impervious bases and surrounded by impervious bund walls. The volume of the bunded compound should be at least equivalent to the capacity of the tank plus ten percent. If there is multiple tankage, the compound should be at least equivalent to the capacity of the largest tank, or the combined capacity of interconnected tanks plus ten percent. All filling points, vents, gauges and sight glasses must be located within the bund. The drainage system of the bund shall be sealed with no discharge to any watercourse, land or underground strata. Associated pipework should be located above ground and protected from accidental damage. All filling points and tank overflow pipe outlets should be detailed to discharge downwards into the bund.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

Restriction of Working

(10) No materials produced as a result of the site development or clearance shall be burnt on site.

Reason: To protect the amenity of occupiers of nearby premises and in the interests of public health.

(11) No operations authorised by this consent shall be carried out other than between the hours of 0600 and 2000 Monday to Saturday and between 0900 and 1700 on Sunday, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(12) Except the Sunday preceding or following each bank holiday, as required by the Waste Collection Authority, only 25 loads of waste from household waste recycling centres shall be taken to the site on Sunday. A record of the loads taken to the site on Sunday shall be kept and made available to the Waste Planning Authority on request.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(13) No waste or recycled material shall be stored outside the building other than in the areas shown on the submitted plan.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

8051/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.