Archived decisions

Contact: Neil Chester, ext. 6496

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for a change of use to recycling centre for green waste at the Pebbles, Southwick Road, Boarhunt. The visibility splays at the junction between the site access and Southwick Road can be achieved. Therefore, the proposal accords with policies 6, 7 and 46 of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted 1998). It is therefore recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions.

2. Background

2.1 Members considered the proposal for a change of use to recycling centre for green waste at The Pebbles, Southwick Road, Boarhunt at the Regulatory Committee on 16 July 2003.

2.2 The Chief Adviser to the Regulatory Committee recommended that permission be refused because the proposal would have a detrimental impact on the safety of the highway due to inadequate visibility at the junction between the site access and the highway.

2.3 Notwithstanding the recommendation, Members were supportive of the principle of recycling green waste and therefore undertook to defer determination of the application to enable the applicant to address the issue of substandard visibility splays.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire County Structure Plan Review (1996 - 2011) (adopted March 2000) Policy MW2 refers to the environmental impact of development; Policy MW6 refers to facilities for the re-use and recycling of waste.

3.2 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted 1998) Policies 6 and 7 refer to environmental impact; Policy 46 refers to waste processing facilities.

4. Consultations

4.1 The Highways Adviser raises no objections to the proposal subject to a condition ensuring that no development shall commence until visibility splays of 2.4 metres by 120 metres have been achieved in both directions. The visibility splays must be maintained for the duration of the development. Firgrove Lane (Access B) will be the only suitable access to the site if the visibility splays are achieved.

5. Chief Planning Adviser's further comments

5.1 A hedge obscures the visibility at the junction between the site access and the highway. At the time of the last Regulatory Committee meeting the applicant was unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the hedge to ensure sufficient removal to achieve the necessary visibility splays.

5.2 Since 16 July the applicant has entered into further negotiations with the adjacent landowners. The hedges have been cut back with the permission of the owners. The Highways Adviser is satisfied that the necessary visibility splays can now be achieved. However, before development commences, further trimming is needed and an electricity pole must be relocated. It is therefore recommended that a condition be attached to any permission to secure that the necessary works are undertaken prior to the development commencing.

5.3 In addition, the original proposal included burning of a proportion of green waste. The intention is now to shred the more bulky waste, which will enable a greater proportion to be composted.

5.4 Any adverse impact generated by the proposal can be satisfactorily mitigated and therefore, the proposal accords with Policies 6, 7 and 46 of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted 1998). It is recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of Change of use to recycling centre for green composting at The 'Pebbles', Southwick Road, Boarhunt (03/01094/HCM W06165/10) be granted permission subject to the following conditions:

Access and Routing

(1) Access to the site shall be from Firgrove Lane only (shown as Access B on Plan 1).

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(2) No further waste shall enter the site until visibility splays of 2.4 metres by 120 metres have been created in both directions at the junction between the site access and the highway. The Waste Planning Authority shall be notified within seven days of completion. The visibility splays shall be maintained for the duration of the development.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(3) No further waste shall enter the site until the first six metres of the access track (from the junction with Southwick Road) has been surfaced with a non-migratory material.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(4) Unless with the prior agreement of the Waste Planning Authority in writing no more than 10 vehicles carrying waste shall enter the site on any day. A record of the daily numbers of laden vehicles arriving at the site shall be made known in writing to the Waste Planning Authority within seven days of a written request for that information.

Reason: To limit the volumes of traffic in the interests of the amenity of residents on and near the approaches to the site.

Rights of Way

(5) No further waste shall enter the site until signs requesting that vehicles give way to pedestrians have been erected along the site access. The details of the signs shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Waste Planning Authority prior to their erection.

Reason: In the interests of pedestrian safety on a public right of way.

Types of Waste

(6) No waste shall be deposited at or imported into the site except green waste.

Reason: Waste materials outside these categories raise environmental and amenity issues which would require consideration afresh.

Burning

(7) There shall be no burning of waste materials on site.

Reason: In the interests of the amenity of local residents.

Miscellaneous

(8) No plant or machinery, including a shredder and screener, shall be used on the site unless with the prior written agreement of the Waste Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of the local amenity and maintaining appropriate noise standards.

Limits to composting

(9) Unless with the prior agreement in writing of the Waste Planning Authority, the composting material on the site shall not exceed 1000 cubic metres.

Reason: In the interests of the local amenity and landscape value of the area.

8174/NC