Archived decisions

Contact: Peter Chadwick, ext 6728 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought to import soil to the former landfill site at Sleaford to reprofile the surface to improve site drainage. It is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with the development plan and would not materially harm the character of the area or the amenity of local residents and would be acceptable in terms of highway safety and convenience. It is therefore recommended that permission be granted.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site, as shown on the attached plan, comprises an area of about 2.5 hectares and is known as the Sleaford Closed Landfill Site. The site lies between Kingsley and Sleaford and adjoins the B3004. The site was originally a sandpit and was subsequently used as a `dilute and disperse' landfill for household waste. The tipping was completed and the site restored by about 1982. The restoration was for agriculture. Kingsley Common Site of Special Scientific Interest adjoins the site. The nearest houses adjoin the west of the site, other houses are on the opposite side of the B3004.

2.2 Following the completion of restoration the site has been left to stabilise. There has been minimal maintenance. Landfill gas is controlled by passive venting, via four pipes within the waste and ten pipes on the boundary with the highway verge. Over recent years there has been significant differential settlement, the sunken areas creating winter and spring ponds and the surface becoming saturated.

2.3 The proposal is to import about 9000 cubic metres of soil to spread across the site and reprofile it to a landform which allows for more effective drainage. The aim of the work is to;

(i) reduce the overall pollution risks of the site;

(ii) remedy the physical, ecological and after-use problems due to the lack of surface water drainage;

(iii) preventing a worsening of the waterlogging problem; and

(iv) enhance the potential for agricultural after-use and biodiversity of the sites margins.

2.4 Access would be from the B3004. The proposal would generate an average of 27 loads (54 lorry movements) per day over a period of about six weeks. The operating hours would be 0800 to 1700 hours Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1300 hours on Saturday.

2.5 It is proposed that the soil for these works would come from development at Amery Hill School, Alton, which is programmed for later this year. The planning application is accompanied by a soil investigation report which shows that the soils would be suitable for the proposed works at Sleaford.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire County Structure Plan Review Policy MW2 concerns waste proposals.

3.2 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local plan (Adopted December 1998) Policies 6 and 7 concern waste development and Policy 37 concerns landfilling to secure satisfactory restoration.

4. Consultations

4.1 East Hamsphire District Council - comments awaited.

4.2 Kingsley Parish Council - comments awaited.

4.3 The Environmental Health Officer (East Hampshire) - comments awaited.

4.4 The Environment Agency - comments awaited.

4.5 English Nature comments proposal is not likely to cause significant damage to Broxhead and Kingsley Commons SSSI nor have a significant effect on the Wealdon Heaths Phase II SPA. Therefore no objection is raised.

4.6 The Highways Adviser raises no objection subject to maintenance of visibility splays.

4.7 The Rights of Way Manager comments Bridleway 501 runs along the northern boundary. No objection subject to condition requiring resurfacing of the bridleway following reprofiling of the site.

4.8 MOD Safeguarding - RAF Oakhanger raises no objection to the proposal.

5. Representations

5.1 No representations have been received from local residents.

5.2 Councillor Filer has been informed of the proposal.

6. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

6.1 The opportunity to address the problems of this former landfill site has arisen because of ground works being carried out as part of the development at Amery Hill School in Alton. Therefore the issues with this application are the balance between the benefits in improving the drainage, visual appearance, pollution control and restoration at the site with the disturbance to local residents of the work and associated lorry traffic.

6.2 The disturbance to local residents would be for a short period whilst the soil is imported to the site, and from the reprofiling works onsite. It is considered that the longer term benefits in improving the former landfill are sufficient to outweigh this short term disturbance, and that the impacts can be controlled by condition. It is therefore recommended that permission be granted.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of importation of approximately 9,000 cubic metres of inert material to recontour the site surface and improve surface water drainage at Sleaford Close Landfill Site, near Kingsley, Bordon (former Coldharbour Landfill Site) (F26788/004/CMA) be granted for the following reason and subject to the following conditions.

Reason for Approval

It is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with the development plan, summarised as attached, and would not materially harm the character of the area or the amenity of local residents and would be acceptable in terms of highway safety and convenience.

Conditions

Time Limits

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of one year from the date on which this planning permission was granted.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

(2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority the tipping hereby permitted shall cease by 31 December 2005 and the site shall be restored to agriculture within a further period of six months.

Reason: To secure satisfactory restoration within a reasonable timescale.

Drainage and Water Protection

(3) Within one month of the date of this consent a drainage scheme shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing. The scheme shall provide for the drainage of surface water from the site during the sites operation and on completion of restoration. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory drainage of the site.

Noise, Odour and Dust

(4) Prior to development commencing an Environmental Management Scheme for the control of noise, odour and dust shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority in writing. The scheme shall be implemented as approved for the duration of the development.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Highways

(5) Access to the site shall be from that shown on drawing HCC/SLE/OPT/O1 only, there shall be no other access onto the B3004. The visibility splays shall be maintained for the duration of the development.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(6) Measures to prevent mud from vehicles leaving the site being deposited on the highway shall be implemented before development commences and thereafter maintained. No lorry shall leave the site unless its wheels have been cleaned sufficiently to prevent mud being carried onto the highway.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

Hours of Working

(7) No operations shall be carried out at the site except between 0800 and 1700 hours Monday to Friday and between 0800 and 1300 hours Saturday. There shall be no operations on Sunday or bank holidays.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Rights of Way

(8) On completion of the reprofiling Bridleway 501 shall be resurfaced with rolled hoggin to a depth of 150 millimetres and a width of 4 metres. The hedge shall be cut back to prevent obstruction.

Reason: To reinstate the bridleway.

Restoration, After-care and After-use

(9) Within three months of the date of this consent a restoration scheme shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

(10) Within three months of the date of this consent an after-care scheme, requiring such steps as may be necessary to bring each phase of land restored under Condition (8) to the required standard for agriculture, shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing. The after-care scheme shall be implemented as approved.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

(11) After-care of the restored area shall take place for a period of five years in accordance with the approved after-care scheme.

Reason: To secure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

8715/PC

APPENDIX

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY STRUCTURE PLAN 1996-2011 (REVIEW) (ADOPTED MARCH 2000

Policy MW2

Permission will be granted for minerals and waste development provided the mineral/waste planning authority is satisfied that:

(i) any adverse environmental or other impacts that the development would be likely to cause are outweighed by a clearly established need for the development; and

(ii) the proposals, where applicable, include a satisfactory scheme of working and landscaping including details of lorry routeing and, in all cases, include satisfactory measures to ensure that the development would not have any unacceptable environmental, traffic or other impact; and

(iii) the proposals, where applicable, provide for the satisfactory and prompt restoration and after-care of the site to a high standard and to a landform compatible with the local landscape and suitable for an agreed beneficial after-use.

HAMPSHIRE, PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHAMPTON MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN (ADOPTED 17 DECEMBER 1998)

Policy 6

Permission will be granted for minerals and waste development provided the Mineral/Waste Planning Authority is satisfied that:

(i) there is a clearly established need for the development (as assessed in relation to the other relevant policies of the Plan) which outweighs any adverse environmental or other impact that the development would be likely to cause; and

(ii) the development would not be likely to give rise to an unacceptable level of adverse environmental, traffic or other impact, pollution risk or danger to public health, particularly in respect of any of the factors specified in Policy 7 and measures would be taken to ensure that any such impacts would, as far as is practicable, be minimised; and

(iii) the proposals provide for the satisfactory working or operation and landscaping of the site and for its satisfactory restoration and landscaping at the cessation of the operations or use or at the end of the life of the facility to a condition suitable for an agreed beneficial after-use which is compatible with adjoining land uses and the planning policies for the area.

Notwithstanding any need there may be for waste disposal, permission will not normally be granted for mineral extraction with restoration by infilling with waste materials unless there is a need for the mineral to be extracted.

Policy 7

The Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities will grant planning permission for minerals and waste development provided they are satisfied that, where appropriate, the proposed development pays due regard to:

(i) the relationship of the proposal site to other properties and land uses (particularly residential and other environmentally sensitive properties) and the likely effects of the proposed development on the locality by reason of noise, dust, smoke, fumes, illumination or any other factor and the need for buffer zones between the development and residential and other properties;

(ii) the likely volume and nature of traffic that would be generated by the proposed development and the suitability of the proposed access to the site and of the road network that would be affected, in terms of highway capacity and safety and environmental impact, and whether any highway improvements required could be carried out satisfactorily without causing unacceptable environmental impact;

(iii) the likely visual impact of the proposed development and the need for additional planting and screening, including planting in advance of the commencement of the development;

(iv) the need to safeguard the character and amenities of individual settlements and to safeguard open gaps between settlements from permanent development which would cause long-term harm to the function of the land;

(v) the likely effects of the proposed development on and the need to protect and safeguard sites of nature conservation, geological, archaeological, historic, architectural and landscape importance and their settings;

(vi) the extent and quality of agricultural land to be taken by the proposed development and the proposals for its subsequent restoration and the likely effects of the proposals on farm structure and management;

(vii) the likely effects of the proposed development on and the need to maintain the distinctive character of the landscape; the likely effects of the proposed development on and the need to safeguard and protect individual species, habitats and landscape features, including woodland, trees and hedgerows; and the likely effects of the proposed development on forestry and woodland management;

(viii) the likely effects of the proposed development on sites used for recreation and public rights of way and the need to protect or secure the satisfactory diversion of public rights of way;

(ix) the likely effects of the proposed development on and the need to safeguard the flow and quality of watercourses, water supplies, floodplains, groundwater, the drainage of the site and adjoining land and the level of the water table in the locality and the likely effects of the proposed development on the immediate setting of any river;

(x) any potential danger to aircraft from birds being attracted to the site;

(xi) the possible amenity implications of any landfill gas that might be generated at the site and of any provisions that might need to be made to deal with it; and

(xii) the likely cumulative impact of the proposed development in combination with any other significant development taking place or permitted to take place in the locality and the need to minimise the impact of mineral extraction and waste disposal operations by securing, where appropriate, the phased release of sites and progression of working and restoration.

Policy 37

The Waste Planning Authorities will grant planning permission for waste disposal by landfilling provided they are satisfied that:

(i) the waste to be disposed of cannot practicably and reasonably be reduced, re-used, recycled or processed at a resource recovery plant and there is a proven need for the disposal of the waste by landfilling which cannot reasonably be met by other suitable existing or permitted waste disposal facilities within a reasonable distance of the source of the waste by the preferred areas in Policy 38; and

(ii) the proposed landfilling would normally take place within a mineral working site that:

(a) is an active extraction site; or

(b) has been unsatisfactorily restored and landfilling would enable satisfactory restoration to be achieved; or

(c) has been restored below original levels and there would be an environmental benefit from the raising of levels by infilling; and

(iii) the proposed site is located near 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

(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.