Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 The proposal is to increase importation of material to expand the `Topsport' business and extend aggregate sales from the quarry. The proposal involves the construction of a hardstanding and storage bays and replacement blending plant to extend the range of product. The recommendation is to grant consent subject to conditions.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site (as shown on the attached plan) is within Lode Farm Quarry, part of Kingsley Sand Quarry. The quarry has planning permission for sand extraction to 31 December 2018, with restoration to be completed by 31 December 2019. The site is within Lode Farm, which is the location of the sand washing plant, sand stockpiles and distribution, blending plant, silt lagoons and offices.

2.2 Kingsley Quarry is located on the outskirts of Kingsley with access from the B3004, the nearest houses adjoin the north-west and eastern boundary of Lode Farm. Further houses are on the other side of the B3004. The quarry is also adjacent to the proposed South Downs National Park.

2.3 Planning permission for the quarry includes the importation of soils and minerals (peat, sand, grit and aggregates) up to a maximum of 22,500 tonnes per year. The proposal is to increase the amount of these materials imported to the quarry to 47,500 tonnes per year. The reason for the increase in importation is to extend the `Topsport' business and aggregate sales from the quarry.

2.4 The `Topsport' business involves mixing sand from the quarry with soils to produce a growing medium for grass for sports pitches, golf courses, racecourses and landscaping. Customers for the product include Ascot Racecourse and Chelsea Football Club. The proposals are to construct a hardstanding (approximately 1,500 square metres in area) and three storage bays. The bay would be 4 metres high constructed of railway sleepers and girders. The existing blender would be replaced by a new mobile plant, which would extend the range of product. The new plant would be electric powered rather than diesel powered.

2.5 The aggregate sales proposal includes construction of three storage bays for storage of aggregate, mainly limestone, for sale from the quarry. The reason being to extend the range of aggregate available for sale from the quarry.

2.6 The quarry currently generates about 56 lorry movements per day. The proposal would use the existing quarry access and generate an additional 20 lorry movements per day. However this figure does not take into account the possibility of back loading, which could reduce this figure to 10 lorry movements per day.

2.7 There is also a planning application for construction waste recycling at the quarry (see agenda item 11). That proposal is located within a different part of the quarry, although using the same access.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted 17 December 1998) Policy 35 concerns ancillary development at quarries.

4. Consultations

4.1 East Hampshire District Council officer recommendation to raise objection on the grounds that the proposal would result in intensification of the development on this site within this area of countryside immediately adjacent to the proposed National Park, to the detriment of the locality and to adjacent occupiers by reason of dust, noise and increased traffic contrary to the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

4.2 The Environmental Health Officer (East Hampshire District Council) raises no objection subject to imposition of conditions including noise limits and noise monitoring.

4.3 Kingsley Parish Council raise strongest possible objection to the application. Together with proposals for recycling will result in huge lorry traffic increases on the B3004 and through Kingsley, contrary to the policies of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan. If these permissions are granted Lode Farm site will change from a quarry to a major industrial operation. The Council fully understands the applicants logical arguments justifying the change, but the County Council has a duty of care for the village of Kingsley and its immediate surroundings. In the vicinity are Selborne Brickworks (which has a concrete crusher), Blackmoor (which has a recycling plant), Sleaford Bordon Sandpit (which has a concrete batching plant and an outstanding appeal for a concrete crusher), former Sleaford Landfill Site (permitted for importation of soils) and Grundons Sand Quarry. The excessive heavy lorry traffic in this small corner of north-east Hampshire threatens to overwhelm it with ever increasing activities.

4.4 Worldham Parish Council - comments awaited.

4.5 The Environment Agency - comments awaited.

4.6 The Highways Adviser raises no objection subject to conditions to limit lorry movements and to prevent mud being deposited on the highway.

4.7 The Countryside Agency - no comments received.

4.8 Council for National Parks - no comments received.

4.9 AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Officer raises no objection in principle. Concern at impact on tranquillity of proposed National Park therefore recommends the inclusion of conditions to control noise and lorry movements.

4.10 The local Member, Councillor Filer, has been informed of the proposal.

5. Representations

5.1 Seven letters of objection have been received from local residents. The objections are on the grounds that the impact of additional industrial activity on rural environment of the village. Together with recycling proposals would double number of HGVs using the Lode Farm site. The B3004 and A325 already have to cope with vehicles from Grooms Farm Quarry, concrete batching plant at Sleaford, concrete crushing at Selborne Brickworks and works at former Sleaford Landfill Site. If appeal at Bordon Sandpit is successful this would add further vehicle movements through the village. The small rural community is being swamped by these activities, the cumulative impact of the traffic causing unacceptable social disruption. Concern at additional noise and dust from operations within the quarry.

6. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

6.1 The `Topsport' proposal is in accordance with policy as it uses the sand from the quarry to produce a value added product. The concern about operations within the quarry relate to noise and dust. The change of use from a diesel to an electric powered plant would reduce noise and measures are proposed to deal with dust. The main issue is the associated lorry traffic, which is the same issue with the proposed construction waste recycling.

6.2 The concern of Kingsley residents, as lorry traffic from the quarry has to travel through the village to get to the A325, and from residents of Worldham if lorries travel towards Alton, is noted. The B3004 is a local lorry route and the highways advisor is not raising objection to the application. However the proposal would add additional lorry traffic and contribute to the cumulative impact of lorry traffic locally, and so would have an amenity impact for local residents.

6.3 Nevertheless, the `Topsport' proposals are in accordance with policy. The proposals within the quarry would not have an adverse environmental impact. It is accepted that there would be additional lorry traffic, but this is not likely to be significant particularly taking into account potential for backhauling and access onto a local lorry route. Therefore it is recommended that permission be granted.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the Development of Topsport and merchanting operations at Tarmac Southern Limited, Kingsley Quarry, Forge Road, Kingsley, Near Bordon (F24847/020) 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 (summary 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

Commencement

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

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

Timescale

(2) The operations hereby permitted shall cease and all plant, equipment, hardstandings, and stockpiles removed by
31 December 2018.

Reason: In the interest of local amenity.

Hours of Working

(3) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Mineral Planning Authority no heavy goods vehicles shall enter or leave the site and no plant or machinery shall be operated except between the following hours:

(i) 0700 to 1800 Monday to Friday;

(ii) 0730 to 1300 on Saturday; and

(iii) there shall be no working on Sundays or recognised public holidays.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Protection of Water Environment

(4) Any facilities for the storage of oils, fuels or chemicals shall be sited on impervious bases and surrounded by impervious bund walls. The bund capacity shall give 110% of the total volume for single and hydraulically linked tanks. If there is multiple tankage, the bund capacity shall be 110% of the largest tank or 25% of the total capacity of all tanks, whichever is the greatest. All filling points, vents, gauges and sight glasses and overflow pipes shall be located within the bund. There shall be no outlet connecting the bund to any drain, sewer or watercourse or discharging onto the ground. Associated pipework shall be located above ground where possible and protected from accidental damage.

Reason: To prevent pollution of the water environment.

Noise, Dust and Odour

(5) Noise from operations carried out on the site measured or predicted as dB LAeq, 1 hour levels, shall not exceed the background noise level at the boundary of any residential property (measured as dB LA90) by more than 10 dBA during hours of operation with a maximum allowable noise level of 55 LAeq, 1 hour at the boundary of any residential property during the same hours. Temporary works necessary to the operation of the site for creating baffle mounds and construction of new permanent landforms can exceed the noise control criteria set out above at the boundary of any residential property up to a maximum of 70 dB LAeq, 1 hour, for up to eight weeks in any 12 month period.

Reason: To prevent noise disturbance to the residents of the nearest houses.

(6) Within three months of the date of this consent a scheme for noise monitoring shall be submitted to the Mineral Planning Authority for approval in writing. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

(7) Prior to commencing operations details of dust suppression measures shall be submitted to and approved by the Mineral Planning Authority in writing. The approved measures shall be maintained for the duration of the development.

Reason: In the interests of local amenities.

Highways

(8) Measures shall be taken to prevent mud from vehicles leaving the site being deposited on the public highway. The measures shall be implemented and maintained for the duration of the development and no lorry shall leave the site unless its wheels and chassis have been cleaned sufficiently to prevent mud being carried onto the highway.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(9) Lorry movements to and from the site shall be restricted to 20 per day. A daily record of lorries entering and leaving the site shall be kept at the site and made available to the Mineral Planning Authority on request.

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

(10) All loaded lorries, except those only carrying aggregate over 50 millimetres, shall be sheeted or have their loads otherwise enclosed before leaving the site.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

Restriction of Permitted Development Rights

(11) Notwithstanding the provisions of Parts 4, 8 and 25 Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that order) fixed plant or machinery, buildings, structures and erections shall not be erected, extended, installed or replaced at the site without the prior written agreement of the Mineral Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the amenities of the area.

8814/PC

APPENDIX

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

Policy 35

In cases where it is not permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order, the Mineral Planning Authorities will grant planning permission for minerals processing and manufacturing plant and other development ancillary to the extraction, landing or unloading of minerals within the boundaries of, or adjacent to, mineral extraction sites, aggregates wharves and rail-head aggregates depots, provided that:

(i) in the case of processing plant, it is required to process minerals either extracted from the mineral working site, landed at the wharf or delivered by rail to the depot;

(ii) in the case of manufacturing plant, the greater part of the minerals to be used to manufacture the product will be either extracted from the mineral working site, landed at the wharf or delivered by rail to the depot, and the manufacturing activities will remain ancillary to the primary use of the site as a mineral extraction site, aggregates wharf or rail-head aggregates depot;

(iii) in the case of other ancillary development, the development is required solely in connection with the administration or servicing of the mineral working site, wharf or depot;

(iv) the plant or other development is to be designed, constructed and landscaped so as to minimise any adverse impact on the amenities of the area and, in any case, it would not be likely to give rise to any unacceptable environmental, traffic or other impact;

(v) the size, type and nature of the plant or other development are appropriate to the scale of the mineral extraction site, aggregates wharf or rail-head aggregates depot for which it is required; and

(vi) the plant, structure or building would be removed as soon as extraction of minerals from the mineral working site has permanently ceased or the use of the aggregates wharf or rail-head aggregates depot has ceased and the site would be restored to a satisfactory condition suitable for an agreed beneficial after-use.

Where permission is granted for minerals processing or manufacturing plant at or adjacent to a mineral extraction site, this will be subject to conditions preventing the importation of material from elsewhere, with the exception of material that is necessary for the operation of the plant but is not, or was not formerly, extracted from the mineral extraction site.