Contact: Neil Chester, ext 6496 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for a recycling facility for processing inert construction and demolition waste for a temporary period of 15 years at Rookery Farm Landfill Site, Botley Road, Swanwick. The proposal accords with policy. The dust issues can be satisfactorily addressed but the noise impacts may require further mitigation. The recommendation is that planning permission be granted for a temporary period of 15 years to accord with the anticipated life of the landfill, subject to additional noise mitigation and conditions.

2. Site

2.1 The application site is of some 2.56 hectares and is located within the existing landfill site at Rookery Farm, Botley Road, near Swanwick. The M27 lies to the south of the landfill site and there are residential properties to the north and east. The access to the application site Botley Road is shared with the landfill site. There are other houses opposite the site entrance.

2.2 The recycling of construction and demolition waste has taken place at the site since 1995 (Planning Permission P/94/0698/ML). This permission expires in December 2004.

3. Proposal

3.1 The proposal is for a recycling facility for processing of inert construction and demolition material at Rookery Farm Landfill Site. A recent survey of the landfill void gives an estimated life for inert waste disposal in excess of 15 years. Thus, a temporary permission for 15 years is sought. It is proposed to deposit the residue from the recycling operation in Phases 2 and 3 of the approved landfill, whilst restricting the importation of other waste to conserve the void. After 15 years it is proposed to remove the recycling plant and complete the landfill with imported waste material as void space within Hampshire becomes scarce.

3.2 It is proposed to import a maximum of 200,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste per annum, with approximately 85% being recycled. The imported material will be sorted, crushed, washed and graded to produce secondary aggregates which will be suitable for re-use in construction projects. It is proposed to import clay, sand, gravel, limestone, crushed stone, chalk, road planings, construction stone, and stone from the demolition of buildings, structures or road excavation. The recycled aggregate will be stored in existing bays prior to sale.

3.3 It is difficult to produce a sand product through recycling. To meet the demand for a concrete aggregate it is proposed to import up to 5,000 tonnes of sand which will be blended with recycled aggregate. Soils will be recycled and blended with imported compost to produce soils for sale off site and use in the restoration of the adjacent landfill. It is proposed to import up to 5,000 tonnes of compost for this purpose.

3.4 It is proposed to locate a mobile crusher, a trommel, screening unit, and a hydraulic excavator to feed the crusher and screeners. It is also proposed to use a self-contained washing plant to clean the recycled aggregate.

3.5 The proposal will generate an average of 94 lorry movements per day (47 in and 47 out) at commencement, rising to an average of 124 movements (62 in and 62 out). The combined lorry movements generated by the landfill and the current proposal will not exceed 240 (120 in and 120 out) movements per day (i.e. the current restriction imposed on the landfill site).

3.6 The proposed hours of operation accord with those of the landfill site and are as follows:

Monday to Friday: 0730 hours - 1730 hours

Saturdays: 0730 hours - 1230 hours

3.7 It is not proposed to operate on Sundays or Public Holidays.

3.8 It is proposed to create a three metre high screening bund on the western elevation and to retain the existing bund to the east. The landfill site will provide further screening.

3.9 It is proposed to replace the existing two-storey office and welfare facility building with a modern unit. A two-storey building is proposed to enable adequate checks of waste materials being imported in lorries prior to tipping.

4. Development Plan

4.1 Hampshire County Structure Plan Review 1996 - 2011 (Adopted March 2000) MW2 refers to environmental impact; MW6 refers to the production of secondary and recycled aggregates.

4.2 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted December 1998) Policy 6 and 7 refer to environmental impacts; Policy 46 refers to waste processing and recycling.

5. Consultations

5.1 Fareham Borough Council raises objection to the proposal on the grounds that the proposal will have an adverse impact upon highway safety in light of the routeing of vehicles through Park Gate and the proposal will have an adverse noise impact.

5.2 The Environmental Health Officer, Fareham Borough Council raises no objections to the proposal but requires further noise monitoring to clearly assess the impacts of the proposal on properties to the north east of the application site.

5.3 The Environment Agency raises no objections to the proposal.

5.4 The Highways Adviser raises no objections to the proposal subject to a restriction of 240 lorry movements per day in total (inclusive of the landfill and the recycling operations).

5.5 The local Member, Councillor Estlin, has been informed of the proposal.

6. Representations

6.1 There have been four letters of objection from local residents and a petition with 53 names on it. The main reasons for objection relate to an increase in noise, dust, traffic and an adverse impact on the local landscape. In addition, it is considered by local residents that the site is an important habitat with scarce species.

7. Chief Planning Advisers Comments

7.1 The proposal is for the recycling of construction and demolition waste and the production of secondary aggregates and recycled soils. Policy 46(iii) of the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan states that the Waste Planning Authority will normally permit the use of land for the recycling of waste provided that the proposed site is located at a waste disposal facility, the development is connected with the waste disposal operation, and is for a temporary period commensurate with the operational life of that facility. The proposal therefore accords with Policy 46(iii).

7.2 There have been 10 noise complaints made to the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) at Fareham Borough Council since 1999. However, to date no statutory nuisance has been substantiated by the EHO.

7.3 A noise assessment has been submitted in response to local concerns. The key findings are that the addition of the proposed recycling operations will have no significant impact on the noise levels generated by the landfill site because the motorway is the most prominent noise source. Moreover, noise related to the landfill and recycling activities is considered to be a low risk of causing a statutory nuisance to local residents. These conclusions are broadly accepted by the EHO. However, there is concern that the proposal will adversely impact on the properties adjacent to the north east boundary of the site. Further monitoring is needed to clearly assess the impacts of the proposal on these properties and further mitigation may be required. It is therefore recommended that any approval be subject to the submission of satisfactory additional noise mitigation measures.

7.4 The Borough Council is concerned about the number of lorry movements generated by the proposal. However, the existing landfill site is currently unrestricted in terms of lorry movements. The proposal is to limit the number of lorry movements associated with both the landfill and the recycling to a maximum of 240 per day. The Highways Adviser raises no objection to the proposal.

7.5 The concern regarding dust is noted. However, it is considered largely an operational issue that can be satisfactorily addressed. It is proposed to damp down the haul road, the operational area and the stockpiles and to install dust suppression on the soil screener and crushing plant. Further, it is recommended that an Environmental Management Scheme (EMS) be submitted to further address potential dust issues.

7.6 The proposal is located within an existing landfill site and on the same site as the existing recycling facility, permission for which expires in December 2004. Therefore the site is not considered to be of significant ecological value. The visual impact of the proposal is also considered negligible due to its location within the landfill site and the proposed erection of screening bunds.

7.7 The principle of recycling construction and demolition waste and diverting waste from landfill is supported. The dust issue can be satisfactorily addressed. The noise impacts may require further mitigation. Therefore the recommendation is that planning permission be granted for a temporary period of 15 years to accord with the anticipated life of the landfill, subject to satisfactory additional noise mitigation measures and conditions.

Recommendation

That subject to the submission of satisfactory additional noise mitigation measures planning permission in respect of the recycling facility for processing of inert construction and demolition material at Rookery Farm Landfill Site, Botley Road, Swanwick (P/04/1522/MW) 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

Timescale

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of five years 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) The recycling operations hereby permitted shall cease on or before 30 November 2019 or by the completion of the Rookery Farm landfill site, whichever is the sooner.

Reason: To minimise the duration of disturbance from the recycling operations.

Hours of Working

(3) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste 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: 0730-1730 Monday to Friday and 0730-1230 Saturday. There shall be no working on Sundays or recognised public holidays.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Noise, Dust and Odour

(4) Prior to development commencing an Environmental Management Scheme for the control of noise and dust at the site, inclusive of the access road, shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing. The Scheme shall be implemented as approved for the duration of the site's operation.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(5) All vehicles, plant and machinery operated within the site shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers' specification at all times, and shall be fitted with and use effective silencers.

Reason: To minimise noise disturbance from operations at the site.

Highways

(6) The total number of lorry movements in connection with the landfill and recycling at Rookery Farm shall not exceed 240 per day. A record of all lorries using the site shall be kept at the site office and made available to the Waste Planning Authority within 7 days of a written request.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety and the amenity of the local area.

(7) All lorries leaving the site shall use the wheel cleaning facilities indicated on Drg. No. RB-EB/ROO/PRO/05. 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.

Lighting

(8) There shall be no lighting on site other than 6 no. 500 watt halogen lights at a maximum height of six metres. All lighting must face into the site.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Restoration

(9) Upon cessation of the operations, all plant and machinery shall be removed and the site restored within 2 years. Restoration shall be in accordance with the requirements of Planning Permission FBC 7803/4.

Reason: To ensure the satisfactory restoration of the site.

Miscellaneous

(10) No stockpiles shall exceed five metres in height. A line shall be painted on the lighting column, or other permanent structure agreed in writing with the Waste Planning Authority, to clearly indicate five metres in height.

Reason: To protect the local visual amenity.

(11) Unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Waste Planning Authority, no plant or machinery shall be brought onto the site other than a mobile crushing unit, a trommel, a screening unit, a hydraulic excavator, a wheeled loading shovel, and washing plant.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

9075/NC