Archived decisions

Contact: Julia Davey, ext 6732 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report considers an application to construct and implement a gas utilisation plant at Squabb Wood Landfill site, near Romsey. Objections have been received from three local residents who live 250 metres from the proposed site. The recommendation is one of approval.

2. The Site

2.1 The application site, as shown on the attached plan, extends across 0.07 hectares of land due south of the main access to Squabb Wood Landfill site.

2.2 Squabb Wood Landfill site extends across a total of 48.5 hectares due south and south-west of Squabb Wood, 1.5 kilometres north-west of Romsey. The site is bounded to the south by the A27 opposite which lies Embley Park School. Planning permission for gravel extraction and infilling with category A, B and C waste was granted in 1997 (TVS5746/1). In February 2002 permission was granted for the construction of a gas utilisation plant, comprising a gas flare, gas engines, ancillary equipment and access/parking area at the site which was not implemented within the permitted time period. The permission therefore lapsed. On 22 April 2003 the County Council received notification from Viridor Waste Management that from 31 May 2003 the site would stop accepting waste and that all landfilling activities would cease shortly thereafter. The decision to close the site temporarily was taken on commercial grounds.

2.3 The nearest residential properties lie approximately 250 metres to the south on the western side of the A27 Romsey to Salisbury Road.

3. Proposal

3.1 Planning permission is sought to construct and implement a gas utilisation-plant, comprising gas flare, gas engines, ancillary equipment, switch room and store/control room. The application is proposed within almost the same footprint as the previous application that lapsed in 1992, except that it is slightly smaller and a more compact shape. The gas flare would be approximately 9.0 metres high whilst the remaining plant including the engine, store and control room, switch room and oil tank store would be no higher than 3.5 metres above ground level. Detailed plans and cross sections will be displayed at the meeting.

3.2 Landfill gas is currently actively extracted at the site and flared off using temporary flares located at the site. The applicant states the application provides an update to, and regularises, the existing development for the site, the planning permissions for which permitted the construction of a landfill gas generation compound and two temporary flares.

3.3 The applicant states that the development is required to comply with legislation, reduce current environmental impacts and increase the operational efficiency of the site; and that the proposed location adjacent to the existing site access provides environmental benefits because it will group similar activities within a single site location. No new access road will be needed to access the gas compound area; operational efficiency will be maximised by the compounds location near to the site offices; the relatively low elevation of the compound area will minimise visual impacts; and the location will not conflict with existing site restoration proposals.

3.4 The development would be phased. Phase 1 would comprise the initial construction of the permanent shrouded landfill gas flare and associated infrastructure and a security fence around the immediate area of the flare.

3.5 Phase 2 would comprise the installation of two generating engines and ancillary equipment within the compound, a brick built switch room, oil tanks, prefabricated store and control room along with ancillary infrastructure, car parking area, the security fence and gate. Electricity would be transferred to the regional grid using buried cables as specified by the electricity company.

3.6 During phase 1, gas from the flare would be extracted and flared. During phase 2 the gas would be used to generate electricity within the gas engines, with the surplus gas flared off.

3.7 The plant will be required to operate over a time period beyond the active life of the landfill. If it were viable for the gas engines to be installed they would operate as long as sufficient gas was being produced. This is likely to be a minimum of 25 years. Once they are no longer needed the gas engines and associated infrastructure would be removed from the site. The flare, however, would continue to burn off excess landfill gas for as long as the Environment Agency deem it is required. This is anticipated to be in the region of 50 years.

4. Development Plan

4.1 Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2001 (Review) (adopted March 2000) Policy MW2 (need for the proposal balanced against environmental impact) and Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (adopted December 1998) Policies 6, 7 (environmental impacts) and 53 (development ancillary to landfill).

5. Consultations

5.1 The comments of Test Valley Borough Council are awaited.

5.2 Romsey Extra Parish Council raises no objection to the proposal

5.3 The Environmental Health Officer raises no objection to the proposal on the understanding that there have been no changes since the previous 2002 permission but would recommend that the following condition be imposed:

" The rating level of the noise emitted from all fixed plant shall not exceed the existing background noise level 29dB(A) by more than 3 dB(A) at any time, seven days a week. The noise levels shall be determined at the boundary of the nearest noise sensitive premises. The measurement and assessment shall be made according to BS4142:1997. by way of a condition attached to any permission that may be granted."

5.4 The local Member, Councillor Mrs Barron, has been informed of the proposal.

5. 5 The Environment Agency raises no objection to the proposal.

5.6 The Highways Adviser raises no objection to the proposal.

6. Representations

6.1 An objection has been raised to the proposal on behalf of a local resident on the following grounds:

(i) The objector's house is 260 metres from the site and his garden only 170 metres away. The development would have a serious adverse affect on the resident's enjoyment of his property.

(ii) The development is contrary to Policies C1, (being incompatible with the interests of the surrounding environment and nearby residents) and D1 (as it will create noise, smell or vibration to an acceptable degree and unduly interfere with adjoining uses) of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan; and Policy AME 04 of the Revised Deposit Local Plan as it will create unacceptable disturbance to residents.

(iii) The site lacks effective control generating noise, smell, fumes, traffic and health risks from birds and flies.

(iv) The County Council has a duty under paragraph 10 of PPG24 to ensure that development does not cause an unacceptable degree of disturbance.

(v) The noise is industrial in origin, sudden, irregular and incompatible with domestic occupation.

7. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

7.1 The main issues raised by the proposal are whether it will cause any adverse noise or visual impact on the amenity of nearby residents. It is noted that this proposal is a similar type of development to that granted in June 2002 within the same general location.

7.2 The concerns raised by a local resident regarding noise and other environmental impacts are acknowledged. However the Environmental Health Officer raises no objection to the application subject to an appropriate condition controlling noise levels. It is noted that the applicant is proposing that the gas utilisation plant and ancillary equipment would remain on site for a minimum period of 25 years (whilst electricity is being generated) and that the flare could remain for 50 years (to vent whatever landfill gas remains). It is considered that development associated with any permission that may be granted should not extend beyond 25 years as the need for retention of plant and machinery beyond such a period could be re-evaluated at the time.

7.3 It is considered that there would be no significant adverse visual impact caused by the proposal and understorey planting, which would help to screen the site from the haul road to the west, has already been approved by way of the previous permission (TVS05746/3). Accordingly it is recommended that planning permission be granted for the development subject to conditions.

Recommendation

That planning permission for the construction of a gas utilisation plant, comprising a gas flare, gas engines, ancillary equipment and an access/parking area at Squabb Wood Landfill site, near Romsey (Application No. TVS05746/3) be granted, 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

Time Limit

1. The development hereby permitted shall be fully implemented within 2 years of the date of this permission, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority.

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

2. The development hereby granted shall be limited to a period of 25 years from the date of completion of landfill operations at Squabb Wood Landfill site, approved under planning permission No. TVS05746/1, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority. When it is agreed in writing by the authorities that the development is no longer needed, it shall be removed and the land restored to agriculture, in accordance with planning permission No. TV505746/1 within a further period of six months.

Reason: To provide for the completion and installation of the site within a reasonable and accepted timescale.

Noise

3.The rating level of the noise emitted from all fixed plant shall not exceed the existing background noise level 29 dB(A) by more than 3 dB(A) at any time, seven days a week. The noise levels shall be determined at the boundary of the nearest noise sensitive premises. The measurement and assessment shall be made according to BS 4142:1997.

Reason: To protect the amenity of nearby residential properties.

Layout

4. The site shall be set out in accordance with site layout plans 0013257/SQ/03 and 0013257/SQ/04. No development shall commence until 2 metre high (minimum) metal palisade fencing (coated dark olive green) and access gates have been erected around the perimeter of the site to the satisfaction of the Waste Planning Authority. All plant above ground level shall be stained dark olive green within 3 months of the date of commencement of the development unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.


Landscaping

5.Understorey planting shall be implemented adjacent to the site haul road in accordance with the scheme approved under planning permission no. TVS05746/3. The existing trees/bushes/hedges within the site shall be retained and protected before the development commences for the duration of the development and shall not be damaged, destroyed, uprooted, felled, lopped or topped during that period without the prior written approval of the Waste Planning Authority. Any such trees removed without permission or dying or being seriously damaged or diseased during that period shall be replaced in the following planting season with trees of such size and species as may be approved by the Waste Planning Authority.

Reason: To safeguard the visual amenity of the area.

6. The scheme of landscaping approved under Condition (5) shall be carried out no later than the planting season prior to implementation of the development, and shall be so maintained thereafter. Within five years of planting, any trees, shrubs or other plants that die, become diseased, are removed or damaged, shall be replaced in the first available planting season with others of similar size and species in accordance with the details of the approved scheme.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity.

9233/JD