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

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for construction waste recycling at land at Gold Farm, Government Road, Aldershot. Following a Committee site visit the planning application was considered by the Regulatory Committee at its meeting on 28 July 2004. The Committee resolved that the application be deferred and the applicant invited to submit further environmental information so that an assessment could be made of the impact of the proposal. The applicant was invited to provide additional information, but none has been submitted. In view of the fact that the application was partly retrospective and time elapsed since the Committee resolution, it is considered that the application needs to be determined. It is recommended that planning permission be refused on the grounds that insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposal was environmentally acceptable.

2. Site

2.1 The site, as shown on the attached plan, comprises an area of 0.3 hectares within the Blackwater Valley Strategic Gap, adjacent to the A331 on the Hampshire/Surrey border.

2.2 A planning application was submitted for the use of land for the recycling of inert material to produce soils and secondary aggregates, including the use of screening and crushing equipment and siting of a portacabin office/mess room. Following a Committee site visit on 12 July 2004, the application was considered by the Regulatory Committee at its meeting on 28 July 2004. A copy of the Committee Report is attached as an Appendix. The Committee resolved:

"That a decision on the application in respect of land at Gold Farm, Government Road, Aldershot (04/00433/HCC) be deferred to allow the applicant to be invited to submit further environmental information so that an assessment can be made of the impact of the proposal."

2.3 The applicant was informed of the Regulatory Committee's resolution by letter dated 30 July 2004. As no additional information had been received by the end December 2004, the applicant was informed that unless this was submitted by 28 February 2005 the application would be reported back to Committee on 23 March 2005.

2.4 The applicant responded that they were still seeking the co-operation of the Ministry of Defence, although this was not essential. The additional assessment work had not been finalised due to inclement weather and the seasonal requirements for specific ecological works. Therefore the applicant was unable to submit supplementary information by 28 February 2005.

3. Chief Planning Advisers Comments

3.1 Almost eight months have elapsed since the Committee considered this application. It is considered that this was sufficient time to produce the additional environmental information required by the Committee. The delay is of particular concern bearing in mind that the application was partially retrospective.

3.2 The applicant wished to discuss the application with the Ministry of Defence following the late objection received from the Garrison Commander, but has not had any success in arranging a meeting. However, it is noted from their latest letter that the agreement of the Ministry of Defence is not deemed to be essential.

3.3 It is considered that there is now a need to determine the application, and that in the absence of any additional information the application will have to be assessed on the basis of the details already provided, which are the same as when the application was considered last July. Notwithstanding the recommendation to grant permission, the Committee resolution is clear that additional information was required. Consequently, it is recommended that planning permission be refused on the grounds that it is contrary to policy as insufficient information has been provided to be able to demonstrate that the proposal would be acceptable environmentally.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the use of land for the recycling of inert material to produce soils and secondary aggregates, including the use of screening and crushing equipment, and siting of a portacabin office/messroom at Land at Gold Farm, Government Road, Aldershot (04/00433/HCC) be refused for the following reason:

Reason for Refusal

The proposal is contrary to Policies 7 and 46 of the Hampshire Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan, in that insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact for local residents and the local environment.

9241/PDC