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

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought to continue to operate a concrete crusher at the Waste Transfer Station at Farlington Redoubt, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsdown. The issues are the potential for noise and dust. It is considered these issues can be suitably controlled. The recommendation is to grant planning permission.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site lies within Farlington Redoubt and is enclosed by steep chalk faces through which there is a narrow entrance for the access. A golf course adjoins the site to the north and `Field East of Farlington Redoubt Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation' (SINCs) (currently used for grazing) adjoins the site to the east. Transco owns the western part of the Redoubt and uses it operationally as a gas transfer station and a fire fighting training centre. The applicant owns the eastern part of the site and uses it for vehicle storage, the operation of a skip waste business and a waste transfer and recycling facility. Access is onto Portsdown Hill Road. The nearest houses are about 140 metres from the site.

2.2 Planning permission was granted in November 2001 for a waste transfer station for skip waste at the Redoubt. In June 2004 planning permission was granted for a concrete crusher to operate at the site. This was permitted for a temporary period to 31 October 2005. The proposal is to continue the use of the concrete crusher. It would not be permanently based at the site but would be moved onto the site when there are sufficient stockpiles. The applicant considers that it would operate every other month.

3. Development Plan

3.1 Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted December 1998) Policy 46 concerns proposals for waste transfer and recycling.

4. Consultations

4.1 Havant Borough Council raises objection on grounds of potential noise.

4.2 Environmental Health Officer (Havant Borough Council) raises concerns at level of noise for Hector Close, the nearest houses in Havant. Although there have been no complaints so far the Environmental Health Officer is concerned that future intensification would lead to complaint.

4.3 Portsmouth City Council has no comments.

4.4 Environmental Health Officer (Portsmouth City Council) comments that they do not perceive that the proposal will cause a loss of amenity to residents within Portsmouth.

4.5 Environment Agency raises no objection.

4.6 Highways Adviser raises no objection.

4.7 The local Member, Councillor McIntosh, has been informed.

5. Representations

5.1 Five letters have been received from local residents raising objection on the grounds of dust and atmospheric pollution; increase in lorry traffic to and from the site; that lorry drivers ignore the existing routeing agreement; and that the road drains have been blocked by water flowing from the Waste Transfer Station, causing problems of drainage for nearby houses.

6. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

6.1 The principle of using a concrete crusher as part of the waste transfer station activities is in accordance with policy subject to the main impacts of noise and dust from the operation, in the light of controls, being acceptable.

6.2 The site is located in Havant, but the nearest houses are on Portsdown Hill Road in Portsmouth. Portsmouth City Council's Environmental Health Officer is not raising objection. They did receive a noise complaint, which did not relate to the concrete crusher, but this was satisfactorily resolved. The objection from Havant Borough Council relates to housing further away to the north, and whilst there have been no recorded complaints the concern is the potential for noise if the use became more intensive. The applicant has confirmed that the proposal is not for a permanent facility, and that the intention is to continue using the crusher on a `campaign' basis in the same way as in the past. There has not been a history of noise complaint and it is considered the present conditions are satisfactory to address the noise issue.

6.3 Objection has been raised on grounds of dust emissions from the site affecting the nearest residents. However, this concern is not necessarily related to the operation of the concrete crusher, which has dust suppression equipment attached as a requirement of the authorisation issued by the Environmental Health Officer. The dust issues are more related to the overall operation of the site and additional dust suppression measures are being discussed with the operator to improve the situation and ultimately will be imposed by planning condition.

6.4 The other issues of concern raised by local residents in terms of drainage, lorry traffic and lorry routeing also relate to the overall operation of the site. The presence of a concrete crusher will have no impact on these issues. The road side drains did become blocked although due to lack of maintenance rather than material from the site. These have now been cleared. Monitoring has shown lorries operated by the applicant have complied with the routeing, however there is no restriction on Portsdown Hill Road for other lorries neither is there any routeing restriction for lorries using the Transco site within Farlington Redoubt. Improvements to the operation of the site will be pursued as part of monitoring.

6.5 In conclusion, the operation of a concrete crusher for recycling waste concrete brought to the site is in accordance with policy and has operated on the site without giving rise to complaints. There are operational issues which are being discussed with the applicant concerning dust, drainage and lorry traffic; these issues are not affected by the presence of a concrete crusher. Therefore it is recommended to grant permission for the continued operation of a concrete crusher at the site.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the proposal to continue to operate a concrete crusher as part of the waste transfer activities at Farlington Redoubt, Portsdown Hill Road, Portsdown 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 one year from the date on which this planning permission was granted.

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

Hours of Working

(2) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Waste Planning Authority no plant or machinery shall be operated except between the following hours: 0700-1800 Monday to Friday and 0700-1400 on Saturday. There shall be no working on Sundays or recognised public holidays.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Noise and Dust

(3) Noise from the operation of the concrete crusher shall not exceed the background noise level by more then 5dB(A) as measured at the monitoring locations shown on Drawing No. LSH/HAV/NSE/01.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(4) Prior to use of the concrete crusher commencing, a noise monitoring scheme shall be submitted to the Waste Planning Authority for approval in writing. The scheme shall be implemented as approved for the duration of the development.

Reason: In order to monitor noise in the interests of local amenity.

(5) Measures for dust suppression shall be taken, including damping down hardstandings, access roads and stockpiles, in order that dust nuisance is not caused for local residents.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Protection of the Water Environment

(6) All surface water drainage from parking areas and hardstandings shall be passed through an oil separator designed and constructed to have a capacity compatible with the site being drained.

Reason: To prevent pollution to the water environment.

(7) 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 be 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 the tanks, whichever is the greater. All filling points, vents, gauges, 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.

659/PDC

Annexe to Reasons for Conditions

(as required by Article 22 of the Town and Country Planning

(General Procedure) Order 1995 - as amended)

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Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Adopted) 1998

Policy 46

The Waste Planning Authorities will normally permit the use of land and the erection of plant and buildings for the recycling, transfer, storage and other treatment or handling of waste (excluding waste processing facilities covered by Policy 45) provided that:

(i) the proposed site is located near to the likely source(s) of waste and/or the market(s) for the recycled or recovered materials; and

(ii) the proposed site is located close 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

(iii) the proposed site is located:

(a) within an existing industrial site or on land which is permitted or allocated for industrial development; or

(b) within an area of land in the countryside that has already been disturbed by permanent development (a brownfield site); or

(c) at a waste disposal landfill or landraising site provided that the proposed development is connected with the waste disposal operation and is for a temporary period commensurate with the operational life of the waste disposal facility; 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; and

(vii) the proposed site is located and, if necessary, the proposal includes landscaping measures to ensure that the development would not cause unacceptable visual intrusion.