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

1. Summary

1.1 The proposal is to import compressed natural gas by trailer from the Singleton Oilfield, in West Sussex, and construct a new discharge area and equipment within the Weston Common site. The imported gas would be used to generate electricity in the two existing generators at Weston Common.

1.2 There are clear benefits in using the gas rather than flaring it. There is no suitable use in the immediate vicinity of Singleton, and there is suitable spare generating capacity at Weston Common to use the gas. The proposals within the Weston Common site would not have an adverse impact. The main issues relate to the importation by road, however the route uses principal roads which are suitable for this traffic, and the number of lorry movements is only 12 per day. An independent risk assessment has been carried out which concluded that Star Energy Limited had sufficient control measures to ensure the health and safety of its employees, contractors, other road users and members of the public during the project. It is recommended that permission be granted subject to conditions.

2. Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the importation of compressed natural gas by trailer and discharge to generate electricity involving the setting out of a trailer discharge area at Weston Common Wellsite, The Avenue, Lasham (BDB/67621) be granted for the following reason, subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1.

Reason for Approval

It is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with the development plan (summary attached in Appendix 2) as ancillary development within the oilfield, it 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.

3. Site and Proposal

3.1 The site, as shown on the attached plan, comprises an area of 0.4 hectares within the Weston Common wellsite. This is the main operational centre of the Humbly Grove Oilfield containing gas processing facilities, oil producing facilities, offices and control buildings. The Oilfield has operated since 1984, permission was granted for the gas storage infrastructure in 2003 and the site has planning permission until 2025. The Weston Common site is located within woodland, which is also a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC), the nearest houses are about 500 metres away, and access is via The Avenue.

3.2 The proposal is to import compressed natural gas by trailer from the Singleton Oilfield, in West Sussex. A new discharge area, measuring 20 metres by 15 metres, and equipment would be constructed within the Weston Common site. The imported gas would be used to generate electricity in the two existing generators, which currently have spare capacity.

3.3 The Singleton Oilfield produces about 500 barrels of oil per day. However in addition it also produces about 1.4 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) of gas per year. A small proportion of the gas is used on-site for power generation but the majority is flared via two flare stacks. The applicant wishes to make beneficial use of this gas. This is not possible at Singleton, therefore the intention is to transport the gas to Humbly Grove where there is existing capacity for electricity generation.

3.4 The proposal would result in 12 lorry movements per day (6 in and 6 out). The proposed hours of operation for the lorries would be 0600 to 2200.

3.5 In addition to the beneficial use of the gas, the applicant states that the proposals would have a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. It is estimated that taking into account the 60 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide produced by the lorries transporting the gas, the proposals would save 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide because the gas would not be flared.

4. Development Plan

4.1 Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy (2007) Policy DC22 concerns ancillary plant and proposals at active sites.

5. Consultations

5.1 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council raises no objection.

5.2 Environmental Health Officer, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council comments has read the application and Environmental Noise Assessment for proposal and agrees in principle that the report findings confirm there should be no adverse impact on the local residents, and therefore raises no objection.

5.3 Environment Agency raises no objection.

5.4 Highway Authority comments the route proposed includes the A272, A3, A32, A31, A339 and The Avenue. With the exception of The Avenue, these roads are all A-Classified roads, already widely used by a large number of HGVs. The number of trips proposed by the application represents only a very minor increase in terms of traffic impact. It is demonstrated that the lorries associated with this use will be able to sucessfully and safely negotiate the route proposed. The provided accident analysis does not identify any safety issues that will be materially exacerbated by the additional movements associated with this proposal. Therefore raises no objection subject to maintenance of visibility splays.

5.5 Health and Safety Executive raises no objection.

5.6 South Warnborough Parish Council has no comments.

5.7 Weston Corbett and Weston Patrick Parish Council - no comments received.

5.8 Alton Town Council - concerned at proposed increase in the number of HGVs using Whitedown Lane, a residential road, with a bottleneck at one end by virtue of the railway overbridge. Proposals such as these highlight the need for western bypass.

5.9 Lasham Village Committee objects on the grounds of the traffic and safety impact. The A339 is a black spot which will be exacerbated by additional traffic, road too narrow and used for recreation purposes, and concern about noise at night.

5.10 Herriard Parish Council fully endorses the use of otherwise wasted natural gas from Singleton to generate electricity, however it would be more satisfactory if the generating plant was at Singleton. In respect of road transportation concern at vehicles turning across flow of traffic from the A339 onto The Avenue. As proposed movements are day and night, seven days a week, concern that intensification of use at night could be significant and lead to a loss of amenity for residents on The Avenue. Concern at the suitability of the width of The Avenue for taking these tankers.

5.11 Shalden Parish Council raises objection on the grounds that the traffic density, and size of vehicle involved, would represent a grave danger to local existing traffic on the minor C-class roads approaching the Humbly Grove site.

5.12 Councillors McNair Scott, Glen and Kemp-Gee have been informed. Following Liaison Panel meetings, their comments are:

(i) The County Councillors on the Humbly Grove Liaison Panel should only support the application if it is catagorically established that there is no untoward danger to local residents and the towns and villages along the proposed route.

(ii) The Liaison Panel County Councillors would suggest that only an 18 month temporary permission is granted so that it can be judged whether the application is working well and safely with minimum annoyance to local residents.

(iii) The Liaison County Councillors should request that Star Energy Limited provides a Section 106 annual payment of a minimum of £10,000 per annum towards Hampshire Highways expenses in maintaining local roads because of increased lorry traffic.

(iv) Most importantly there should be a schedule of lorry movements that avoids turning right manoeuvres off the A339 into The Avenue during rush hours. The schedule should also specify days and hours of operation, ie avoiding weekends and bank holidays and early morning and evening or night-time periods.

(v) The Liaison Panel County Councillors wish to remind the Regulatory Committee that the original planning consent is for oil extraction and not the storage of gas. Once gas storage becomes the only major activity at Humbly Grove the planning consent should be withdrawn or subject to a completely new Planning Application.

5.13 West Sussex County Council raises no objection, and planning permission has been granted for the installation of a compressed natural gas unit, trailer loading area and associated plant and the export of gas by road from the Singleton Oilfield.

5.14 The Avenue Residents' Association (TARA) comments that whilst agree with principle of not flaring off gas, there are concerns:

(i) The risks associated with transporting the material between Singleton and Humbly Grove, with the worst case scenario clearly documented, particularly at Weston Common and urban areas such as Alton. Expect an independent risk analysis including an assessment of the possible consequences of a road accident leading to gas leakage and ignition.

(ii) Had all alternative solutions been sufficiently investigated. Not satisfied that it has been proven that to use the gas at Singlerton is not feasible and fundable ?

(iii) The environmental safety and loss of amenity effects of regular lorry transport in a rural area.

(iv) The issue of existing planning use and `planning creep'.

6. Representations

6.1 Forty letters of objection have been received, 25 letters from local residents, raising the same issues as TARA, and 15 letters from wider afield, the majority being from the Alton area, concerned about the route between Singleton and Weston Common.

7. Commentary

7.1 There are clear benefits commercially and environmentally from using the gas produced at the Singleton Oilfield rather than flaring it, and the applicant has shown that it is not possible to utilise this gas at Singleton. The additional works at Weston Common and use of the gas in the existing turbines would not cause any adverse impact for the locality or local residents. The main issue is the transportation of the gas by road from Singleton and Weston Common, both in terms of principle and safety.

7.2 Concern has been raised to the principle of bringing the gas to Weston Common because of perceived changes in planning status of the site from initially oil and gas production, then more recently gas storage and now proposed importation of gas for power generation. However, there is already power generation at Weston Common for producing electricity for operating the oilfield with surplus going to the National Grid; this uses gas produced from the oilfield. There is spare generating capacity and this proposed importation would not require additional capacity to be provided. At the proposed level of importation it is considered the use is ancillary, and would not give a precedent for other development. There is also concern that importation by road is contrary to the original principles of the operation of the oilfield, which was to use pipelines to transport oil and gas to minimise the impact. However this proposal involves a low number of lorry movements at six in and six out per day only.

7.3 A significant concern from local residents is about risk due to the nature of the gas, and its transport by road. In response to these concerns Star Energy has commissioned an independent risk assessment. This concluded that Star Energy has considered the risks to its employees, contractors, other road users or members of the public and has planned sufficient control measures to ensure their health and safety during the project. It has also appraised its legal obligations and taken adequate steps to ensure compliance with applicable legislation. The risks, taking into account current and planned risk control measures, will be as low as reasonably practicable. Additional information has also been submitted by the applicant assessing the potential route in detail to show it is acceptable in highway terms for the proposed traffic. The highway authority has considered this information, as well as the original submission, and is satisfied, raising no objection in terms of highway safety.

7.4 Concerns were also raised about the amenity impact of traffic at night, as originally the proposals were for a 24 hour operation. The applicant has responded to this concern by restricting the proposed importation to between 6 am and 10 pm only, therefore not running overnight.

7.5 In conclusion there are clear benefits in using the gas rather than flaring it. There is no suitable use in the immediate vicinity of Singleton, and there is suitable spare generating capacity at Weston Common to use the gas. The proposals within the Weston Common site would not have an adverse impact. The main issues relate to the importation by road, however the route uses principal roads which are suitable for this traffic, the number of lorry movements is only 12 per day and the risk assessment classified the risk associated with the transport of the compressed natural gas as low. It is recommended that permission be granted subject to conditions.

1624/PDC

APPENDIX 1

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 (as amended) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Timescale

(2) All plant, structures and hardstandings hereby approved shall be removed at the end of the life of the oilfield, or by 30 September 2025 whichever is the sooner.

Reason: To ensure the restoration of the site.

Noise

(3) Noise levels arising from the operations at Weston Common shall not exceed 40dB(A)L10 between 0700 and 2200 hours and 35 dB(A)L90 between 2200 and 0700 hours when measured outside the nearest dwelling throughout the life of the development.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(4) Prior to commencing work on the site a noise monitoring procedure shall be submitted to the Mineral Plannnig Authority for approval in writing. The procedure will cover the phases of site construction, commissioning and operation and will be implemented as approved for the duration of the operation of the site.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Hours of Working

(5) Construction work shall only take place between the hours of 0700 and 1800 Monday to Friday (except recognised public holidays), between 0700 and 1300 on Saturday and not at all on Sunday.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

(6) Lorries associated with the importation of gas shall only enter or leave the site between the hours of 0600 and 2200.

Reason: In the interests of local amenity.

Highways

(7) Lorry movements to and from the site shall be restricted to 12 (6 in and 6 out) 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.

(8) Visibility splays of 3 metres by 225 metres at the junction of the access road with The Avenue shall be provided and maintained. These splays shall be kept free of obstacles.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

APPENDIX 2

Annexe to Reasons for Conditions

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

(General Procedure) Order 1995 - as amended)

__________________________________________________________________

Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy DPD 2007

Policy DC22 - Additional Plant, Buildings and Minor Development

Additional plant, buildings and minor developments at active minerals and waste sites, or the exploration of minerals (except oil and gas), will be permitted provided, where appropriate, they do not extend the timescale for completion of the development , they are ancillary to the operation of the site or they provide for the co-location of complementary minerals and waste activities.