Agenda item

Development of a natural compressed bio-gas fuel facility for vehicles including fuel pumps, equipment compound, creation of new accesses, landscaping and associated development.

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Dafydd Meurig

 

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To defer in order to conduct a site visit

 

Development of a natural compressed bio-gas fuel facility for vehicles including fuel pumps, equipment compound, creation of new accesses, landscaping and associated development.

 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

 

a)    The Development Control Officer highlighted that the facility would serve logistics and haulage drivers and operate for 24 hours a day, without staff, with drivers activating the pumps with an automatic fob.

 

It was explained that the site covered an area of around 0.7ha and included the development of an empty plot within the Parc Bryn Cegin Industrial Estate, which had been designated and protected in the LDP as a Regional Safeguarded Strategic Employment Site. It was noted that the use of the proposal fell under the unique use class, and considering that there were a number of empty plots on the site and since the proposal was a provision for business transport and that the facility would not be open to the public, it was considered that the principle of locating the station in Parc Bryn Cegin was acceptable.

 

In the context of visual amenities, the proposal in question involved providing equipment to enable HGV lorries to pick gas fuel up from general fuel pumps - it was considered that the proposal complied with the requirements of policies PCYFF 2, 3 and 4, as well as PS20 and AT1 of the LDP in terms of the visual impact.

 

In the context of general and residential amenities, it was explained that the site abutted the rear of three residential houses - 1 to 3 Rhos Isaf. It was acknowledged that the houses were on a higher level and it was intended to level the application site so that there was a retaining wall between it and the acoustic fence on top. It was highlighted that a noise assessment and lighting plan had been submitted as a part of the application, which noted,

·         The pumps would be lit during dark hours, but the compound lights would only be used during periods of work.

·         The impact of the lights would be minimal as they were centralised on specific areas (mainly under the pumps). The proposed boundary treatment (fence and landscaping) as well as the scale and location of the lights would mean that the light overspill would not go beyond the site's boundaries, and this overspill on the boundaries would be less than moonlight.

·         The noise assessment had been manufactured to the requirements of BS4142/BS8233/WHO Criteria and took into account the noise of activities as a result of floors on the curtilage and all equipment on the site.

·         The results of the assessments showed that it was not expected for the impacts of operational noise of the fuel filling station to have any substantial detrimental impact, (subject to the context).

 

It was noted that the Public Protection Unit emphasised the need to implement noise mitigation measures and, if further mitigation measures could be implemented to further reduce the noise level, it was advised to do so in order to ensure that the site did not increase the current background noise level, and therefore it complied with the requirements of policies PCYFF 2 and 3 in terms of general and residential amenities.

 

In the context of transport and access matters, it was noted that the site benefitted from an existing independent access point via an access road to the west of the plot. To facilitate the site's development and ensure that it was suitable for HGVs to be serviced, it was proposed to get rid of this access and provide two bespoke accesses. A transport statement had been submitted as part of the application, as well as a Construction Environmental Management Plan. The Transportation Unit had not provided a formal response on this application; however, a response had been received to the pre-application enquiry which noted a number of points and new accesses and use of the site for overnight parking. To this end, confirmation had been received that the site was not used for parking lorries overnight.

 

In the context of biodiversity matters, it was reported that an initial ecological assessment had been submitted as part of the application, which noted that there was potential for a hedge that was used for bird and bat nesting to be affected as a result of this proposal. Consequently, the following mitigation measures were proposed:

·         Any site clearing work must take place outside the nesting season and follow a manual search for reptiles.

·         A lighting plan that has been agreed with an ecologist must be provided.

·         Landscaping plan to hide light as much as possible.

·         Provision of nesting boxes for birds and bats.

 

It was reported that landscaping and lighting plans had been provided as part of the application which were acceptable in terms of safeguarding the amenities of the area and nearby residents; however, it was not clear whether it was suitable in terms of Biodiversity matters. No response had been received from the Biodiversity Unit when the application was submitted to the Committee, but based on the information to hand, it was considered that the proposal could be acceptable subject to conditions, to ensure that the mitigation measures could be completed on the site and to agree on landscaping and lighting plans beforehand.

 

Having assessed the proposal in full, it was considered that it was acceptable and complied with the requirements of the relevant policies and guidelines. 

 

b)    Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant noted the following observations:

·         CG Fuels was the leading developer in the operation of Bio-CNG (compressed bio natural gas).

·         The company intended to provide a broad network of reliable and convenient facilities across the UK to serve its customers and to satisfy the increasing demand from fleets to decarbonise transport operations.

·         Bio-CNG had been approved by the Department for Transport and it complied with UK legislation.

·         Demand was increasing as delivery and distribution companies committed to reduce their carbon footprint.

·         Their customers included major supermarkets and logistic and distribution companies.

·         The impact of CNG was substantial - it could reduce Co2 emissions by 90%; reduce noise by 50% - which was essentially important given that the HGV sector was difficult to decarbonise.

·         The refuelling station would offer a new CNG facility to serve fleets that used local networks.

·         The site was within an area where there was substantial demand from their customers - an opportunity to provide a new operational use within the estate.

·         Secure financial investment.

·         It would allow fleets to take advantage of environmental benefits.

 

c)    Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Member made the following points:

·         That he supported the local objections.

·         Accepted that the site had been earmarked for employment but this initiative did not offer employment.

·         Accepted that there would be general hustle and bustle on the site given the previous proposal to create a car-share car park, but this proposal created a negative impact on the amenities of local residents.

·         Welcomed green fuel.

·         Welsh Government had created a vision of a business park that was technical and clean - this proposal did not correlate to that vision.

·         It was a substantial site and this proposal would be located on the plot nearest to housing - why not use plots that were further away from the houses? Suggested undertaking a site visit.

 

d)    It was proposed to approve the application - it was not seconded.

 

e)    It was proposed and seconded to undertake a site visit to get accustomed with the location of the proposed station.

 

f)     During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by members:

·                Welcomed a natural gas fuel development and new technology.

·                Welcomed every attempt to protect the environment.

·                In favour of the principle, but concerned about the proximity of the location to nearby houses.

 

RESOLVED: To defer in order to conduct a site visit