Agenda item
Development of
Bio-compressed natural gas vehicle fuelling station comprising fuel pumps,
plant compound, landscaping, creation of new accesses and associated
development
LOCAL MEMBER:
Councillor Dafydd Meurig
Link
to relevant background documents
Decision:
DECISION:
To approve –
conditions:
1. Five years
2. In accordance with the plans
3. To complete the access in accordance
with the plans
4. No
lorries to park overnight
5. Landscaping plan
6. Compliance with lighting scheme
7. Welsh Water
8. Complete in accordance
with the requirements of the noise and light assessment
Notes
·
Highways
·
SUDS
Minutes:
Development of a natural compressed bio-gas fuel
facility for vehicles including fuel pumps, equipment compound, creation of new
accesses, landscaping and associated development.
Some members had
visited the site on 10/06/22.
It was explained
that the proposal related to the development of a Bio-CNG (compressed bio
natural gas) vehicle fuel facility, including fuel pump islands, machinery
compound, creation of a new access and associated development within Bryn Cegin
Industrial Estate. It was noted that the facility would serve logistics and
distribution operators and would operate for 24 hours a day, without staff,
with drivers activating the pumps with an automatic fob. It was noted that the
proposal entailed 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.
In the
context of planning considerations, the main concerns of the Local Member and
nearby residents was the possible impact of the proposal in terms of noise
disturbance and light pollution. It was
highlighted 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 houses with an acoustic fence on top. It was highlighted
that the noise assessment and the lighting plan had been submitted as part of
the application and the results of the assessments indicated that it was not
expected for the impacts of operational noise from the fuel filling station to
have any substantial detrimental impact, subject to the context.
It was noted
that the Public Protection Unit had accepted what the noise consultant had
noted and the need to assess each site individually together with noise
levels. It was added that the site was
identified as an industrial estate and the additional information had stated
that the noise levels from the site would not have a negative impact on the
residents' dwellings. Although the score
level of 4db exceeds the existing background noise level in the worst possible
scenario, the levels would continue to conform with the levels outlined by the
World Health Organisation should all the noise mitigation measures be
implemented.
As a result of the comments of the Public Protection
Service, it was recommended that a condition should be included referring to conforming
with the contents of the noise assessment and the light assessment. 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
accepted that the site had been identified as an industrial site
·
Concerns
had been highlighted regarding noise, lighting and odours
·
He accepted
the applicant's explanation for the use of this specific plot for the proposal
ch) It was proposed and seconded to approve the application
d)
During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by members:
·
That
mitigation measures had been set for noise and lighting matters.
·
The site
had been earmarked as an industrial site
RESOLVED: To approve with conditions
1. Five
years
2. In
accordance with the plans
3. To
complete the access in accordance with the plans
4. No
lorries to park overnight
5. Landscaping
plan
6. Compliance
with lighting scheme
7. Welsh
Water
8. Complete in accordance with the requirements of the noise and light
assessment
Notes
• Highways
• SUDS
Supporting documents:
PDF 278 KB