Agenda item

Application for the operation of inert waste materials recycling, screening and recovery plant

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Dafydd Davies

 

Link to relevant background documents

 

DECISION: To delegate powers to the Assistant Head of the Environment Department to approve the application, with conditions relating to the following:

 

1.     Development to commence within 12 months of permission date.

2.     Operations shall cease by 31/12/2028. Restoration of the site by 30/06/2029 (to correspond with minerals permission ref. C24/1126/34/AC).

3.     In accordance with the approved plans.

4.     ⁠Mark the boundaries of the permission area and build a surface water collection point, including a bund to keep them on the site before commencing the development. 

5.     Restriction on Permitted Development Rights, buildings, erection of structures, private roads, floodlighting and fences.

6.     Nothing other than inert waste excavation material shall be imported to the site (Waste Codes noted in the Waste Planning Assessment). An inspection of the material should be available upon request.

7.     No more than 50,000 tonnes of inert waste material is permitted to be carried to the site per year. No more than 20,000 tonnes will be stored on the site at any time.

8.     Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the details of the location and specifications of any floodlights will be submitted for the approval of the Waste Planning Authority before the installation work.

9.     Working Hours (to correspond with the existing).

10.  Noise restrictions (to correspond with the existing).

11.  Noise Control Plan to be submitted within 3 months of obtaining permission.

12.  All vehicles, equipment and plant operated on the site will be maintained in such a way so as to restrict the maximum levels of noise emissions to those noted in the manufacturers' specification. No equipment, plant or machinery will be operated on the site unless they have been installed with noise prevention screens, casework enclosures and silencers.   ⁠ ⁠⁠

13.  No operations on the site shall be undertaken in such a manner as to cause the raising of fugitive dust, and a water spray or other dust suppression system shall be maintained on site at all times together with an adequate supply of water. Stockpiles of materials and areas traversed by wheeled vehicles or within which the handling or movement of material is undertaken shall be watered or otherwise treated at such times and intervals as may be necessary to prevent the raising of such dust.  ⁠ 

14.  The surface of the site access to the public highway shall be kept free from mud and other debris and maintained at all times in a condition acceptable to the Waste Planning Authority such as to ensure that mud is prevented from being deposited onto the public highway.  

15.  Sheeting of lorries leaving and arriving at site with stone or material less than 500mm.

16.  Restriction of vehicular access to existing access arrangements.

17.  A copy of this determination and the approved plans showing the method and direction of working and restoration shall be displayed in the operator's site office at all times during the life of the site.

18.  The best practicable means and/or ‘white noise’ reversing alarms shall be fitted to mobile plant and vehicles used on site.

19.  Oil, fuels and chemicals stored on impervious base and bunds.

20.  The operator shall monitor the site for the presence of non-native invasive plant species for each phase of the development, focusing particularly on Japanese knotweed, and implement control measures as appropriate.

21.  Restoration and aftercare (to match existing).

 

Application for operation of work to recycle, screen and recover inert waste materials.

 

Attention was drawn to the Late Observations Form which stated that the AONB had no objection.

 

a)     The Senior Minerals Officer highlighted that the intention was to recycle and recover inert waste through physical processes such as screening, to produce secondary aggregates in line with WRAP standards. The activities would take place on the existing hard standing and would be similar in nature to the site's current work. Materials would be transported through the existing road network, and water would be recycled on-site through a lagoon system, without discharging it off the site. The hours and conditions of operation would remain the same as those already established for the quarry.

 

It was explained that the application had been screened under Environmental Impact Assessment regulations and it was considered that the development was unlikely to have significant impacts, and therefore there was no need to submit an Environmental Statement.

 

In the context of the principle of the application, it was noted that the site had already been designated for waste management under Policy GWA 1 and was therefore acceptable. The proposal would include the treatment of up to 50,000 tonnes per year through physical processes alone, to produce recycled aggregates and materials; assessments had shown that there would be no significant impacts on the environment or local amenities. It was noted that national and local policies supported sustainable waste management, provided there were no adverse impacts on the environment or the amenities of residents. In this case, the assessments indicated that there would be no significant impacts in terms of landscape, environment or amenities. It was reiterated that the application was supported by a Waste Planning Assessment which highlighted the need for the facility, particularly to process material from dredging, and enabled the site to diversify its activities. Overall, the intention was to support the circular economy by reducing waste and the need for new materials, and it was therefore considered a sustainable form of development that complied with the relevant policies of PS 21, GWA 1 of the LDP and Technical Advice Note 21.

 

In the context of Visual Amenities and the landscape, it was noted that the application had been assessed against policies PCYFF 3 and PCYFF 4, which related to the impact of developments on landscape character and visual amenity, together with policies MWYN 3 and MWYN 9, which related to mineral developments and restoration. In this case, it was noted that the development was located within an operational quarry and the existing processing area, with no extension to the site's footprint and that the only physical change was a relatively low boundary along the site boundaries. It was added that the processing machinery was already present and smaller in scale than the existing mineral activity and therefore would not present a significant new visual impact. It was stated that the assessments confirmed that there would be no unacceptable impact on the wider landscape or adjacent sensitive designations, as well as the development being limited to the life of the quarry and restored in accordance with the requirements of policy MWYN 9 and therefore the visual and landscape impacts of the proposed would be limited and acceptable, and complied with policies PCYFF 3, PCYFF 4, MWYN 3 and MWYN 9.

 

When considering General and Residential Amenities, it was reported that the proposal related to recycling and screening inert waste which was very similar to the current operations of the Cefn Graianog site and had been subject to management through planning conditions and environmental permits. Although the mineral policies were not directly relevant, it was noted that they provided clear guidance that unacceptable impacts on residents in terms of noise, dust and general amenities should be avoided. In this case, there were no sensitive properties within 100 metres, and the site was already operating under strict management arrangements; the intention was to impose the same operating control measures, and no objection had been received from the Public Protection Service. As a result, it was not considered that the development would have an adverse impact on local amenities and therefore complied with policies PCYFF 2 and GWA 1.

 

In the context of matters regarding Traffic, Public Rights of Way and Common Land, it was clarified that the proposal did not involve any changes to the existing access, and an increase in the number of transport movements was not expected, as the traffic would likely balance out the existing mineral activity. The local road network was considered suitable to cope with the traffic flow, and no adverse impact on public rights of way was foreseen; the proposal was acceptable from a transport perspective and complied with policies PS 4 and TRA 4.

 

In terms of ecological matters, it was noted that the applicant had submitted a Green Infrastructure Statement which followed a step-by-step approach to reduce the impact on biodiversity. The Biodiversity Unit did not object to the application and considered the statement acceptable. The development had been assessed under the Habitats Regulations and although the site was close to the Corsydd Eifionydd Special Area of Conservation and an adjacent Site of Special Scientific Interest, it was noted that the works were located outside these sites without hydrological or physical connection, and therefore there would be no direct loss of habitat and the water and dust management measures would reduce any further risks. As a result, and in line with NRW's advice, it was considered that there would be no adverse impact on the whole of the SAC and the proposal complied with PS 19, AMG 3, AMG 5 and GWA 1.

 

When considering Hydrology and Hydrogeology, it was highlighted that a small part of the site was in a flood risk zone, but also that an enclosed lagoon system had been designed to manage all water on the site as a self-sustaining system that would support the existing arrangements. It was not considered that the use of the system would have a significant impact on the flood risk. It was added that neither NRW nor the Lead Local Flood Authority had raised concerns, and it was not considered that the development would increase the flood risk and it therefore complied with Technical Advice Note 15.

 

In the context of heritage matters, as the development would use an existing hardstanding within the processing yard and there would be no impact on previously undisturbed land, no impact on archaeological interests was expected. Although listed monuments were within 350m of the site, Cadw had no objection and therefore the proposal complied with Policy PS 20.

 

In accordance with Policy PS 1, a Welsh Language Statement had been submitted. The application was expected to maintain the existing local workforce and support the use of Welsh in the workplace and based on the nature of the development it was not considered that there would be a negative impact on the Welsh language. It was added that the Language and Scrutiny Unit had submitted comments agreeing with this assessment, and it therefore complied with Policy PS 1 and the relevant guidance.

 

It was highlighted that Technical Advice Note 23 emphasised the need to consider the economic benefits of all developments and supported sustainable growth in the appropriate locations. The proposal to expand operations at Cefn Graianog Quarry, which would maintain and potentially improve local employment, would support the Welsh language and the viability of the community. As a result, the development was considered to make a positive contribution to the area's economy and complied with policies PS 5, PS 13 and TAN 23.

 

The officer noted that, in general, significant planning matters did not justify the refusal of the application, and the development was considered to contribute positively to the area's economy and complied with the relevant policies.

 

b)     It was proposed and seconded to approve the application - retain work in the area.

 

RESOLVED: To delegate powers to the Assistant Head of the Environment Department to approve the application, with conditions relating to the following:

 

1.     Development to commence within 12 months of permission date.

2.     Operations shall cease by 31/12/2028. Restoration of the site by 30/06/2029 (to correspond with minerals permission ref. C24/1126/34/AC). ⁠

3.     In accordance with the approved plans.

4.     ⁠Mark the boundaries of the permission area and build a surface water collection point, including a bund to keep them on the site before commencing the development. 

5.     Restriction on Permitted Development Rights, buildings, erection of structures, private roads, floodlighting and fences.

6.     Nothing other than inert waste excavation material shall be imported to the site (Waste Codes noted in the Waste Planning Assessment).  An inspection of the material should be available upon request.

7.     No more than 50,000 tonnes of inert waste material is permitted to be carried to the site per year. No more than 20,000 tonnes will be stored on the site at any time.

8.     Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the details of the location and specifications of any floodlights will be submitted for the approval of the Waste Planning Authority before the installation work.

9.     Working Hours (corresponding with the existing).

10.  Noise restrictions (corresponding with the existing).

11.  Noise Control Plan to be submitted within 3 months of obtaining permission.

12. All vehicles, equipment and plant operated on the site will be maintained in such a way so as to restrict the maximum levels of noise emissions to those noted in the manufacturers' specification. Equipment, plant and machinery will not be operated on the site without appropriate sound deadening screens, casework, enclosures and silencers.

13.  No operations on the site shall be undertaken in such a manner as to cause the raising of fugitive dust, and a water spray or other dust suppression system shall be maintained on site at all times together with an adequate supply of water. Stockpiles of materials and areas traversed by wheeled vehicles or within which the handling or movement of material is undertaken shall be watered or otherwise treated at such times and intervals as may be necessary to prevent the raising of such dust.  

14.  The surface of the site access to the public highway shall be kept free from mud and other debris and maintained at all times in a condition acceptable to the Waste Planning Authority such as to ensure that mud is prevented from being deposited onto the public highway.  

15.  Sheeting of lorries leaving and arriving at the site with stones or material that are less than 500mm.

16.  Restriction of vehicular access to existing access arrangements.

17.  A copy of this determination and the approved plans showing the method and direction of working and restoration shall be displayed in the operator's site office at all times during the life of the site.

18.  The best practicable means and/or white noise reversing alarms shall be fitted to mobile plant and vehicles used on site.

19.  Oil, fuels and chemicals stored on impervious base with bunds.

20.  The operator shall monitor the site for the presence of non-native invasive plant species for each phase of the development, focussing particularly on Japanese knotweed, and implement control measures as appropriate.

21.  Restoration and Aftercare (to match existing).