Agenda item

Report No: DEV/SE/19/024

Planning Application - Importation and engineering of suitable restoration materials to allow use of land for agriculture

Planning Application - Importation and engineering of suitable restoration materials to allow use of land for agriculture

Members were advised that the application site was a remnant of historic sand and gravel workings of approximately 1ha.  The application proposed restoration of the site to return it to agricultural use.  The proposal, at the same time, would also be a waste recovery operation and would require an Environmental Permit alongside planning permission.

Minerals extraction and waste management were normally dealt with at County Council level.  However, pre-application advice was sought from Suffolk County Council by the applicant and the use of imported material to achieve restoration was not viewed as ‘disposal of waste’ as the material would be put to a beneficial use.  It was therefore considered to be an engineering operation and due to the modest scale of the proposal this should be dealt with by the Local Planning Authority.

Henceforth, the application was referred to the Development Control Committee following call-in by the Ward Member, Councillor Susan Glossop (Risby) because of concerns raised by local residents.  The application, being a major application by site area, was therefore referred directly to the Committee.

Officers were recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 57 of Report No DEV/SE/19/024.

The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee that during the course of the application amendments were made to the access and internal routing of HGVs and additional information was submitted regarding ecology.

Speakers:    Wendy Smith (neighbouring objector) spoke against the application

                   Dr Jeremy Field (neighbouring objector) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Susan Glossop (Ward Member: Risby) spoke on the application

                   Edward Vipond (application) spoke in support of the application

Councillor John Burns made reference to proposed condition No 11 and asked that it be amended to clarify that no deliveries or works shall take place on weekends or Public Holidays.

Councillor Terry Clements spoke in support of the proposal and moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor David Nettleton.

Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.
2. The developer shall notify the Local Planning Authority in writing 2 weeks prior to the implementation of this planning permission and of the commencement of the infill of the Site.
3. The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.
4. Constructions Method Statement (04D)

Prior to commencement of development, including any works of demolition, a Construction Method Statement shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The approved Statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period. The Statement shall provide for:

i)             Loading and unloading of plant and materials;

ii)           Storage of plant and machinery;

iii)          Speed enforcement measures;

iv)          A site waste management plan;

v)           Wheel washing facilities; 

vi)          Measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during works;

vii)         A list of construction activities categorised in terms of the noise they would generate as non-intrusive, intrusive and noisy;

viii)       a list of plant and machinery to be used on site;

ix)          Access and protection measures around the construction site for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users including arrangements for diversions during the construction period and for the provision of associated directional signage relating thereto;

x)           Reference to other measures intended to minimise harm to amenity, including bunds.

5. No operations shall commence on site until the applicant has submitted to the Local Planning Authority, a Lorry Management Plan for the routeing of HGVs from the public highway to and from the site.  The scheme shall be implemented as approved, or as may subsequently be approved, in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall make provision for:

a)      monitoring of the approved arrangements during the life of        the site;

b)      ensuring that all drivers of vehicles under the control of the  

         applicant are made aware of the approved arrangements, and

c)       the disciplinary steps that will be exercised in the event of          default.

6. All HGV traffic movements to and from the site, over the duration of the restoration period, shall be subject to a Deliveries Management Plan which shall be submitted to the planning authority for approval a minimum of 28 days before any deliveries of restoration materials commence.

The Deliveries Management Plan shall include details of a register of complaints and record of actions taken to deal with such complaints, that the site operator shall maintain at the site office throughout the period of the restoration of the site and shall be available for inspection at 24 hours notice.

The Deliveries Management Plan should include a methodology for avoiding mud from the site tracking onto the highway with details of any proposed preventative measures such as wheel washing. The approved strategy should address the prevention of mud leaving the site during periods of rain when the working site will get muddy. The approved strategy is to be adhered to until completion of the development.

7. Prior to commencement of development a scheme for the protection during the operations of the adjoining wood belt, buffer strips on the eastern and western edges of the Site and of the grounds of the adjacent Stanchil’s Farm, to the west, including trees and shrubs, in accordance with BS 5837:2012 - Trees in relation to construction - Recommendations, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall show the extent of root protection areas and details of ground protection measures and fencing to be erected around the trees, including the type and position of these.  The protective measures contained with the scheme shall be implemented prior to commencement of any development, site works or clearance in accordance with the approved details, and shall be maintained and retained until the development is completed.  Within the root protection areas the existing ground level shall be neither raised nor lowered and no materials, temporary buildings, plant, machinery or surplus soil shall be placed or stored thereon.  If any trenches for services are required within the fenced areas they shall be excavated and backfilled by hand and any tree roots encountered with a diameter of 25mm or more shall be left unsevered.
8. Before any operations are commenced on the site, details of a scheme of soft landscaping shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority; such details shall incorporate the Ecological Enhancement Planting indicated in the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal by Susan Deakin BSc MSc CMLI Landscape Manager and Ecologist dated October 2018, Para 3.19. The works shall be completed in accordance with the approved plans and in accordance with a timetable to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority. Any planting removed, dying or becoming seriously damaged or diseased within five years of planting shall be replaced within the first available planting season thereafter with planting of similar size and species unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent for any variation. 
9. All ecological measures and/or works shall be carried out in accordance with the details contained in the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal by Susan Deakin BSc MSc CMLI Landscape Manager and Ecologist dated October 2018 (paragraph 3.14 to 3.19); as already submitted with the planning application and agreed in principle with the Local Planning Authority prior to determination.
10. All reptile mitigation measures shall be carried out in accordance with the details contained in the Hengrave Farm – Reptile Survey & Great Crested Newt HSI Assessment dated October 2018 (section 9 and table on page 1-6); as already submitted with the planning application and agreed in principle with the Local Planning Authority prior to determination. All site clearance shall be overseen on site by an ecological clerk of works, on-site ecologist or other appropriately competent person. A site attendance record shall be maintained by the applicant which shall contain name and purpose of the visit and shall be available for inspection at 24 hours notice.
11. Any deliveries to and from, and any works on site shall only take place between 0800hours and 1700hours Monday to Friday, unless approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. No deliveries or works shall take place on Saturdays, Sundays or Public Holidays.
12. There shall be no more than 30 HGV movements (15 in and 15 out) per day. No HGVs shall arrive or leave the site outside of the approved hours or weekends or Public Holidays.  A record of HGV movements made each day shall be maintained by the applicant and shall be available for inspection at 24 hours notice.
13. The operations hereby permitted shall be completed within three years of commencement of the infill of the Site. On completion of restoration all buildings, structures, security fencing, plant and machinery used in connection with the operation of the site shall be removed from the land. No mounds or waste heaps shall be left above ground level after completion of restoration, save any earthworks or mounds that form an integral part of the approved restoration scheme.