Agenda and minutes

The Members had before them:

A.    The Agenda papers (previously circulated);

B.    A copy of the summary presentations from the public participants invited to speak (previously circulated); and

C.   The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2021 (previously circulated).

None.

An apology was received from Mr A Fry and Mr P A Tuthill.

The Council has put in place arrangements which usually allow one speaker each on behalf of objectors, the applicant and supporters of applications to address the Committee.  Speakers are chosen from those who have made written representations and expressed a desire to speak at the time an application is advertised.  Where there are speakers, presentations are made as part of the consideration of each application.

Those presentations made are recorded at the minute to which they relate.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2021. (previously circulated)

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the proposed sand quarry, infilling the void using inert materials only, restoration of the land to agricultural use together with new access, landscaping and associated works on land adjacent to former Chadwich Lane Quarry, Chadwich Lane, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

The report set out the background of the proposal, the proposal itself, the relevant planning policy and details of the site, consultations and representations.

The report set out the Head of Planning and Transport Planning’s comments in relation to Worcestershire's landbank of sand and gravel reserves, Sieve test / methodology and Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land, Alternatives, Green Belt, Traffic, highway safety and impact upon Public Rights of Way, Residential amenity (including noise, dust and air quality), Landscape character and appearance of the local area, Historic Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity and Geodiversity, Water Environment, Restoration and Aftercare of the Site, and Other Matters - Economic Impact, Overhead Power Lines and Electricity Pylon, Cumulative Effects, EIA Team and Expertise, Consultation, Application Process,  Human Rights Act 1998 and Monitoring and enforcement.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning concluded that Paragraph 207 of the NPPF (2019) stated "minerals planning authorities should plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregates by…maintaining landbanks of at least 7 years for sand and gravel…whilst ensuring that the capacity of operations to supply a wide range of materials is not compromised". As required by the NPPF (2019) the County Council had produced a Local Aggregate Assessments (LAA), to assess the demand for and supply of aggregates in Worcestershire.

The LAA (published June 2020) covered the period up to 31 December 2017 and demonstrated that on 31 December 2017, the total permitted sand and gravel reserves for Worcestershire was about 3.465 million tonnes, which was equivalent to a landbank of approximately 6.06 years. However, since then the Head of Planning and Transport Planning noted that no new planning permissions for mineral extraction had been granted. Assuming annual sales figures of 0.572 million tonnes, based on the rolling 10 years' average continued, then the landbank of permitted reserves at 31 December 2020 would be approximately 1.749 million tonnes of sand and gravel, equating to only about 3.06 years. Consequently, the County Council currently did not have sufficient reserves of sand and gravel available with planning permissions to meet its annual provision requirements based on sales in accordance with the NPPF (2019) and Government’s PPG. Should this planning application be granted, it would increase the landbank by approximately 2.36 years, equating to a landbank of approximately 5.42 years in total, which was still below the minimum landbank for at least 7 years for sand and gravel.

The adopted Minerals Local Plan allocated Preferred Areas for the working of sand and gravel in the County. The proposed development was not within an identified preferred area for sand and gravel extraction; therefore, the proposal needed to be judged against Policy 2 – 'Other Sand and Gravel Deposits' of the adopted Minerals Local Plan. It was considered that on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1069.

The Committee considered a planning application made under Section 73 of the Town and Country Act 1990 (as amended) to vary condition 5 (operational hours) of planning permission ref: 18/000016/CM, at Croome Farm, Croome D'Abitot, Severn Stoke, Worcestershire.

The report set out the background of the proposal, the proposal itself, the relevant planning policy and details of the site, consultations and representations.

The report set out the Head of Planning and Transport Planning’s comments in relation to Traffic and Highway Safety, Historic Environment, Ecology and Biodiversity, Landscape and Visual Impact, Residential Amenity and Other Matters - Economic Impact.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning concluded that Condition 5 of planning permission Ref:18/000016/CM stated:

“The development hereby approved shall only operate between the hours of 09:00 to 17:00 Mondays to Fridays with no operations including shredding and chipping on Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays or Public Holidays with the exception of deliveries which can be made to and dispatched from the site between the hours of 09:00 to 17:00 on Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays only, with no deliveries on Sundays, Bank Holidays or Public Holidays”.

The applicant was seeking to amend to condition to state:

“The development hereby approved shall only operate between the hours of 08.00 to 16:00 Mondays to Fridays with no operations including shredding and chipping on Saturdays and Sundays, Bank Holidays or Public Holidays with the exception of deliveries which can be made to and dispatched from the site between the hours of 08:00 to 16:00 on Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 10:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays only, with no deliveries on Sundays, Bank Holidays or Public Holidays”

The applicant stated the change in operating hours was required in order to address the increasing popularity of the waste management service provided by the applicant (increase in Saturday working hours). It would also allow contractors who shred the green waste to commence work earlier, as at the moment they arrived at site at 08.00 hours but then could not start until 09.00 hours. The applicant also stated it would allow their operational hours to synchronise with that of their principle supplier, Severn Waste Services / Mercia Waste Management who operated Worcestershire's Household Recycling Centres and the transport system that supported them. The applicant stated by amending the operating hours of the composting site to 08.00 hours would mean that loads could be collected from Household Recycling Centres and delivered to the application site for 08.00 hours. The change in Saturday hours would also enable further processed material (compost) to be removed from the site, which was important to ensure the flow of product from the site was maintained.

In terms of traffic and highways safety, the County Highways Officer had no objections to the proposal subject to the imposition of the relevant extant conditions.

Based on the advice of Historic England and the National Trust, it was considered that this application would not have an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1070.

The Committee considered a proposed waste wood recycling and expansion of existing composting facility at Croome Farm, Croome D'Abitot, Severn Stoke, Worcestershire.

The report set out the background of the proposal, the proposal itself, the relevant planning policy and details of the site, consultations and representations.

The report set out the Head of Planning and Transport Planning’s comments in relation to the Waste Hierarchy, Location of the development, Traffic and Highways Safety, Historic Environment, Ecology and Biodiversity, Landscape and Visual Impact, Residential Amenity, Water Environment including Flooding and Other Matters – Economic impact and Human Rights Act 1998.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning concluded that the Croome Composting facility was an existing 'recycling' facility as defined in the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy and the proposed extension would enable the management of green waste to be diverted from landfill (disposal) moving waste up the waste hierarchy. Furthermore, the Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that as the proposed development would also involve the processing and bulking up of wood waste in preparation for transfer and subsequent recycling by specialist operators it would comply with the objectives of the waste hierarchy, helping towards achieving sustainable waste management.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that there would be strong justification for locating a relatively small expansion of an existing open windrow composting operation to include waste wood recycling on a former airfield by virtue of the demonstrable benefits of the location, including the suitability of the concrete base for the composting, subject to conditions and the site's distance from sensitive receptors. The Head of Planning and Transport Planning was, therefore, satisfied that the principle of the location of the development had already been established and that the proposal was considered to be consistent with the objectives and Policies WCS 3 and WCS 6 of the Waste Core Strategy.

In terms of traffic and highways safety, concerns raised regarding control of the existing northern access and the safety of the proposed southern access had been reviewed by the County Highways Officer, who had no objections to the proposal. It was considered that a condition should be imposed to limit the northern access to an emergency access, and for primary access to be from the southern access point only. This condition would also require a sign to be erected at the site directing drivers to exit the site to the south and to turn left towards the A4104.  Subject to the imposition of this condition, and conditions limiting the operational hours, restricting the throughput of waste material and requiring an updated Traffic Management Plan, the Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that the proposal would be acceptable in terms of traffic and highways safety.

The Head of Planning and Transport Planning considered that as the proposal would move waste up the waste hierarchy, increasing the amount of waste material that could be recycled, the public benefits of the proposal outweighed the less than substantial harm to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1071.