Agenda item

This is an application for the construction and use of an importation, sorting, processing and storage facility for green waste on a site of approximately 0.85 hectares comprising 2no office and storage buildings,10 parking spaces, open storage bays and log storage area, additional tree planting and a new access off the Chiddingfold Road.

Officers:

Caroline Smith, Planning Development Manager

Stephen Jenkins, Deputy Planning Development Manager

Nancy El-Shatoury, Principal Lawyer

Speakers:

No Members of the public had registered to speak on this application.

The local Member, Victoria Young could not attend the meeting but submitted a statement for the Chairman to read out on her behalf:

“I wish to object to this application on the basis that firstly the development will have a harmful impact on the setting and appearance of a very rural location, and secondly on the basis of the noise and traffic created by the operations which will be inconsistent with the rural location of the site.  We should be protecting our rural countryside which is a great asset to the county and not let it simply be destroyed. In terms of traffic, the vehicle movements created by this application should be taken together with those that are already being created by the adjacent Chiddingfold Storage Depot. Chiddingfold Road is a minor C class road and is simply not suitable for large HGVs, which will have to travel along unsuitable narrow minor roads to reach the site. I am also concerned about the noise that the operations will cause at the site, and the ensuing disruption to neighbours.  If this permission is granted, I would ask that the hours of operation are reduced so that they do not start earlier than 7.30 am and finish” by 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday.  There should be no working at weekends or bank holidays.”

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The report was introduced by theDeputy Planning Development Manager.
2. It was confirmed that there would be 17 vehicle movements in total per day with the application. These would comprise of 6 vehicles coming into the site in the morning and then 3 vehicles leaving shortly after. There would then be 3 vehicles returning back into the site in the afternoon and 5 vehicles departing in the evening, making it 17 movements in total. It was explained that this was a very small site with little room to increase traffic movements and capacity.
3. With regards to noise pollution, the Deputy Planning Development Manager explained that the application may involve an element of chipping but the majority of processing would be done off site. There was a condition within the report to monitor the noise level which the County Noise Consultant supported.
4. It was further added that a transport plan would be submitted under condition in due course by the Applicant.
5. A Member of the Committee queried if Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) were treated the same as Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB) in planning policy terms. Officers commented that in the context of the setting and scale of the site they do not believe there would be an adverse impact on the AGLV.
6. It was queried why the Chilworth site was no longer being used and if this due to traffic concerns. The Deputy Planning Development Manager explained that the Chilworth site did not have facilities for storage therefore material was being transported to another site which incurred traffic mileage.
7. It was confirmed that the buildings on the application site would only be used for the green waste operations.
8. There was a short discussion around noise levels and the noise level set for the site at (44 dB). The Deputy Planning Development Manager explained that noise levels were recorded over a period of time usually an hour and that the noise levels set for this site was the same as the noise level set at the Chiddingfold storage depot. 
9. A Member of the Committee stated that the noise level within the condition did not incorporate a period of time. It was agreed that the condition would require amending to include ‘any 30 minute period of time’ to give officers assurance.
10. A Member of the Committee stated that they supported this application as it was a rural industry in a rural location and would enable rural industries to grow.
11. It was confirmed that the nearest noise sensitive receptor was Wetwood Cottage.
12. The Chairman proposed that the Noise Control condition in the report be amended to match the Noise Control condition for the Chiddingfold application site. The Deputy Planning Development Manager explained that this would include adding a qualifying time period of 30 minutes to the Condition. The Chairman moved the recommendation to permit the application. There were ten votes for and one vote against; therefore the recommendation was carried and the application permitted.

RESOLVED:

Subject to conditions and informatives andthe amendment agreed to Condition 4, that planning application no. WA/2018/1613 be PERMITTED.