Decision details

Lancaster City: application number LCC/2019/0021
The development of an energy recovery facility comprising: the erection and operation of an energy from waste building including offices, workshop and visitor/education facilities; air cooled conde

Decision Maker: Development Control Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Purpose:

Development Control Committee report

Decisions:

A report was presented on an application for the development of an energy recovery facility on land at Imperial Road, Heysham.

 

Members of the Committee had previously visited the site at Heysham and an existing facility in Cannock, Staffordshire.

 

The report included the views of Lancaster City Council, Overton Parish Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside, the Health & Safety Executive, National Grid Company Plc, the county council's Highways Development Control, County Landscape Service, Ecology Adviser, County Archaeology Service, Lead Local Flood Authority and details of eleven letters of representation received.

 

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial view of the site and the nearest residential properties. The Committee was also shown various illustrations and a photomontage of the proposed facility together with an indicative process diagram and photographs of the site and access roads.

 

The Officer reported orally that further representations had been received from the applicant and UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN).  The representations, together with officer advice in relation to such, were set out in the Update Sheet circulated at the meeting (copy set out at Annex A to the Minutes).  A late representation from a resident was also circulated at the meeting (copy attached as an addendum to the Update Sheet).

 

Mr Bridgwood, national planning manager for the applicant, Veolia, addressed the Committee and spoke in support of the application. He responded to the concerns raised in the late objection in respect of carbon benefits and dis-benefits associated with the process and raised the following summarised points in support of the application:

 

·  The applicant had received some very positive feedback from local residents during the consultation process.

·  The proposed development would help facilitate further development in the area by providing a heat connection to the site boundary to allow for the opportunity to export heat off-site.

·  Positive discussions had taken place with Lancaster and Morecambe College with regard to training needs and opportunities.

·  The applicant was working with the Wildlife Trust on an enhancement scheme for the Heysham Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest. 

·  The applicant was an experienced operator with 10 operational energy recovery facilities in the UK using a proven technology and a well-established track record.

·  The concerns raised by UKWIN had been dealt with and previously considered by inspectors at Public Inquiry. The Secretary of State had also confirmed that the proposal put forward would have significant climate benefits. 

 

The officer responded to questions raised by the Members with regard to the volume of available residual waste that could be redirected to energy recovery and the current operational capacity for Lancashire. Members also queried whether there was potential to extend Imperial Road through to Middleton Road to allow for vehicular access.

 

The officer also provided further advice in relation to the Environmental Impact Assessment.

 

Members of the Committee thanked the officer for his very detailed and comprehensive report.

 

Following further debate it was:

 

Resolved: That, after first taking into consideration the environmental information, as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, and subject to the applicant first entering into a Section 106 Agreement for a commuted sum of £145,075 for cycle and footpath provision between Imperial Road and Middleton Road; a commuted sum of £40,000 for ecological enhancement at Heysham Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest, and in relation to off-site surface water drainage provision, that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report to the Committee.

 

Divisions Affected: Heysham;

Contact: Jonathan Haine Email: jonathan.haine@lancashire.gov.uk Tel: 01772 531948.

Report author: Jonathan Haine

Date of decision: 16/10/2019

Decided at meeting: 16/10/2019 - Development Control Committee

Accompanying Documents: