Agenda item

Report by Director of Planning & Place (PN7)

This report covers an application for a replacement asphalt plant for that existing at the Appleford Sidings in the same general location. The asphalt is required because the existing plant is over 30 years old and needs replacement. The proposed asphalt plant would have a chimney stack height approximately 10 metres higher than the plant to be replaced.

The application is being brought to committee because concern has been raised by Sutton Courtenay Parish Council that the plant is acceptable but should be removed in line with the cessation date for the surrounding landfill site.

The report assesses the proposals against relevant planning policy and material considerations.

It is RECOMMENDED that subject to the completion of a routeing agreement requiring all vehicles to access and egress the site to and from the A4130 Didcot northern perimeter road, application MW.0005/17 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director of Planning and Place including those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN7.

The Committee considered a report (PN7) setting out proposals for an asphalt plant at Appleford Sidings to replace the existing plant which was over 30 years old and in need of replacement.

Mr Periam introduced the report and then responded to questions from:

Councillor Johnston -  he was unaware of proposals to electrify the sidings at Appleford nor any implications, which might arise from that work for security at the site itself

Councillor Matelot – he confirmed that although the new plant would be in the same general location the chimney stack would, at its highest point, be 10m higher than the current site.

Councillor Webber – the pylon adjacent to the site would be 15 metres higher than the proposed plant.  Mr Mottram added that although there had been some concerns regarding visibility of the plant over the existing tree cover that had been considered acceptable as the impact was not severe.

Councillor Webber - the proposal was closely associated with the sidings, which was currently used to bring in hard rock. That seemed to imply a specific reason why the plant was being proposed at this site.

Councillor Fitzgerald O’Connor –the neighbouring BOAT (Byway Open to All Traffic) was currently used by HGVs and that would not change.

Councillor Gawrysiak – he confirmed that the development would cease in 2030 in line with the main requirements of the landfill permission  However, as the remainder of the industrial site and the sidings was not subject to any restoration requirement that industrial use would continue  .

Councillor Stratford – the routeing agreement would be the same as currently existed.

Mr Duncan explained there were 2 plants in the County at Banbury and Sutton Courtenay. Both had significant strategic and long term importance hence the need for permanent permissions. Both were sited near rail sidings. With regard to the Sutton Courtenay site the surrounding land which was now domed because of landfill offered good screening.

He then responded to questions from:

Councillor Johnston – as the cost of the plant was £7m he considered it unlikely that there would be any risks to its security or viability from any proposals to develop the sidings.

Councillor Phillips – although the proposed site although was not exactly in the same position the footprint between the two differed by one metre. The chimney stack was higher in order to meet environmental standards for emissions.

Mr Periam confirmed that the Vale of White Horse district council had not responded.

Councillor Webber mentioned the work undertaken by the Sutton Courtenay Local Liaison Committee over many years. It had been instrumental in helping to promote the smooth transition of numerous applications and he felt their work should be recognised.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by Councillor Johnston, seconded by Councillor Lygo and carried unanimously) that subject to the completion of a routeing agreement requiring all vehicles to access and egress the site to and from the A4130 Didcot northern perimeter road, application MW.0005/17 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director of Planning and Place including those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN7.