Agenda item

MW.0012/21: Demolition of existing concrete batching plant and stock bays and provision of new permanent aggregate storage bay area and weighbridge and associated lorry turning area and widening of internal access road;

MW.0013/21: Provision of new relocated RMX concrete plant and associated works including reconfigured storage bay area, new weighbridge, expanded car parking area and new office/welfare facility; and

MW.0014/21: Provision of temporary stock-bay area and weighbridge to accommodate additional aggregate deliveries associated with construction of HS2.

Report by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning (PN7).

The report sets out three applications for the proposed redevelopment of Tarmac’s existing site in Banbury. The site forms part of an operational rail head which is used for the processing, storage and distribution of aggregate, concrete, and asphalt to the local construction industry. The railhead as a whole contains an operational asphalt plant, concrete batching plant, aggregate storage bays, areas of hardstanding and car parking, office, and associated infrastructure with a total operation land-take of around 2.8ha.

It is RECOMMENDED that planning permission for application MW.0012/21 be approved subject to no objection being received from the Lead Local Flood Authority and the Environment Agency, the applicant first entering into a routeing agreement and to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 1 to the report PN7.

It is RECOMMENDED that planning permission for application MW.0013/21 be approved subject to no objection being received from the Lead Local Flood Authority and the Environment Agency, the applicant first entering into a routeing agreement and to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN7.

It is RECOMMENDED that planning permission for application MW.0014/21 be approved subject to, no objection being received from the Lead Local Flood Authority and the Environment Agency, the applicant first entering into a routeing agreement and to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 3 to the report PN7

MW.0012/21: Demolition of existing concrete batching plant and stock bays and provision of new permanent aggregate storage bay area and weighbridge and associated lorry turning area and widening of internal access road;

MW.0013/21: Provision of new relocated RMX concrete plant and associated works including reconfigured storage bay area, new weighbridge, expanded car parking area and new office/welfare facility; and

MW.0014/21: Provision of temporary stock-bay area and weighbridge to accommodate additional aggregate deliveries associated with construction of HS2.

The Committee considered a report (PN7) setting out three applications for the proposed redevelopment of Tarmac’s existing site in Banbury which formed part of an operational rail head used for the processing, storage and distribution of aggregate, concrete, and asphalt to the local construction industry. The railhead as a whole contained an operational asphalt plant, concrete batching plant, aggregate storage bays, areas of hardstanding and car parking, office, and associated infrastructure with a total operation land-take of around 2.8ha.

Mary Hudson presented the report together with an addendum setting out further representations as reported under Item 6 on the agenda.  She confirmed that HGV routes set out in the 1992 routeing agreement ensured that HGVs used only approved routes through Banbury and a new agreement would be used to ensure that HGVs associated with this site continued to use those routes.

Responding to questions she confirmed that the routes as set out in 1992 agreement were still acceptable and as a permitted route there would be no limit on vehicles travelling south.

County Councillor Banfield speaking as local member reiterated the same concerns as she had raised under Item 6 with regard to the health and welfare of residents living in her division. She again expressed misgivings regarding  long-term plans for the site and fully expected the company to seek to retain the plant infrastructure after the application period had expired.

Councillor Johnston left the meeting at 3:20.

Malcolm Lawer for the applicants.  Tarmac’s site in Banbury had supported local infrastructure projects, as well as nationally significant projects, over the past 30 years, such as works to the M40 and more recently HS2. In order to support the construction of vital infrastructure in the most efficient and sustainable way possible it had become clear that the Banbury plant would be required to play an important role over the next 5 years and, therefore, investment was being made now to support this.  Part of that investment involved HS2 which was looking to utilise and maximise the use of existing rail connections as part of the delivery process to minimise carbon emissions that would otherwise be generated if all deliveries were made by road. The existing rail siding at Banbury was a key element of that strategy. The applications before the Committee were looking to alter the current layout to make more effective and safe use of the site and increase the efficiency of rail offloading and HGV movements, as well as providing additional temporary storage for materials associated with HS2.  Tarmac appreciated there was some local concern regarding the potential impact on their amenities due to the increase in activity on site but it was important to stress that the historic planning permissions covering the site meant that Tarmac could already increase HGV and train deliveries, within the currently permitted hours of operation, without the need for planning permission. The applications before you were to enable more efficient offloading of trains and movement of HGVs serving both HS2 and the asphalt and concrete plants, whilst also improving overall site safety.  During the 5-year HS2 construction period, HGV movements would increase compared to the current average and at peak times it was expected that there would be in the region of 348 movements per day which was less than could theoretically take place if Tarmac were to maximise use of the site under  current planning permissions.  He stressed that delivery numbers would be significantly below that for the majority of the 5-year period, as demand rose and then fell in line with the HS2 construction programme and on completion of the HS2 phase, overall HGV movements at the Banbury site were likely to reduce back to current levels. Tarmac had undertaken discussions with the highway authority who had not objected subject to an agreement to restrict overall HGV movements at peak times to 40 in total (i.e. 20-in and 20-out).  Tarmac were mindful of the concerns raised by residents in relation to noise and the existing rail-grab facility which probably represented the noisiest element on the site would under the proposed site reconfiguration be relocated further north and, therefore, noise generated should dissipate more readily within the site. The Noise Assessment prepared in support of these applications had concluded that noise levels at the nearest residential properties might increase by 2dB which was still below the general baseline noise level, due to the presence of Hennef Way.  In order to further reduce the impact of the rail-grab, Tarmac had proposed a restriction on its use so that it did not operate during the night-time period (i.e. between the hours of 8pm and 6.30am) both during the HS2 construction period and beyond. In terms of HGV movements and air pollution, all vehicles associated with HS2 would be to EURO 6 standard, which complied with the very latest in European emission standards.  Hennef Way was also a designated HGV route. The applications were seeking to renew and update old technologies, improve safety and hopefully reduce any environmental impact the plant would have while at the same time supporting local and nationally significant infrastructure projects.  During its 30 years operation there had been no major issues, very few formal complaints to the activities taking place and no recorded accidents on Grimsbury Green. Council policies supported the use of facilities such as Tarmac’s Banbury site to enable efficient and sustainable distribution of aggregates around the County and these applications would secure significant investment in the site, which was initially geared towards delivery of construction materials to HS2, but beyond that would provide an improved site with sustained employment with 4 new local jobs created and ensure the long-term supply of construction materials to the local area. 

Responding to questions he confirmed:

There had been no objection from the Environmental Health Officer with regard to air pollution from HGV traffic or with regard to the concrete works.

There was general support for the proposed increase in rail use although there were concerns expressed over traffic levels and the need to enforce routeing agreements and also the need to ensure adequate air quality monitoring.

RESOLVED: (on a motion by the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Sanders and carried by 8 votes to 2) that subject to the applicant first entering into a routeing agreement in respect of the following applications that:

(a)     application MW.0012/21 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 1 to the report PN7.

(b)     application MW.0013/21 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN7.

(c)     application MW.0014/21 be approvedsubject to conditions to be determined by the Assistant Director for Strategic Infrastructure and Planning, to include those set out in Annex 2 to the report PN7, and

(d)     subject in all three cases to the following additional conditions:

(i)        hours of HGV movements for each application Monday – Friday 7 am to 7pm and 7am – 1 pm Saturday;

(ii)       348 vehicle movements – 174 in and 174 out;

(iii)      air quality monitoring to be undertaken in appropriate places.