NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY

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2 CONTENTS Introduction...1 Site Setting and Description...3 Proposed Development...3 Proposed Time Extension...4 Proposed Lateral Extension...4 Improvement of the main access road (Downs Lane)...4 Restoration of the Chalk Grassland Habitat area....5 Planning Policy and Need...6 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA)...8 Ecology...9 Highways...11 Cultural Heritage...13 DRAWINGS Drawing No. NTS 1 Drawing No. NTS 2 Drawing No. NTS 3 Site Location Plan Site Plan Development Proposals

3 Introduction 1.1 Chilton Waste Services currently operates a waste management facility at Prospect Farm, near Chilton, Oxfordshire. Chilton Waste Services has operated the waste management facility at this location for 13 years, and since then, the site has developed into a modern, well operated; transfer station, skip hire business and a materials recycling facility. 1.2 The operation also includes a non hazardous, inert landfill, which is located within the disused railway cutting which runs north from the site. This commenced operation in The current operations are time limited by the current planning permission to operate as a waste facility until 31 st December Chilton Waste Services has therefore submitted a planning application to extend both, the operational life of the waste management facility, and the site s footprint. 1.4 The site operates to a high standard and has an extremely good track record with both regulators and neighbours. This is achieved through good practice and management but also because of the site s geographically remote location, together with direct access from the A34. The operation also provides employment for approximately 30 local people; in what is predominantly a rural area. 1.5 A planning Application is being submitted to Oxfordshire County Council to extend the site in both area and timescale and this proposal includes a number of improvements which have been identified through discussions with the County Council. 1.6 A number of documents have been prepared to accompany the planning application, including; a Planning Statement, Environmental Statement, and this document, which comprises a Non Technical Summary of the proposed development. 1.7 The Planning Statement provides background information to support the Planning Application, and the Environmental Statement (ES) contains assessments to determine the extent of any potential environmental impacts arising from the proposed development, and where necessary, recommends preventative measures to combat those impacts. 1.8 The Environmental Statement has been undertaken, as requested by Oxfordshire County Council, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended). 1.9 In summary, the development would include the following elements: An extension of the current time limit of Planning Permission by 10 years to 31 December An extension of approximately 1.9 Ha, to the existing area of the Waste Management Facility. Chilton Waste Management 1 SLR Consulting Limited

4 1.10 It has also been agreed with the Planning Authority that the following, ancillary, proposals (which do not form part of the application) would be implemented, should planning permission for the above development be granted: The improvement of the main access road and Public Right of Way. The Restoration of part of the landfill operation to a Chalk Grassland Habitat. The application site and the location of the area to be restored are outlined in green on Drawing No. NTS For further details of the development proposals, please refer to Section 5 of the ES and Planning Statement The location of Chilton Waste Services, the extent of the current operation and the proposed extension are shown on Drawing No. NTS 1 and Drawing No. NTS In accordance with the EIA regulations, Chilton Waste Services (the Applicant) has undertaken assessments as guided by Oxfordshire County Council. As a result, the Environmental Statement includes the following sections and assessments: Introduction Site setting and description Proposed development Planning policy Landscape and visual impact Ecology Highways Cultural heritage Non Technical Summary 1.14 Chilton Waste Services has been involved in waste management since 1985 when the company commenced land filling the disused railway cutting on the farm where the operation is based It is an integral part of Company policy to divert as much waste as possible away from landfill, thereby reducing the need for primary resources and to reclaim and recycle the maximum possible amount of material from any waste that comes into the site Chilton Waste Services produces several recycled products, including hardcore, screened soils and wood chippings and recycles, on average, about 60% of the incoming waste Further information on Chilton Waste Services can be found at its corporate website at: Chilton Waste Management 2 SLR Consulting Limited

5 Site Setting and Description 1.16 The site is located to the south of Didcot within Oxfordshire, to the east of the A34. The nearest village is Chilton which is located to the north-west. The site has direct access from the A34, and vehicles travel to the site along Downs Lane, before reaching the site, which is located on an area along an in-filled, disused, railway cutting The current landfill operations take place within the disused railway cutting the line of which runs north from the site The site is located within a predominantly agricultural setting and is located within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) The local topography within 1km of the site, is rounded to gently rolling with a general overall slope to the north-east For identification purposes, the Application Site is centred on national grid reference (NGR): , at an altitude of around 113m OD and shown on Drawing No. NTS 1 Proposed Development 1.21 In brief, the proposed development this application concerns, includes: An extension of the current time limit of Planning Permission (UPT/3451/7-CM & UPT/3451/14-CM) by 10 years to 31 December A lateral, north east, extension of approximately 1.9 Ha, to the existing area of the Waste Management Facility facilitating a more efficient, functional working operation It has also been agreed with the Planning Authority that the following, ancillary, proposals (which do not form part of the application) would be implemented, should planning permission for the above development be granted: Submission of details pursuant to Condition 5 of Planning Permission No. UPT/3451/2, for the restoration of part of the landfill operation to a chalk grassland habitat. The location of the area to be restored is outlined in green on Drawing No. NTS 1. The improvement of the main access road and the improvement of the adjacent Public Right of Way The proposed development underlines the applicant s intention to carry out its activities as a responsible neighbour and in a manner that is sympathetic to the local area and which would cause minimal disruption to the local community. A series of measures have been identified within the proposals to Chilton Waste Management 3 SLR Consulting Limited

6 minimise the level of any impact the development may produce. Each of the above proposals is now considered, in turn, below. Proposed Time Extension 1.24 The waste recycling operations at the Application Site were permitted on the 25 May 1995 and were subsequently amended on the 28th September The duration of the operations was conditioned by Condition 3 which stated that: the development hereby granted shall be for a limited period expiring on the 31st December The Planning Application & Environmental Statement is being submitted to allow a further 10 year extension to 31st December 2022 to protect the existence of this much needed waste facility and to maximise the recovery of recyclables and thus reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Proposed Lateral Extension 1.26 The current facility has been developed over a number of years in a piecemeal fashion to attempt to deliver an efficient and reliable operation and to cope with changes in waste quantity and type. However, due to the limited space that is currently available on the site, flexibility has been a limiting factor in the site s development to allow for changes in the type of materials targeted for recovery and recycling, and for future developments in processing technology The nature of the existing recycling facilities (in terms of, building design and function) would remain similar to that already approved. Chilton Waste Services are applying for an extension of approximately 1.9 hectares, using land to the rear of the existing Waste Transfer Station (See Drawing No. NTS 3). This extension would enable additional activities associated with the Waste Transfer Station and to vastly improve site layout and usage. Ancillary Development Improvement of the main access road (Downs Lane) 1.28 It has been agreed with the Planning Authority that the improvement of the main access road, along Downs Lane, is to accompany the development proposals. A scheme would be agreed following the grant of planning permission based upon the outline proposals below: 1.29 Proposals to improve the road surface to provide a surface for all traffic that may use the public Right of Way have been thought out and comprise the following actions: Plane down existing road surface to provide a level and consistent surface, whilst also providing additional width. Dressing the surface with a suitable, high quality, graded material. Chilton Waste Management 4 SLR Consulting Limited

7 Undertake trial solutions, to be agreed, before implementation of a preferred solution. Undertake regular reviews of the surface s performance to maintain its integrity and to agree remedial actions. Restoration of the Chalk Grassland Habitat area The area of un-tipped railway cutting to the north of the application site (shown in green on Drawing No. NTS 1) comprises unmanaged rough grassland, vegetation and scrub. In 1998 the Oxfordshire Wildlife Site Project identified the railway cutting between Chilton and Upton, as being of County importance for the chalk grassland that has developed on the steep slopes of the disused cuttings. It has been agreed with the Planning Authority that the proposals submitted would be supported if they include a proposal to restore part of the site to chalk grassland. To this end, detailed proposals have been discussed and submitted for comment to the County Ecologist and in principal agreed. Details of the Ecological Walk Over relating to the chalk grassland area that aided the formulation of the restoration are shown below at paragraph 159 and in Section 9 of the Environmental Statement. Chilton Waste Management 5 SLR Consulting Limited

8 Planning Policy and Need 1.31 It is necessary to consider the proposed development in the context of current and emerging planning policy After reviewing the policy and guidance documentation, it is evident that there is planning policy and guidance that relates to the development of waste operations in England and Wales In terms of providing guidance for waste operations there is currently a greater amount of adopted policy to be considered at the strategic, national and regional levels At a local level, guidance relating to the specific location of Waste Management Facilities is generally sparse Following this review, it was found that the development proposals outlined in the above section are generally in agreement with national, regional planning policy Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 stipulates that guidance should be relied on in favour of the policy which is contained in the most recent document to be adopted. With the Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local plan, adopted in 1996, providing the current guidance, it remains to say that this document has essentially become out of date when providing policy and guidance on the specific location of Waste Management Facilities Not withstanding this, the successor to the Minerals and Waste Local Plan, the Minerals and Waste Development Framework, is currently being prepared by Oxfordshire County Council. In this document there would seem to be a positive framework for the proposal to be acceptable. And in light of this, the site has been promoted for its specific inclusion within this Policy Document The most encouraging strategic policy is referred to, is policy W17 of the regional guidance Location of Waste Management Facilities, which states that: 1.39 Waste management facilities should not be precluded from the Green Belt. Small-scale waste management facilities for local needs should not be precluded from Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks where the development would not compromise the objectives of the designation. (SLR Emphasis) 1.40 In consideration of the need for the facility, an assessment of waste production and recycling statistics has been undertaken as part of Section 4 of the ES. It was evident from this that in addition to the existing facilities, a number of new recycling facilities will be required for all waste streams if the councils are to meet the required recycling targets. Without these facilities, waste will continue to be deposited within landfill sites, or transported over Chilton Waste Management 6 SLR Consulting Limited

9 greater distances to facilities located outside of Oxfordshire. Further detail on the numbers are provided within Section 4 of the ES Taking the above into consideration, together with the potential to secure the employment of the workforce at Chilton into the medium to long term, as well as the overall need for more pragmatic waste management practices, a case for this scheme can be made By also providing a sound landscape and visual impact assessment, it is also possible to demonstrate that the existing and future operations will not be to the detriment of the character of the AONB. Chilton Waste Management 7 SLR Consulting Limited

10 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) 1.42 A landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) has been carried out by a suitably qualified landscape architect, to assess the potential for the proposed development to impact upon the landscape of the area and cause visual impact. Further detail relating to this assessment can be found in Section 8 of the Environmental Statement The landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) has been carried out in accordance with the following published guidelines: Countryside Agency s Landscape Character Assessment Guidance (2002). Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment s Guidelines on Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (2002) The assessment considers the potential visual impact of the proposed development from a number of viewpoints. These viewpoints have been selected in accordance with the published guidance. For further detail on the location of these viewpoints, please see Section 8 of the ES Each viewpoint is considered in detail and the level of visual impact identified, again in accordance with the guidelines The site is situated within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). However, the site is well screened and is not intrusive upon all but closest viewpoints surrounding the site It was concluded that the proposed development would not cause unacceptable landscape and visual impacts and that the natural beauty of the landscape within the AONB, as a whole, would be conserved. Chilton Waste Management 8 SLR Consulting Limited

11 Ecology 1.48 An assessment of the site was carried out to provide details on the potential for the development proposals to impact upon the site s ecology. Further details of the assessment can be found at Section 9 of the Environmental Statement (ES) The Ecology section considers two separate areas of the application: The Proposed Application area, which is identified in red on Drawing NTS 1. A Tree and Hedgerow Survey was undertaken for this part of the site. The Proposed Restoration of the Chalk Grassland Area, which is identified in green on Drawing NTS 1. An ecological walkover of this part of the site was undertaken. The Proposed Application Area 1.50 A tree and hedgerow survey was undertaken in March 2009 over the proposed additional area. It has been prepared to provide ecological evaluation of hedgerows within the study area in accordance with the Hedgerow Regulations In relation the hedgerows, a total of seven hedgerows were identified within and immediately adjacent to the application site, the locations of which can be found in Section 9 of the report. Of these, six hedgerows are less than 30 years old and as such do not meet the criteria for an important hedgerow under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 and were not considered further in the assessment One hedgerow within the site meets the criteria for an important hedgerow, as it lies adjacent to a byway and supports at least four native woody species and two associated features - This hedgerow is assessed as being of Parish ecological value and will be protected as part of the scheme In relation to the trees, the Tree Survey identifies and reports on the general condition and amenity value of significant trees within and immediately outside the site boundary The Tree Survey is made using British Standard: 5837:2005, Trees in Relation to Construction The report has identified three English oak trees, located within the mature hedgerow, on the eastern boundary, as being of long term amenity value and worthy of retention and protection The remaining trees identified adjacent to or within the application boundary either remain unaffected by the proposals or are considered to only be of short term value due to their health and condition. Chilton Waste Management 9 SLR Consulting Limited

12 1.57 There are a number of small young plantations which have been planted to soften views into the site that also remain unaffected by the development proposals 1.58 Provided that protective measures, as outlined in Section 9 of the ES are taken to protect those trees, it is considered feasible to retain all the trees without detrimental damage to their health, within the application site. Chalk Grassland Area 1.59 As part of the development it is proposed to create additional Chalk Grassland which will be restored once infilling is complete An ecological walkover of the Chilton Railway Cutting, the location is shown in green on Drawing NTS 1 has been undertaken to inform the proposed infilling of this land with inert waste and its subsequent restoration back to chalk grassland. This work has been requested by the County Ecologist for Oxfordshire County Council and forms part of this planning submission in respect of a continuation of waste management services at the site The railway cutting in this location is a County Wildlife Site (CWS) mainly on account of its chalk grassland and associated ecological interest An ecological survey of land was undertaken by SLR in However it was considered appropriate to undertake a repeat ecological walkover, due to the amount of time which has elapsed since the year The purpose of the visit was to record the current condition of the habitats which are present and to document any changes which have taken place The follow up survey, carried out by an experienced ecologist, in December 2008 has recorded the presence of a mixture of vegetation communities within Chilton Railway Cutting, CWS. The majority of the CWS in this location contains disturbed or enriched vegetation, spoil or maturing banks of scrub and bramble Open chalk grassland of nature conservation value is restricted to a small proportion of the site and most of this is currently in a poor condition due to under-grazing The continuation of inert landfill operations in this location is therefore not considered likely to result in the loss of important habitats or species. However, it has been recommended that the better areas of chalk grassland turf be moved to the area in order to retain plant species and associated invertebrates The creation of a chalk grassland area would make an important contribution towards the achievement of local and UK targets in respect of this habitat and would also benefit individual species of conservation concern. Chilton Waste Management 10 SLR Consulting Limited

13 Highways 1.67 A Transport Statement has been produced to consider the potential for transport impacts arising from the development proposals. Further details of the Transport Statement can be found in Section 7 of the Environmental Statement The Transport Statement (TS) has been undertaken by a qualified and experienced transport assessor using guidance taken from the Department for Transport document, Guidance on Transport Assessment (GTA), which was published in Access to and from the site is from the A34 via a junction which is approximately 1 kilometre west of the application site. Access from the A34 to the application site is via an unclassified, single carriageway road. Figure 1 illustrates the local road network. Figure 1 Local Road Network A34 Chilton Application Site Bury Lane Unclassified access road A As the site has been operating for approximately 13 years it is understood that access to the site is adequate for the vehicles used by Chilton Waste Services Currently, the site generates approximately 192 lorry movements and approximately 50 car journeys per day. During peak hours only 17 lorry movements are generated; staff cars are unlikely to be on the road during the peak hours. Chilton Waste Management 11 SLR Consulting Limited

14 1.72 There have been no traffic accidents on the local road network in the last five years which is a reflection of the low, existing traffic flows. This excellent accident record is unlikely to be affected by the development proposals Adequate parking would be provided on site for all staff, disabled visitors and motorcycles The proposal to extend the site s boundary would have insignificant traffic impacts. The proposal is only likely to generate an additional 30 lorry movements per day; no additional car journeys would be generated In addition the development includes proposals for improving the surface of the access to the site It is concluded that the proposal to operate the site up to the year 2022 would not lead to significant additional impact on the local roads. Chilton Waste Management 12 SLR Consulting Limited

15 Cultural Heritage 1.77 An assessment of the potential for the proposed development to impact upon the cultural heritage has been undertaken, and a copy of this assessment can be found within the Environmental Statement (ES) at Section 6. The assessment of the cultural heritage was carried out by a suitable qualified archaeologist, in accordance with national planning guidance, PPG 16, and the guidelines and recommendations issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists and English Heritage The statement within Section 6 of the ES presents a preliminary assessment of the potential for archaeological impact relating to the proposed development. It specifically considers the historic landscape and the location of designated heritage assets in relation to the application site In terms of the historic landscape surrounding the site and the location of heritage assets, it has been found that there are no heritage assets within the application site (i.e. world heritage sites, scheduled monuments, listed buildings, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields or conservation areas). However, within 1km of the application site there is one heritage asset which comprises a listed building, located within Chilton village. The National Monuments Record's Pastscape database also contains no archaeological sites within 250m of the application site. In relation to the historic landscape of the surrounding area, a variety of historic assets, including scheduled monuments, have been identified, the majority of which are tumili (burial mounds) located between 1km and 4km, to the south east, of the application site. Chilton Waste Management 13 SLR Consulting Limited

16 DRAWINGS Chilton Waste Services SLR Consulting Ltd

17 N LEGEND W E APPLICATION BOUNDARY S CHALK GRASSLAND RESTORATION AREA WASTE TRANSFER STATION LOCATION REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF ORDNANCE SURVEY ON BEHALF OF HMSO. CROWN COPYRIGHT AND DATABASE RIGHT SITE LOCATION PLAN OS DATA LICENCE EXPIRATION: SUPPLIED BY CLIENT NTS 1 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LICENCE NUMBER AI ASPECT HOUSE ASPECT BUSINESS PARK BENNERLEY ROAD NOTTINGHAM. NG6 8WR T: F: CHILTON WASTE SERVICES NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY NTS BS Scale Date A4 MARCH 2009

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19 W N E LEGEND APPLICATION BOUNDARY S DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC FLOW SOIL BUND TREES AND HEDGES BUILDINGS EXISTING HEDGEROW PLANTING (APPROX POSITION) HARD SURFACING (CONCRETE / TARMAC) "LABEL" EXISTING COMPONENT WOOD AND CHIPPING STORAGE LOCATION PROPOSED WOODLAND PLANTING BEHIND PROPOSED SCREENING BUND ADDITIONAL FACILITY TO PROCESS INERT MATERIALS (TROMMEL) LOCATION "LABEL" PROPOSED COMPONENT GREEN WASTE STORAGE LOCATION EXISTING WOODLAND PLANTING POTENTIAL FUEL STORE LOCATION PROPOSED BUNKER BAYS - 5 NO. SKIP PARK LOCATION W.E.E.E. STORAGE LOCATION SCREENING BUND TO BE RESHAPED/REALIGNED TO FOLLOW PERIMETER BOUNDARY EXISTING WOODLAND PLANTING (APPROX LOCATION) EXISTING TROMMEL LOCATION (APPROX FOOTPRINT AND POSITION) EXISTING WOODLAND PLANTING (APPROX LOCATION) SHEETING GANTRY WASTE TRANSFER STATION WASTE TIPPING BAYS GLASS RECYCLING AREA ROUNDABOUT SCREENING BUND TO BE RESHAPED/REALIGNED TO FOLLOW PERIMETER BOUNDARY TOILET WEIGHBRIDGE SCREENING BUND PROPOSED PARKING AREA 15xCAR BAYS 2xDISABLED BAYS 2xMOTORCYCE BAYS SITE ACCESS PROPOSED WOODLAND PLANTING TILE BARN REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF ORDNANCE SURVEY ON BEHALF OF HMSO. CROWN COPYRIGHT AND DATABASE RIGHT OS DATA LICENCE EXPIRATION: SUPPLIED BY CLIENT NTS 3 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LICENCE NUMBER AI ASPECT HOUSE ASPECT BUSINESS PARK BENNERLEY ROAD NOTTINGHAM. NG6 8WR T: F: CHILTON WASTE SERVICES NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT NTS BS Scale Date A2 MARCH 2009