Agenda item

Retention of Existing Compost Pad Extension [Rural West York Ward]

Members considered a full application from Yorwaste Ltd (Mr Mark Hall) for the retention of the existing compost pad extension.

Officers reminded the Sub-Committee that this application had been deferred at their July meeting to examine whether there was a need to undertake a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under Schedule 2 of the 1999 Town and Country Planning Act and to consider further concerns in respect of the volume of green waste passing through the site. Officers confirmed that a screening exercise had been undertaken to determine whether an EIA was required. It was the opinion of both Planning and Environmental Protection Unit Officers that the environmental impact of the temporary extension was not materially different from the existing operation and that a formal EIA was not required. It was confirmed that additional conditions had been incorporated into the report to prevent nuisance being caused to local residents.

Representations were received from a representative of Rufforth and Knapton Parish Council in objection to the application.  He confirmed that since the earlier deferral of this application the Parish Council had visited the Environment Agency and contacted the Planning Department regarding their concerns. He stated that they had grave concerns that the compost pad extension was too small and that the environmental impact of such a massive composting facility had not been properly dealt with. He went on to request Members to include conditions in any approval which:

·        restricted the capacity of the pad to 50,000 tonnes to comply with the existing license;

·        required an Environmental Statement for current and proposed operations;

·        asked that green waste suppliers from outside the area made their own arrangements for composting and

·        asked Yorwaste to produce projections of their green waste including areas of origin and disposal.

Representations were then received from the applicant in support of the application. He pointed out that this application was for an extension to an existing compost pad for a temporary period pending completion of the new facility at the southern edge of the site. He confirmed that an odour management scheme had been prepared but pointed out that it was difficult to accurately forecast the volumes of green waste that would pass through the site, as there was a high variance throughout the year.

The Local Member expressed concern that the need to undertake an EIA was based on individual applications rather than assessment of the overall site. He pointed out that there had been a material change to what had been envisaged for this site when permission was originally granted and he asked for further safeguards for residents.

In answer to Members questions an Officer of the Environmental Protection Unit confirmed that the odour management scheme would control any odour from the green waste and that a condition to this effect had been included in the conditions.

It was then moved by Cllr B Watson and seconded by Cllr Gillies that permission be granted for the compost pad extension for a 2 year period subject to a limitation of 70,000 tonnes, per year, being put on the amount of green waste processed at the site. On being put to the vote this motion was lost.

It was then

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the imposition of conditions listed in the report. ^1.

REASON:      In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to the impact of the proposal on the open character and purposes of designation of the York Green Belt, the impact of the proposal upon the residential amenity of nearby properties by virtue of odour/bio aerosol, noise and traffic generation, the proximity principle, impact of the proposal on the local surface water drainage pattern and the retrospective nature of the development. As such the proposal complies with Policy YH9 and Y1C of The Yorkshire and Humber Plan, policies GB1 and MW5 of the City of York Development Control Local Plan and Government policy contained within Planning Policy Guidance note 2 'Green Belts'.