Meeting documents

To consider a report by the Service Director – Environment, Infrastructure and Economy on planning application 6/2017/0746 - for the development of a grout and concrete plant and an interim curing facility, including a perimeter fence and other associated infrastructure (for a temporary period) at Winfrith Magnox Nuclear Licensed Site, Winfrith Newburgh.

The Committee considered a report by the Planning and Regulation Manager on planning application 6/2017/0746, for the development of a grout and concrete plant and an interim curing facility, including a perimeter fence and other associated infrastructure on land at Magnox Nuclear Licensed Site at Winfrith Newburgh. Clarification was provided to members why this application was necessary and why it was being done in the way it was.

With the aid of a visual presentation, and taking into account the provisions of the Update Sheet circulated to members prior to the meeting and appended to these minutes, officers described the proposals and planning issues in detail, what these entailed and what they were designed to achieve. The application sought permission for the construction of waste management infrastructure to encapsulate radioactive waste that had arisen from the decommissioning of two former test nuclear reactors on site. The encapsulation of the waste in concrete boxes was required to enable it to be safely and securely exported off site to an interim storage facility at Harwell Licensed Nuclear site in Oxfordshire until a geological disposal facility was to become a practical solution. The capacity and number of boxes was described and the committee noted that the buildings would be removed upon completion of the works.

Plans and photographs were used to show the characteristics of the site, its location

and to describe the means by which the facility would operate. The site’s land form; the buildings and facilities proposed to be constructed for the operations; their dimensions; and their context withinthe surrounding landscape were shown, with views taken from within and around thesite. The activities and operations proposed to be undertaken were described in detailby officers, how the treatment of the waste material would be encapsulated and managed in practice and what the storage process entailed.

How the waste material would be transported, by vehicle, off site and what arrangements would be put in place to do this were described. Access and security arrangements were also drawn to the Committee’s attention.

Officers described what relationship the activities which were to take place on site had with the current operations; the site’s setting within the landscape; and the

relationship of the application with other facilities in the larger context of the site.

Moreover, officers detailed the way in which the waste was to be encapsulated; stored; cured; and managed with this being at the core of the application.

The proposed development has been considered against the development plan, national policies and strategy relating to nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management, and the draft Waste Plan. The application fully accorded with national policy for radioactive waste management and with national and local planning policy and there had been no objections received to it. The consultation exercise had shown that the County Councillor for South Purbeck, Purbeck District Council; Wool Parish Council; Winfrith Newburgh Parish Council; the Environment Agency; Natural England; Historic England; the Office of Nuclear Registration; the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; and relevant County Council officers had not raised any objections to the application.

The opportunity was provided for Members to ask questions of the officer’s presentation and were satisfied by the responses they received from officers on the handling of radioactive waste and traffic generation.

The Committee recognised the complexities associated with such an application and appreciated what efforts had been made in identifying a sustainable and manageable

solution for dealing with this issue. What mitigation measures were to be put in place, as necessary, were described.

The Committee were then provided with the opportunity to ask questions of the

officer’s presentation and officer’s provided clarification in respect of the points raised as necessary. Members were satisfied that compliance with other regulatory regimes was a matter for other bodies and that they were clear in their understanding about those material planning considerations that were relevant to the application before them.

Having had the opportunity to consider the merits of the application in detail and

having had their questions answered satisfactorily, the Committee - having taken into

consideration the officer’s report, the provisions of the Update Sheet and what they had heard at the meeting - were satisfied in their understanding of what the proposals entailed and the assurances provided by officers in how the operations in dealing with the radioactive waste management process would be managed - in a controlled, secureand practical way.  Accordingly, on being put to the vote, the Committee agreed

Resolved

That planning permission be granted in respect of planning application 6/2017/0746, subject to the conditions set out in paragraph 8.2 of the Committee report and having regard to the provisions of the Update Sheet.

Reason for Decision

To ensure that the operations were managed in a safe, responsible and practical way

and by the appropriate means necessary. The construction and operation of the facilities would support the achievement of the Interim End Point for 2023, and preferred final end state to restoration to a heathland landscape with public access.