Agenda item

To consider an application for the development of a waste management centre for the bulking and transfer of waste and recyclables, comprising a covered waste transfer station, with waste storage, sprinkler tank and pump house, and a split-level household recycling centre with vehicle unloading bays and partially covered central yard, a dedicated ‘re-use centre’, WEEE storage building, office building, staff parking area, weighbridge and associated landscaping. Formation of new access from A350.

The Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste presented the application for the development of a waste management centre for the bulking and transfer of waste and recyclables. This comprised a covered waste transfer station, with waste storage, sprinkler tank and pump house, and a split-level household recycling centre with vehicle unloading bays and partially covered central yard, a dedicated ‘re-use centre’, WEEE storage building, office building, staff parking area, weighbridge and associated landscaping. Formation of new access from A350.

Members were advised that a need had been identified for a replacement modern waste management centre in the area and the proposed site had been allocated in the recently adopted Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Waste Plan (2019) covering approx. 3.5 hectares of land.

With the aid of a visual presentation the Senior Planning Officer, Minerals and Waste highlighted the relevant areas of the application and explained the proposals for the buildings, access, plan layout, landscape enhancement and lighting.  The hydrogeological and heritage assets were also addressed.  There were no objections on highways safety grounds nor the Environmental Agency.

Taking everything into account it was considered that there were significant and substantial public benefits and exceptional circumstances to the scheme which outweighed the adverse impacts on the AONB.  The Officer recommendation was to grant the application with some suggested revised conditions relating to the lighting, handling of waste within the proposed transfer building and the transfer building doors.

Oral representation in objection to the application was received from:

Councillor Jennifer Morisetti -The Waste Team lead for Dorset Climate Action Network and a Trustee of Sustainable Dorset and Richard Burden – on behalf of Cranborne Chase AONB.  Their comments related to the size of the proposed building, the effect on the AONB and disturbance of the archaeological site, the effect on the landscape plus the location of the attenuation pond.

The Head of Commercial Waste and Strategy (Dorset Council), one of the project sponsors addressed the committee in support of the application.

The Head of Planning reminded the committee that the site had been allocated through the Local Plan process and therefore the planning inspector had already confirmed its suitability.  The principle had been established through the plan.

In response to member questions Officers advised that there was no public pedestrian or cycle access to the site proposed in the scheme.  However, the existing footbridge link across the A350 to the east of the site might provide such access in the future if residential development to the east was approved and a suitable connection could be provided.

Officers were unable to give assurances that the current advisory one-way system for HGV’s on the adjacent strategic highway network would apply to this site but the presumption was that it would continue to be observed.

In relation to detailed conditions and landscape management plan, these matters had been agreed as acceptable by the Council’s landscape colleagues and more conditions were not considered necessary.  Proposals did not include the photovoltaic panels to be included at this stage and there were no plans for rainwater harvesting.

On balance the committee members were supportive of the application and the need for the facility in the area.  Although they would have liked to see the addition of solar panels and footpaths these were not part of the application and not defendable reasons for refusal.

It was proposed by Cllr Brenton and seconded by Cllr Jespersen.

Decision: that the application be granted subject to an amended condition to shorten the duration of the motion lights to a maximum of 5 minutes, unless agreed with local planning authority that due to operational reasons this needed to be longer, this could be agreed as part of lighting scheme.

Plus the conditions attached as an appendix to these minutes.