The technical assessments undertaken to inform the application have been completed in accordance with up-to-date guidance and standards. The conclusion of the technical assessments is that there is no single issue or combination of issues that should prevent the proposed development from proceeding. The proposed development would be acceptable in terms of highway capacity and safety, would not cause adverse public health and safety impacts or unacceptable adverse amenity or visual impacts. The carefully designed layout scheme would ensure that there would not be a significant adverse effect on designated or important habitats and species and that no additional flood risk would be caused.

LANDSCAPE STRATEGY

TRAFFIC IMPACT

AFFECTS TO HEALTH

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

ODOUR

Landscape Strategy

The overall strategy is to maintain and enhance the existing landscape structure of woodland blocks, with hedgerows and trees to contain and integrate the proposed development into the wider landscape. The Landscape Strategy is shown in Figure 4-3 below.

A significant amount of new planting is proposed as shown in the Landscape Strategy (Figure 6), prepared as part of the Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal (LVIA) which supports this planning application.

Offsite measures which would allow the existing hedgerows and hedgerow trees to be retained and managed with additional emergent trees maturing. The aim would be to increase the height of the hedgerow to a height of 2.5 to 3m. Any gaps would be infilled with native trees and / or shrubs and any non-native invasive plant species would be removed, as appropriate. ‘

The design of the proposed AD facility has been carefully considered so as to ensure that the appearance of the proposed AD facility blends into its rural setting as much as possible. Design measures include the careful consideration of colour palette to integrate structures within the surrounds, careful siting of development infrastructure within the site, and the careful use of external lighting.

Traffic Impact

The traffic forecast in the Transport Statement indicated that for the majority of the year (10 months) the proposed development would generate 38-44 HGV/tractor trips per day associated with local farming operations, which equates to 76-88 HGV/tractor movements. On the basis of a 10 hour working day and an even traffic profile, this level of traffic would equate to an average of 4-5 loads or 8-10 movements per hour.

Proposed site traffic generation levels would then peak associated with seasonal harvest periods. This would likely be restricted to two weeks in June and July (Rye Silage) and two weeks in September (Maize Silage). Predicted traffic levels would peak for two weeks in June and July with up to 80 HGV/Tractor trips per day, which equates to 160 HGV/Tractor movements; a lesser peak is forecast to occur in September and October with up to 72 HGV/Tractor trips per day, which equated to 144 HGV/ Tractor movement.

The Transport Assessment (ES Chapter 9) confirms that the proposed scheme has been reviewed in terms of highway safety and operational capacity and it has been concluded that, subject to the implementation of a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) to manage the seasonal traffic peaks, there would be no detrimental impacts to the local highway.

A robust design and assessment process has demonstrated that the scheme proposals adhere to the appropriate safety standards, with the necessary operational capacity to ensure that there will be no detrimental impacts to the local highway.

Environmental concerns

This application is supported by a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessment, which states that the proposed development against the current baseline indicates that an increase in biodiversity performance of the Site of approximately 19% in habitat and 102% in hedgerow can be achieved.

The land quality assessment determined that the proposed development would have a negligible impact on human health and controlled waters during the operational phase. The facility will be regulated as a permitted activity by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016.

Up to 100% of rainwater would be captured and reused within the AD facility processes and an appropriately sized rainwater detention pond and swale is included in the design. No cumulative impacts on the water environment are anticipated as a result of the proposed development.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (updated July 2021) states, in paragraph 2, that planning law requires applications for planning permission be determined in accordance with the development plan,

“an environmental objective – to contribute to protecting and enhancing our natural, built, and historic environment; including making effective use of land, helping to improve biodiversity, using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy.”

we would be adhering to all of these criterions.

The Biodiversity Net Gain assessment indicates that the project is likely to deliver an increase in the habitat biodiversity value of the site of up to 19% and in the linear habitat (hedgerow) an increase in biodiversity value of the site of up to 102%. By demonstrating a level of enhancement at or greater than a 1% change the proposed development, in line with recent caselaw, is considered to satisfy the current requirement for biodiversity enhancement under the National Planning Policy Framework. The level of net gain also satisfies the future ambition of 10% BNG set out within the Environment Act.

The Preliminary Land Quality Risk Assessment (PLQRA) which supports this application recommended a Site Investigation (SI) as a result of the closed landfill close to the Site. Overall, it was concluded that on the basis of the initial findings of the ground investigation, no identifiable sources of on-site contamination have been identified. No made ground is present across the Site and there were no visual or olfactory indications of contamination present.

The Heritage DBA concluded that that the development would be fully compliant with Policies 51 and 59 which covers landscape and the historic environment. In terms of flooding, Acorn Bioenergy will operate the Site in full compliance with their environmental management systems, the environmental permit and following best practice. They will ensure the plant is also compliant with the Anaerobic Digestion Quality Protocol, the Biomethane Quality Protocol, and the British Standards Institute Publicly Available Specification for Digestate.

Affects to health

The land quality assessment determined that the proposed development would have a negligible impact on human health.

Odour

Crop silage and grass would be unloaded and stored in the silage clamps, which would be constructed with pre-cast concrete sloping wall panels that are filled with earth for additional strength. The clamps will have a hard wearing and acid resistant rolled asphalt floor and be fitted with a protective sheet to preserve the feedstock and reduce odour.