84-space car park at Environmental Services Hub, Middlewich

The site and surroundings

The site is vacant hardstanding beside the environmental services hub, between Cledford Lane and Faulkner Drive, in an industrial and commercial setting.

“The application site is a 0.59ha parcel of vacant hardstanding located to the east of the Cheshire East environmental services hub site in Middlewich. The application site comprises a northern and southern parcel of land, connected by a linear strip. The site is situated between Cledford Lane and Faulkner Drive.”

“The Trent and Mersey Canal – Kent Green Conservation Area runs along the canal corridor to the west of the Environmental Services Hub site. The application site is located within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) impact zone, and consultation zone of a major hazard site, and is located within an ecological network core area, and restoration area in the Cheshire East Site Allocations and Development Policies Document (SADPD).”

Officer report

Earlier applications

The site history includes the environmental services hub permission and a later approved non-material amendment; a separate vehicle-movement application was also submitted.

“A separate application has been submitted for the variation of a condition on 15/2355W reference 26/0343/VOC to increase the number of vehicle movements permitted at the Environmental Services Hub site to account for the increase in parking proposed by this application. This is also being considered at Strategic Planning Board.”

“15/2355W - The construction and operation of a waste transfer station and refuse derived fuel processing facility, the refurbishment of existing site buildings to provide offices, a vehicle maintenance workshop, an MOT Test Centre, environmental services accommodation and ancillary development including car parking.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval with conditions and a £176,000 internal financial transfer towards the Middlewich Eastern Bypass.

“That, for the reasons set out in the report, the application be APPROVED, subject to the formal notification of an internal transfer of the financial contribution of £176,000 towards the Middlewich Eastern Bypass;”

“1) Commencement of development (3 years) 2) Approved plans 3) Restriction on storage heights of materials or equipment to match that imposed on permission 15/2355W 4) Implementation of the travel plan approved under 15/2355W.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal would support food waste collection and recycling, fit the industrial surroundings, and have acceptable highway and environmental effects with mitigation.

“The proposal aligns with the principles contained within the NPPW and CRWLP policy 1 in that it prioritises previously developed land, supports an essential existing waste management facility and assists in increasing waste collection capacity, thereby helping to increase recycling rates and move waste up the hierarchy which supports the principles of sustainable waste management.”

“Overall, it is considered that with the extensive range of proposed mitigation secured by planning condition, this would control the impacts to within nationally acceptable standards and any remaining adverse effects of the development would be acceptable and would not be sufficient to outweigh the economic benefits presented in terms of supporting the provision of a new food waste collection for residents as part of the wider strategic waste management service, and…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Consultees raised no objections overall, subject to conditions and mitigation covering ecology, highways, drainage, contamination and other matters.

“Flood Risk Management - no objection subject to conditions requiring implementation of the submitted drainage strategy and restriction on the maximum drainage rate…”

“Contaminated Land – no objection subject to conditions for an updated conceptual model, phase II ground investigation and risk assessment, and if deemed necessary, a subsequent remediation strategy and verification report, along with conditions for dealing with unexpected contamination.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An agent and the applicant attended the meeting and made representations about the application.

The committee vote

The committee resolved to approve the application as recommended, subject to the bypass contribution and conditions.

“That application 25/4821/FUL be APPROVED as per the officer’s recommendation, subject to the formal notification of an internal transfer of the financial contribution of £176,000 towards the Middlewich Eastern Bypass, and subject to the following conditions:”

Minutes