Haulage and storage use at Site of Fawley Power Station, Fawley Road, Fawley

The site

The 1.75-hectare site is a flat, hard-surfaced area in the north-western part of the former power station site.

“Specifically, the application site relates to an open area of land towards the north-western corner of the former power station site, between Western Road and the former power station's western boundary with the New Forest National Park. The site is flat and entirely hard surfaced. Access to the site would be via the main access road serving the former power station. Other parts of the former power station site are currently being used for temporary storage purposes.”

Officer report

The officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended temporary permission because the use would provide short-term economic benefits and would not prejudice longer-term development by 2027.

“As a permanent use, a continued B8 Storage and haulage use would be contrary to Policy Strategic Site 4 of the Local Plan and would not be justified. However, a short-term temporary permission until the end of 2027 would continue to deliver short-term economic benefits and would in principle be justified whilst more long-term proposals for the wider power station site are being prepared and brought forward.”

“RECOMMENDATION Grant Temporary Permission Proposed Conditions: 1.The use hereby approved shall cease on or before 31st December 2027. Reason: The application site forms part of a Strategic Site allocation that is expected to be developed in accordance with Policy Strategic Site 4 of the New Forest District Local Pan 2016-2036 Part 1. The proposed development would not be in accordance with this policy.”

Officer report

The main impacts

Officers considered highway, noise, landscape, heritage and ecological impacts acceptable, subject to operating-hour and storage-height limits.

“Noise and amenity impacts 10.22 Noise and amenity impacts must be considered in the light of Policy ENV3 of the Local Plan, which requires development to avoid unacceptable effects by reason of noise pollution or other adverse impacts on local character or residential amenity. The nearest residential properties to the proposed storage and haulage area are about 370 metres away on the site's western side.”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

Eight residents objected over HGV traffic, highway safety, noise, dust, breaches of operating hours, cumulative impacts, economic benefits and visual effects.

“9REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED 8 letters of objection from local residents: ·The existing temporary uses have resulted in a significant increase in HGV movements on nearby roads, which creates significant noise disturbance, vibration impacts and dust, to the detriment of residential amenities. This is exacerbated by the surface and condition of the B3053 highway.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent, transport consultant, land agent and ward member attended, with two participants present to answer questions only.

The committee’s debate

Members noted the policy conflict and existing temporary permissions, and considered a one-year extension sufficient for a further application to be submitted.

“Cllr Hartmann declared a non-pecuniary interest as the local ward member and as a member of Fawley Parish Council, which had commented on the application. He reported that he had not expressed a view on the application and concluded there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.”

“Members at the meeting noted that temporary permissions had already been granted for a number of years and that the proposed haulage and storage use on the site was contrary to Policy Strategic Site 4 of the Local Plan. It was recognised that longer- term proposals for the wider power station site were being developed and members felt that temporary permission should only be approved until 31 December 2026.”

Minutes

The final decision

The committee granted temporary permission but changed the expiry date to 31 December 2026.

“Grant Temporary Permission (see note below)”

“As set out in the report, written update note and with an amendment to condition 1 to grant temporary permission to 31 December 2026, rather than 31 December 2027.”

Minutes