REPORT TO ACCOMPANY A REQUEST FOR A SCREENING OPINION · Report to accompany a request for a Screening Opinion at Hatfield Quarry Q:\Client Project Files \Cemex\Hatfield\Planning\Cut

$Page 1: REPORT TO ACCOMPANY A REQUEST FOR A SCREENING OPINION · Report to accompany a request for a Screening Opinion at Hatfield Quarry Q:\Client Project Files \Cemex\Hatfield\Planning\Cut$
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY

A REQUEST FOR A SCREENING OPINION

Cut Field, Hatfield Quarry, Oaklands Lane, Smallford, Hertfordshire

Report Prepared on behalf of: Cemex UK Operations Limited

Report Date: August 2013

Report to accompany a request for a Screening Opinion at Hatfield Quarry

Q:\Client Project Files\Cemex\Hatfield\Planning\Cut Field\Working Files\Screening Request

This report was prepared by PDE Consulting Limited on behalf of Cemex UK Operations Limited



CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. EXISTING DEVELOPMENT 3 3. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT 4 4. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 5 Agriculture and Soils 5 Hydrology and Hydrogeology 5 Highways and Traffic 6 Noise and Air Quality 6 Landscape and Visual Impact 6 Ecology 6 Cultural Heritage 6 Other Matters 7 DRAWINGS Drawing Number Title Scale P15/597/1 Location Plan 1:50,000 P15/597/2 Current Situation 1:5000 P15/597/3 Proposed Landform 1:5000 P15/597/4 Cross Section Through Proposed

Landform 1:1000


Q:\Client Project Files\Cemex\Hatfield\Planning\Cut Field\Working Files\Screening Request 1

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Cemex UK Operations Limited (the Applicant) proposes to submit a Planning Application to Hertfordshire County Council for the importation and final placing of engineering materials comprising soils, subsoils, clays, brick and concrete fragments and things of an inert nature, together with restoration to conservation and amenity afteruses at Cut Field, within the existing Hatfield Quarry site (the Quarry). Please see drawing numbers P15/597/1 and P15/597/2.

1.2 PDE Consulting Limited has been appointed to prepare the Planning Application in liaison with

company representatives and external consultants. 1.3 The Quarry is located three miles north east of St Albans town centre and two miles north west of

Hatfield town centre. The western boundary of Cut Field is delineated by Coopers Green Lane which connects Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and St Albans. Cut Field is then bounded by a residential dwelling to the north, together with agricultural fields, to the east it is bounded by quarry operations and to the south by quarry related activities and fields. Cut Field is to be accessed through an internal haul road and the wider Site is accessed from the public highway via Oaklands Lane.

1.4 Hatfield Quarry has been an active sand and gravel and waste site since the 1940/50's based on

planning records held by the mineral planning authority, the Quarry having been used as a disposal point for household waste at various times and locations. Since 1956 the Quarry has been the subject of further planning permissions for the continuation and expansion of mineral extraction, processing and restoration by the importation of wastes. The current sand and gravel workings take place approximately one to two kilometres north west of Cut Field with aggregates processing, storage and distribution taking place approximately one kilometre to the south west. The processing area is located within St Albans District Council and Cut Field is within Welwyn Hatfield District Council.

1.5 The proposed planning application is for the final restoration of Cut Field (the Site), through the

importation and final disposal of engineering materials comprising inert wastes and soils, together with restoration to conservation and amenity afteruses. In addition, permission is sought for a new temporary internal access road to connect the Site to the main processing area and, hence, to the wider road network. Including the temporary internal access road, the Site extends to approximately 6.93 hectares. The proposed landform is shown on drawing number P15/597/3 and a cross section through it is shown on drawing number P15/597/4.

1.6 It has been envisaged by the Applicant for many years that the Site was to form part of the silting

facilities for the wider Quarry, however, it is now considered that the Site is no longer required for silt disposal and, as a result, the existing void which creates an unnatural feature in the landscape, could be returned to something akin to its original form. In the context of this alternate land form, the restoration shall comprise a combination of conservation / ecological habitats and a landform which is stable and can shed water in a controlled manner. The aim will be to create a scheme that fits with the Watling Chase Community Forest aims and links to surrounding areas of woodland that are in proximity to the Site boundaries.

1.7 In time, this will provide an ecological corridor link between Hooks Wood, Sleeve Hall Wood, Cut

Field Wood, Round Wood and Home Covert. These existing woods, to an extent, form isolated parcels between St Albans and Hatfield and the proposals would help improve connectivity between them and provide a larger habitat to be exploited by the woodland species in the area.



1.8 Additionally, through initial ecological surveys, a small and isolated population of Great Crested

Newts has been identified which are potentially under threat in the longer term through habitat succession. Steps will be taken to enhance the habitat of this population and to preserve it for the long term. Limited public access is also being contemplated as part of the wider restoration proposals.

1.9 The continuing scale and nature of the Site, together with the developments proposed above, are

such that a formal assessment of its environmental effects is likely to be required in pursuance of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011.

1.10 The first stage of undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment is to request an opinion from

the relevant planning authority as to whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required or not.

1.11 This Screening Report has, therefore, been prepared to accompany a request for a formal

Screening Opinion in relation to the proposed development at the Site.



2. EXISTING DEVELOPMENT

2.1 The Site has already been worked for mineral extraction. The minerals extracted have been sands and gravels and these have been processed at the on site processing plant within the wider Quarry and sold as aggregates. Sand and gravel extraction continues in the wider Quarry with operations now progressing to the north of Coopers Green Lane. Historically, some of these graded sands and gravels have been used at the Quarry to produce ready mixed concrete whilst some material is bagged at the on site bagging plant operated by third parties. However, the majority has been sold to the local construction market and continues to do so.

2.2 In addition to the sand and gravel extraction a number of former extraction areas have been

infilled with a variety of materials which it is understood have included general household waste and more recently inert materials. The Quarry is already extensively monitored for leachate and a planning application is currently being determined for the construction of a new leachate control facility at the Quarry.

2.3 Over the life of the Quarry, waste has been used to reinstate the land to a variety of contours.

The waste which has previously been permanently deposited at the Quarry has comprised domestic, industrial / commercial and inert waste. The restored areas have primarily been restored to agriculture and are evidenced alongside Coopers Green Lane between Cut Field and Oaklands Lane. The proposed temporary access track to the Site will need to cross some of these restored areas.

2.4 Presently, restoration of the Site has been back to a combination of a variety of grassland habitats

with some woodland planting and open water. The planning application will seek to return the Site back to land specifically targeted to BAP Habitats, long term protection of a Great Crested Newt population and there is the potential for limited public access. The land form will be designed to more sensitively sit within its setting than that which has been achieved to date and wider habitat enhancement works are proposed.



3. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

3.1 The current restoration scheme for the Application Area is obtained from planning permission 6/0596-03 dated 04 February 2004 and is shown on drawing reference P7/597/20 attached to the consent. The restoration proposal shown on this plan provides a scheme that covers not only the proposed planning application area but also the water bodies to the south. The aim of that scheme is to create a wet and dry grass land bank with woodland planting along the northern and western boundary. Within the bowl of the excavated area there was intended to be a number of silt beaches that would periodically become inundated by seasonal rainfall. However, the Applicant now considers that such islands and beach areas etc are unlikely to occur due to the lack of silt. The proposed planning application will seek to replace the previous restoration proposals and enable the Site to be utilised as a resource for residual inert materials and result in a dry use that will link to the restoration aims stated in 2.4 above.

3.2 The Applicant considers that there is an inherent commercial value in the Cut Field quarry void

that could be exploited and that there is a sufficient quantity of inert materials that could be used to help return Cut Field back to a level close to its original.

3.3 The proposed restoration scheme will consolidate and improve upon the already approved

restoration obligations so that a landform can be created that is highly valuable in terms of nature conservation, is of benefit to the wider community and which sits appropriately within its landscape having met the necessary geotechnical considerations.

3.4 To achieve the final landform it will be necessary to permanently deposit around 0.62Mm3

(1.226mt) of inert engineering materials to re-contour the existing landform. It is proposed to import materials at a rate of approximately 175,000 tonnes per annum giving a duration of approximately seven years.

3.5 The amount of HGV movements at the Site based on these figures is approximately 72

movements per day (36 in: 36 out) on average although some of the vehicles will undoubtedly back haul aggregate and will, therefore, fall within the existing traffic movements. It is noted that the Quarry access is currently subject to a restriction of 250 HGV movements per day (125 in: 125 out) but that, historically, this has been periodically increased to facilitate 300 movements per day through the existing access (150 in: 150 out). It is envisaged that the Quarry, incorporating this proposed development, will operate within 300 HGV movements per day throughout the duration of the scheme and that, to allow for daily fluctuations in import rates, the Site shall generate up to 100 HGV movements (50 in: 50 out).

3.6 It is also proposed to construct a screening landform adjacent the north western Site boundary

which will serve to protect the visual and noise amenity of nearby residents at Coopers Green from the restoration activities in Cut Field. This will be removed as part of the final restoration of the Site.

3.7 The combined activities shall continue for approximately seven years from commencement with

an additional 1 -2 year period being required to finally restore the land and complete tree planting and seeding works. A period of aftercare will then follow on from that.



4. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

4.1 At this early stage it is considered that the development may have consequences for the following: Agriculture and Soils 4.2 The possible effects on soils resources and agriculture may include:

i. Loss of agricultural land ii. Impact on land quality iii. Sustainable use of soils resources iv. Effects on land drainage, agricultural access and water supplies. v. Effects on farm structure and viability vi. Effects of the restored landform and afteruse. vii. Conflicts with local, regional and national policies

4.3 It should, however, be considered that the substantial proportion of the land within the Application

Area is already restored to a mix of rough wet and dry grassland but the remainder is open water with limited woodland planting. None of the Site contains undisturbed land and the areas that have been re soiled are not best and most versatile agricultural land having only limited use. Due to the poor quality of the soils and landform around Cut Field the effects on agriculture and soils resources are expected to be negligible and the final landform is likely to be a better soil environment than exists at present. Additionally, all soils removed to form the access road will be stored adjacent to it and replaced once the access road is no longer required.

Hydrology and Hydrogeology 4.4 The possible effects on hydrology and hydrogeology may include:

i. Impacts on groundwater, quantity, quality and flows ii. Impacts on surface water, quantity, quality and flows iii. Impacts on neighbouring water abstraction iv. Effects on floodplain and flooding v. Effects on ecology vi. Impacts of final landform vii. Effects on neighbouring water bodies viii. Conflicts with local, regional and national policies

4.5 The effects of the proposals on hydrology will be examined in detail as the groundwater across the

wider district is thought to contain traces of bromate linked to previous manufacturing activities on the nearby airfield to the west. The advice already received is that the Site should not be dewatered to an off-site source although movement of water back into the strata or other existing waterbodies in the quarry will be acceptable as there is no increased pollution threat that would arise.

4.6 The application will be supported by a hydrological and hydrogeological impact assessment

drawing on existing knowledge of the wider Quarry.



Highways and Traffic 4.7 The possible effects on highways and traffic may include:

i. Impact of traffic on Oaklands Lane, and nearby junction ii. The suitability of the existing access arrangement to serve the development iii. Conflicts with local, regional and national policies

Noise/Air Quality 4.8 The possible effects on noise and air quality may include:

i. Identification of sensitive receptors ii. Assessment of impacts upon them iii. Conflicts with local, regional and national policies iv. Increased noise and windblown dust v. Longer exposure to noise and dust vi. Impacts on ecology

Landscape and Visual Impact 4.9 The possible effects on landscape and the visual environment may include:

i. Impacts on landscape character ii. Impacts on the visual nature of the Site iii. Impacts on visual receptors iv. Conflicts with landscape designations and policies

Ecology 4.10 The possible effects on ecology may include:

i. Impacts on habitats - on site and within zone of influence and along the proposed access road

ii. Impacts on existing flora and fauna, including protected species iii. Impacts on sites of conservation importance iv. Disturbance

Cultural Heritage 4.11 The possible effects on the cultural heritage may include:

i. Impacts on historic structures ii. Impacts on above ground and buried monuments and remains iii. Impacts on artefacts of anthropological origin.



4.12 It should, however, be considered a substantial proportion of the land within the Application Area

has at some point been used for the extraction of minerals and infilling with a variety of waste materials. So far as we are aware, the vast majority of the land has been previously disturbed as part of the ongoing operations at the Quarry so the prospect of there being archaeological remains within the ground is highly unlikely. It is, therefore, considered that no investigations into Cultural Heritage are warranted.

Other Matters 4.13 There may also be consequences for

i) Land Use and Rights of Way. ii) Existing and proposed services. iii) Socio-economic considerations.

4.14 The proposed access road crosses an existing bridleway and will be accommodated with an

appropriate crossing 4.15 This Screening Report has been prepared by PDE Consulting Limited to be submitted to

Hertfordshire County Council. It is considered that sufficient information has been included to allow Hertfordshire County Council to adopt an opinion.



DRAWINGS Drawing Number Title Scale P15/597/1 Location Plan 1:50,000 P15/597/2 Current Situation 1:5000 P15/597/3 Proposed Landform 1:5000 P15/597/4 Cross Section Through Proposed

Landform 1:1000

Application Boundary

Other Company's Controlled Land

KEY

Revisions

Drawn By:

Date:

Scale:

OS Ref:

Company:

Site:

Project:

Title:

Dwg No:

Planning DepartmentCEMEX UK Operations LimitedCEMEX House, Coldharbour LaneThorpe, Egham, SurreyTW20 8TD

Telephone 01932 568833Facsimile 01932 568933

Based on the Ordnance Survey Land Line Data with the permission of Her Majesty'sStationery Office, c Crown Copyright .Licence No.100018131

Chkd:

CEMEX UK Operations LimitedT Paiman

Aug 2013 Hatfield

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Location Plan

P15/597/1

1:50000 @ A4




Documents

REPORT TO ACCOMPANY A REQUEST FOR A SCREENING OPINION · Report to accompany a request for a Screening Opinion at Hatfield Quarry Q:\Client Project Files \Cemex\Hatfield\Planning\Cut