Agenda item

To consider an application for Variation of condition 3 of planning permission 47/2012/1120 to include "the anaerobic digestion of food waste and/or non-waste crops" (copy attached).

An application was submitted for the variation of condition 3 of planning permission code no. 47/2012/1120 to include “the anaerobic digestion of food waste and/or non-waste crops”.

Councillor Merfyn Parry left the meeting after declaring a personal and prejudicial interest in this agenda item.

The Senior Minerals and Waste Planning Officer gave a brief background to the application.

This was an application to allow greater variance in feedstock to fuel an Anaerobic Digester developed and contractor to deal with residual food waste collected by Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire Local Authorities.

The plant became operational in 2014 and the basic Concept was –

Putrescible food waste was brought to site, it was macerated, broken down anaerobically by microorganisms where the gas was extracted and used to fuel a generator to produce in the region of 1MW of electricity annually. The material left over still contained the nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium which was then utilised by local farmers to spread on land as manure.

This application was to vary the feedstock to allow for the processing of non-waste crops e.g. grasses, rye, maize in addition to food waste within the facility. It was stressed that this was not an application to increase the capacity of the plant. It was purely an application to vary and process more consistent feedstock.

The site was regulated and controlled by way of planning conditions and Environmental Permit.

As part of the planning process objections were received in relation to possible negative effects the feedstock variance would have on Farming, The Welsh language and Culture locally, the lack of landscaping, effects on local amenity by way of noise and odour and highway impacts.

Some of these concerns were material and others immaterial to the application process however, had been addressed within the report presented to committee.

General Debate –

Members highlighted that the site currently used 80% of its capacity and this application would allow for the remaining 20% capacity to be used. Members added that the cereal and the maize being brought to the site would only be from a small radius in the locality which assisted in keeping the Cabon Footprint of the operation low.

Councillor Chris Evans expressed his concerns regarding the surrounding farmland and that the proposal did not adhere to the first planning application that was granted in 2013, regarding the landscaping of the area and questioned the commitment of the contractor that this would be adhered to going forward.

The Development Management and Building Control Manager explained that they were aware of some concerns around the original consent and the compliance with the planning conditions. This matter was dealt with under the Planning Compliance process, and this would be looked at. At this present time, he was not aware of any significant complaints that had been submitted recently in regard to landscaping however, officers had passed this onto the Planning Compliance Team to investigate. This would not prevent the planning application being granted as it related to a different condition within the plan. There were planning conditions that limited the use of the plant which were dealt with by environmental permits and regulations. If any further concerns were raised there were processes in place to investigate them.

Proposal – Councillor Alan James proposed the application be granted in accordance with officer recommendation, SECONDED by Councillor Delyth Jones.

Vote –

For – 15

Against – 0

Abstain – 0

RESOLVED: that the application be GRANTED in accordance with the officer recommendation.

           Meeting concluded at 10.20am