Derbyshire villagers fear concrete plant scheme poses traffic, dust, and contamination hazards
There are concerns over plans for a new concrete plant in Unstone, near Dronfield
Concerned villagers have submitted objections to plans for a new concrete plant at a Derbyshire industrial complex claiming the scheme could pose problems with noise, dust, traffic and contamination.
NE Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee is due to consider Bear Concrete Limited’s application for a Lawful Development Certificate to erect a proposed ready mixed concrete plant with facilities at the Unstone Industrial Complex, on Main Road, in Unstone.
But residents and those with concerns have submitted 23 formal objections based on worries about feared problems including access along a narrow road and a bridge over the River Drone, noise, contamination of the River Drone with flooding issues, increased traffic, long operational hours and the impact on nearby nature and wildlife.
NE Derbyshire District Cllr Alex Dale, who oversees Unstone, said: “Like many of those who’ve been in touch with me recently, I have a number of significant concerns about what this development will mean for the area.
“It will bring obvious issues around noise, dust, traffic, the impact on nearby homes and businesses, including the fantastic Drone Valley Brewery and Tap, and the suitability of access via the narrow bridge and whether it can cope with huge concrete trucks.
“I’m also concerned about the proximity to the River Drone and the potential for contamination, particularly as there have been high profile flooding incidents in this area in recent years. The location just feels totally inappropriate for this sort of development.”
The proposed plant on an approximate 0.14 hectare site would have a maximum height of about five-and-half metres with storage silos up to nine metres high with a design layout to facilitate the safe manoeuvring of HGVs both on site and in the wider industrial complex, according to agent Dan Walker acting on behalf of the applicant.
Mr Walker added that the scheme is proposed to include aggregate bins, conveyor infrastructure, a batch cabin and three silos, each connecting to a mixing unit with additional water tanks.
It would also include a suitable drainage regime to capture all run-off to enable subsequent use of the water where required in the batching processes as well as for dust suppression, according to Mr Walker.
Cllr Dale has argued that the scheme represents a ‘substantial intensification of industrial activity’ on the site, rather than ‘a minor or incidental change’.
Neville Oxnard, who lives adjacent to the industrial complex, stated the current use of the site is small scale compared to this new scheme and he fears the proposals for the disposal of contaminated water are going to further contaminate the already polluted River Drone.
He also argued an increasing number of vehicles use the narrow single lane, access road which goes over a bridge and has an entrance to the main road crossing a cycle path with traffic coming from Unstone Hill presenting a safety hazard.
Mr Oxnard also claims any HGVs coming out of the site will need to use both lanes of the carriageway on Main Road when exiting towards Chesterfield.
He added that the nearby River Drone already causes annual flooding problems and he is worried about the proposed long operational hours, potential dust, noise and water disposal from the site and that contaminated wash-water could end up in the River Drone.
Mr Oxnard said: “I am objecting to the proposal because of its total unsuitability for this location for many reasons, even though the existing complex comprises industrial and commercial buildings together with external storage units.
“Historically, these have had little environmental and social impact compared with that of a ready mixed concrete facility.”
He added: “The general view of Unstone residents is one of being incensed at the inappropriateness of this development proposal. Unbelievable application in the circumstances.”
Dronfield Town Cllr Leah Coles echoed concerns about potential flooding issues with the River Drone and possible access difficulties with the turn into the site’s lane off a very busy road while fearing that views from a nearby country track will also be affected if the scheme gets the go-ahead.
She is also concerned about the impact on the nearby Drone Valley Brewery in terms of appearance, feared dust, pollution, noise and parking issues as well as any loss of space.
Unstone resident Christie Maskrey pointed out the site is next to the Metapic Woods Nature Reserve and it is also near to Dronfield Nature Park and she fears increased noise, dust, pollution, and human activity could pose a threat to biodiversity, disturbing species and degrading the quality of protected environments.
Cllr Dale warned the proposal is not a ‘normal planning application’ because it is a request for a Lawful Development Certificate which involves a more technical legal process so instead of deciding whether the proposal is acceptable the council must decide whether the development is already allowed under national permitted development rules.
He said the decision will focus on a specific legal test particularly whether the scheme is simply the ‘installation of additional plant or machinery’ within an existing industrial use or if it represents something more substantial and new with a significant change in how the site operates which would require a full planning application.
Cllr Dale added that another key consideration is whether the development would ‘materially affect the external appearance of the premises’.
Agent Mr Walker claims the nearest residential properties include a cottage about 150 metres to the north-west of the site and properties off Main Road at a similar distance to the south-east, but Mr Oxnard has disputed this claiming his property and another cottage are the nearest and most affected.
The proposed site, according to Mr Walker, is not near to any nationally significant landscapes, ecology or cultural heritage designations although he recognises woodland to the north is a Local Wildlife Site and this forms part of the wider Green Belt designation and as a consequence there is a local level of sensitivity in and around the site.
Mr Walker argued the proposed plant will make best use of the screening effects already afforded by the established trees to the north and the existing industrial and commercial units to the south and west.
He added that the intended low level nature of the proposed plant will ensure no impact on the openness of the Green Belt nor any breach on the tests of compatibility of development in the Green Belt.
The proposed layout has also been designed to facilitate the safe manoeuvring of HGVs, according to Mr Walker, both on site and in the wider industrial complex.
Mr Walker claims the scheme would be located in a ‘well-established industrial context’ and its installation and use could be undertaken in a manner aesthetically in-keeping with its industrial surroundings in an area that is relatively remote from residential development.
He argued the proposed plant would not ‘materially affect the external appearance of the premises’ arguing the proposed plant is of a similar height and scale of an existing maintenance shed.
Mr Walker stated: “Furthermore, the proposed location of the ready mix concrete plant is relatively remote from residential development and as such it is anticipated that the proposed development would not significantly impact on the amenity of such residential premises or any other potentially sensitive land uses in the vicinity.
“The proposed establishment and use of facilities for the stocking of materials – in this case aggregates – and the establishment and use of an enhanced water management regime is considered to be entirely compatible with the existing industrial land use.”
The scope for effects on local amenity would be further mitigated, according to Mr Walker, by the installation and use of the aggregates stocking bays in the north of the site which would be about four metres high and would provide a visual and acoustic barrier for the south and west of the site.
Mr Walker added: “The site is considered suitable for industrial development as evidenced by its existing land use and the range of planning consents granted through time both on the site and the wider industrial area.”
The deadline into the council’s public consultation into the application closed on April 29 and a decision to approve or refuse a Lawful Development Certificate for the scheme is expected to be considered at a council planning committee meeting in the near future.