Prior Approval for a Proposed Change of Use of Agricultural Building to Class B8, New Lane, Girton, Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire, NG23

Case Study Reference: CS18-08-03

Planning Authority: Newark and Sherwood District Council

Planning Reference: Newark and Sherwood District Council and 18/01057/CPRIOR

Synopsis:

 

Given the history of the site (poultry sheds) a contaminated land planning condition was attached to the decision notice for the proposed development.

The first stage of discharging the condition was to prepare a Phase I desk study report in order to determine if the site has the potential to be impacted by elevated levels of contamination, and to determine the source as well as the likelihood of the risk occurring.

A desk study determines what issues relating to historical contamination may affect the site, this is undertaken by reviewing the site history using a combination of O.S. maps, aerial, plates and street level imagery, a review of data held by regulatory bodies (Environment Agency, local authority, BGS etc.) as well as a site walkover survey.

The history of the site and surrounds were researched using a combination of Ordnance 18Survey (O.S.) maps, street level imagery and aerial plates, this revealed the site was developed between 1953 and 1971 when the site was partly occupied by a poultry house with further development on subsequent maps.

An electricity substation was noted on the northern boundary on the 1992 map.

The planning history of the site was reviewed as part of the desk based research and any reports associated with previous application and the subject were located and studied, no salient information was obtained.

The published geological maps identified the site as being underlain by blown sands which in turn were underlain by the Mercia Mudstone Group As no publicly available boreholes for the areas were available from the BGS no further information on ground conditions could be obtained.

Data provided by regulatory bodies confirmed the presence of a a pit t the north of the site as well as an electricity substation and tanks adjoining the site.  A pollution incident 21m north fo the site was also identified, which had a minor impact on soils.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken, this confirmed the site formed part of the adjoining poultry sheds (demolished at the time of the survey)  and was the distribution / packing area. At the time of the survey the site was disused with significant overgrowth in the external areas.

Once the walkover survey was completed a qualitative risk assessment was undertaken on the potential sources of contamination identified in the desk study report in order to determine if any warranted further investigation, this concluded that given the low sensitivity of the proposed end use (B8) the only potential pollution linkages was associated with water mains and it was proposed that water mains are specified as barrier pipe.

The report was submitted to discharge the contaminated land planning condition (18/01878/DISCON) and the condition partly discharged.