PLANNING, DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT South … Application/625000/62… · planning permission for the replacement of Outwoods No. 1 Reservoir at Reservoir Road, Burton upon Trent

PLANNING, DESIGN ANDACCESS STATEMENT

South Staffordshire Water PlcOutwoods Reservoir, Reservoir Road,

Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2BP

lisa.robertsText BoxP/2014/00693

Received 02/06/14

Planning, Design and Access Statement

South Staffordshire Water Plc Outwoods Reservoir, Reservoir Road,Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 This Planning, Design and Access Statement has been prepared to

accompany an application submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council

on behalf of South Staffordshire Water Plc. The application seeks full

planning permission for the replacement of Outwoods No. 1 Reservoir at

Reservoir Road, Burton upon Trent.

1.2 The application is made following pre-application discussions held with East

Staffordshire Borough Council. This comprised of a site visit with the Area

Planning Officer, Mr. Brown, on the 26th July 2013 and a subsequent

meeting on 12th December 2013 to discuss the form and content of the

application.

Environmental Impact Assessment

1.3 This application relates to an installation designed to hold water and store it

on a long-term basis. As the area of works proposed does not exceed 1

hectare, the proposed development falls below the threshold contained in

Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact

Assessment) (England & Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended) and as

such an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required in this instance.

Land Use/History

1.4 The application site is part of South Staffordshire Water’s existing

establishment at Reservoir Road, Burton upon Trent. Outwoods Reservoir

No. 1 is a covered clean (treated) water storage reservoir that was built in

1881 to service Burton upon Trent and the surrounding area. The reservoir

has been updated since it was first constructed and has been continuously

monitored and maintained. The reservoir has now reached the point where

age and increasing maintenance costs means that it is now necessary to

replace it with a completely new reservoir.

1.5 The Outwoods Supply Zone, of which Outwoods Reservoirs No. 1 and No. 2

are part, includes most of Burton upon Trent, Rolleston on Dove, Barton



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under Needwood, Alrewas, Fradley and Streethay, and as far as the

Company’s Water Treatment Works at Seedy Mill near Lichfield. Within this

area, there are approximately 25,662 properties with a total average

demand of 23 mega litres per day (23,000,000 litres). The process of water

arriving at the reservoirs is explained in the document provided at Appendix

1 which was prepared prior to the initial public consultation with local

residents on 27th January 2014.

Layout

1.6 Following ground investigation works undertaken by consultants to South

Staffordshire Water, it is proposed that the replacement reservoir will be

largely sited upon the existing Outwoods Reservoir No. 1, albeit that it is

proposed to turn the reservoir through 90 degrees. The siting of the

proposed reservoir relative to the existing reservoir can be seen on the

proposed site plan (drawing MMD-329332-S-DR-303 Rev P5).

Amount

1.7 The existing Outwoods Reservoir No. 1 measures some 145 metres by 100

metres with an overall height of 8 metres. It is largely contained by earth

bunding that is grassed giving the site a green appearance from the

surrounding area.

1.8 The proposed reservoir will measure some 135 metres by 75 metres and

have an overall height of 12.5 metres. As with the existing reservoir, it will

be surrounded by earth banking which will be covered in grass so that it has

a green appearance.

Appearance

1.9 As with the existing reservoir, the proposed reservoir will be surrounded by

earthworks which will be graded and seeded with grass so that the reservoir

will largely have a green appearance from the surrounding area. The

entrance to the reservoir on its north western elevation will be constructed



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in brick. The details of the brick will be submitted to the Planning Authority

for their approval in writing before the development is commenced.

Landscaping

1.10 There are no landscape features of significance within the vicinity of the

proposed reservoir. The proposed development can proceed without the

requirement to remove any existing tree or landscape feature.

1.11 During the public consultation that was undertaken prior to submission of

this application, a number of residents enquired as to whether or not

landscaping could be undertaken along the boundaries of the site,

particularly alongside the Reservoir Road frontage to the site. The fact that

there are very few trees within the application site is due to the fact that

there is a complete network of pipes and other plant beneath the ground

which makes planting of trees, or indeed shrubs, completely impossible

without such landscaping impacting upon the operational activities of South

Staffordshire Water.

Ecology

1.12 The application site has been subject to an Ecological Appraisal which is

submitted as an application document. It is evident from the Report (see

paragraph 4.8) that the botanical interests within the site are limited due to

the nature and location of the site, with plant species present being

generally common and widespread. The report identifies no implications for

protected species. The recommendations of the Ecological Appraisal can be

secured through appropriate conditions upon any planning permission that

may be granted.

Access

1.13 The proposed access will utilise the existing vehicular access to the

Outwoods Reservoir from Reservoir Road. The proposed works do not



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require any alterations to be made to the access, or the existing parking

arrangements.

1.14 During the consultation undertaken prior to the submission of this

application, residents were concerned regarding the potential for conflict

with traffic associated with the dwellings on Reservoir Road and local

schools. To minimise the impact of traffic from the development, it is

proposed that the traffic be controlled in accordance with the details

contained in the Construction Management Plan that is submitted with this

application.

Public Consultation

1.15 Prior to the submission of this application, a public consultation was

undertaken with local residents. Public meetings were held at the Albion

Pub on Shobnall Road on 27th January 2014 and 8th May 2014. Copies of

the letters sent to local residents advertising these meetings and the

documentation that was prepared for the meeting are enclosed at Appendix

2. Details of the proposed development are also posted on South

Staffordshire Water’s website and copies of the relevant pages are enclosed

as Appendix 3.

1.16 As is evident from above, the scheme proposals have been amended and

adjusted to take on board the responses received from local residents.



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2.0 PLANNING POLICY

2.1 The Development Plan includes the East Staffordshire Local Plan. The East

Staffordshire Local Plan was adopted in 2006. The application site is located

outside of but immediately adjacent to the Development Boundary defined

for Burton and District on Inset 1 to the adopted East Staffordshire Local

Plan. Local Plan Policy NE1 relates to development outside Development

Boundaries and indicates that such development will not be permitted

unless it cannot be reasonably located within a settlement and is either

essential to the efficient working of the rural economy or comprises

development appropriate to the countryside. Any such development must

not adversely affect the amenities enjoyed by existing land users, must

relate satisfactorily to the proposed site and its setting, having appropriate

means of access.



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3.0 PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

3.1 This proposal relates to the replacement of the existing Outwoods Reservoir

No. 1 at Reservoir Road, Burton upon Trent. Outwoods Reservoir No. 1 is a

covered clean (treated) water storage reservoir. It was built in 1881.

Although the reservoir has been updated and maintained on a regular basis

since construction, the reservoir has now reached a point where age and

increasing maintenance costs means that it is necessary for it to be replaced

by a completely new reservoir. The new reservoir is required in order to

maintain a secure supply of water to the customers of South Staffordshire

Water. Outwoods Reservoir No. 1, together with Outwoods Reservoir No. 2

which lies to the north west, is part of the water supply network within the

Outwoods Supply Zone within which there are in excess of 25,000

properties. With more development planned within this area, it is important

that the reservoir is replaced in order to maintain a secure water supply.

3.2 The proposed replacement reservoir will be sited largely upon the site of the

existing Outwoods Reservoir No. 1. Following technical surveys undertaken

on the site, a decision has been taken to turn the reservoir through

90 degrees such that the narrowest “elevation” of the reservoir is now

facing towards Reservoir Road. As with the existing reservoir, the proposed

replacement reservoir will be surrounded by earth embankments which will

be seeded with grass such that it has a largely green appearance from the

surrounding area. The proposed replacement reservoir will not be

materially taller than the existing reservoir it replaces.

3.3 The site is below the threshold for Environmental Impact Assessment. The

application site has been subject to an Ecological Appraisal; there is no

ecological interest to preclude the development from proceeding. There are

no significant trees within the application site, largely due to the network of

pipes and other plant beneath the surface that relate to the two reservoirs.

This would also preclude any new planting from taking place within the

site’s boundary.



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3.4 The application site lies outside of but immediately adjacent to the

Development Boundary defined for Burton and District in the East

Staffordshire Local Plan. The new reservoir is evidently required to maintain

and maximise the water output to South Staffordshire Water’s customers.

The new reservoir can only be provided close to the existing reservoir that is

to be replaced. The proposed replacement reservoir, by virtue of its

location, design and scale will not be readily noticeable in the locality. As

with the existing reservoir to be replaced, the reservoir will largely be seen

as an area of grass banking from the surrounding area. In these

circumstances, the proposed replacement reservoir would not have a

material impact upon the visual amenity of the surrounding area.

3.5 It is submitted that some considerable weight should be given to the

operational requirements for the proposed replacement reservoir to provide

continued water output to South Staffordshire Water customers, both

existing and proposed. In these circumstances, it is submitted that the

proposed development is justified in terms of Local Plan Policy NE1.

3.6 As part of the public consultation exercise undertaken prior to the

submission of this application, local residents raised concerns about the

potential for construction traffic associated with the proposed development

impacting upon the local highway network and in particular conflicting with

traffic associated with local schools. South Staffordshire Water has liaised

closely with the Headmistress of the Shobnall Primary School, along with

the Principal of Tiddlywinks Nursery. South Staffordshire Water have

produced a Construction Management Plan which is submitted as an

application document. As part of the Construction Management proposed,

deliveries to and from the site will be required to avoid the hours 08:35 to

09:15 and 15:10 to 15:50; i.e. there will be no deliveries during the hours

when children will be arriving at and leaving the local school. The

Construction Management Plan also includes provisions to minimise the

impact of the construction upon local residents including hours of operation

and provision for cleaning the road during the construction process. The



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provisions of the Construction Management Plan can be secured through the

use of appropriate condition upon any planning permission that may be

granted.

Conclusions

3.7 South Staffordshire Water needs to replace its aged Reservoir No. 1 at

Reservoir Road, Burton upon Trent. The reservoir needs to be replaced in

order to maintain and maximise the water output to existing South

Staffordshire Water customers. The proposed replacement reservoir is

largely sited upon the site of the existing reservoir to be replaced. The

proposed reservoir, in terms of its appearance when completed will be of a

similar appearance to the reservoir to be replaced; that is, it will be viewed

largely as an area of grassed banks. The reservoir will largely be screened

from public view by it being contained by earth embankment which will be

grassed giving the site a green appearance from surrounding areas. The

design and appearance of the reservoir is therefore consistent with the

surrounding character and appearance and relates satisfactorily to the

application site. In view of the operational requirements to replace the

existing reservoir, it is submitted that the proposed development is justified

in terms of Local Plan Policy NE1. In these circumstances, planning

permission should be granted.



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4.0 APPENDICES

Appendix 1 : Document prepared for public consultation on27th January 2014

Appendix 2 : Copies of letters sent to residents advertising meetingson 27th January 2014 and 8th May 2014, together withdocumentation prepared for those meetings

Appendix 3 : Relevant pages from South Staffordshire Water’sWebsite showing details of the proposed development

CET/DY/4071

23rd May 2014



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Document prepared for

public consultation

on 27th January 2014

A

P

P

E

N

D

I

X

1



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Copies of letters sent to residents advertising

meetings on 27th January 2014 and 8th May 2014,

together with documentation prepared for those

meetings

A

P

P

E

N

D

I

X

2



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Relevant pages from

South Staffordshire Water’s Website

showing details of the proposed development

A

P

P

E

N

D

I

X

3

PLANNING, DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENTSouth Staffordshire Water plc

Outwoods Reservoir, Reservoir Road,Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2BP

Our Reference: CET/DY/4071Date: 23rd May 2014

CT Planning LimitedTrafalgar House 20a Market StreetLichfield Staffordshire WS13 6LH

Tel: 01543 418779Fax: 01543 418115

Email: [email protected]

Documents

PLANNING, DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT South … Application/625000/62… · planning permission for the replacement of Outwoods No. 1 Reservoir at Reservoir Road, Burton upon Trent