Agenda item

To determine the application

Alison Hoffman presented the report to members:

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the public participation procedure, from Mr Rob Edwards, the Agent

Mr Edwards stated that he represents the applicant, Adapt Biogas, as they seek to gain full planning permission for the construction of an anaerobic digestant lagoon at Somerset Farm, which will replace an identical lagoon that gained planning permission from Fenland District Council in 2018, but remains unbuilt and the proposed location of the new lagoon is 105 metre to the east of the previous site proposed in 2018. He made the point that the footprint of the new lagoon partly overlaps that of the existing permission and the reasonfor changingthe locationis toavoid theneed todivert aditch, whichpasses throughthe westernpart of the previous application area and the new location also better integrates into the existing field boundaries.

Mr Edwards explained that the nearest propertiesto theapplication siteare thoseon CantsDrove tothe northand GullDrove tothe south and the new location does not involve building any closer to these properties than was previously proposed in the 2018application. He stated that the applicant wishes to acknowledge that construction of the lagoon banks has already commenced, but this was completedunder thecontrol ofthe previoussite management and thenew sitemanagement team,which hasbeen in place since early January, has since ceased works to await the planningdecision.

Mr Edwards stated that the proposed lagoon is intended to serve the adjacent anaerobic digestion plant, trading as Murrow AD Plant Ltd, and the plant itself has been in operation for approximately 10 years, producing clean and renewable biogas from agriculturalfeedstocks. He stated that the sitehas recentlysuccessfully developeda connectionto theNational Gridgas transmission network, allowing biogas to be directly injected into the gas distribution and supply network, displacing fossil-fuel based natural gas use and this is the first development of its kind anywhere in the UK and is seen by National Grid as an exemplar project that it wishes to promote to other similar businesses in support of its decarbonisationagenda.

Mr Edwards explained to members that digestate is a bi-product of the anaerobic digestion process and it has a significant value for agricultural irrigation andfertilisation, replacingmains waterand chemicalbased fertiliserrespectively withassociated environmental benefits. He stated that as irrigation and land-spreading is generally only required seasonally, storage capacity in the form of a lagoon is required which will fill during the winter months and be emptied over the growing season.

Mr Edwards advised that, in 2013, Fenland District Council gave planning permission for a digestate storage lagoon at this location and, in 2018,a secondlagoon wasgranted planningpermission tothe eastof theexisting ADplant, but construction ofthis lagoon wasnot completedat thetime, andit isnow proposedto constructat anamended locationas described.  He made the point that all practical and operational details remain exactly as that previous permission, only the red line boundary has changed.

Mr Edwards stated that he is aware ofthe ParishCouncil’s objectionrelating totraffic andodour, buthe suggestedthat these issues are unchanged from the 2018 permission, and both are addressed through the current application and made the point that it remains the case that the 2018 permission can be lawfully implemented by the applicant should the current application not succeed. He stated that, in terms of concerns with regard to odour, reinforced plastic sheeting will be used to cover the lagoon, which will preventsurface waterevaporation andwind strippingand, therefore,odour.

Mr Edwards stated that, ofthe fiverecommendations relating to odour provided by the Council’s Environmental Health Officer, the applicant has confirmed that four have alreadybeen implementedand thefifth, relatingto installationof awind recordingstation onsite, will beaccommodated. He added that it is recognised thattraffic generationis asensitive issueand hasbeen akey considerationfor otherapplications at thislocation, but the operationof thelagoon itselfwill notgenerate significanttraffic as itis filledby pipeline fromthe ADplant andemptied seasonallyfor irrigationto localagricultural land;the majorityof thesemovements already occur through the operation of the first lagoon, but the current application will allow greater buffering capacity and, therefore, more even timings of vehicle movements throughout the spreadingseason.

Mr Edwards explained that the longer-term intentionis thatthe additionaldigestate storageprovided bythe lagoonwill allowmore material from the adjacent farm to be treated through the digester (as opposed to being taken off-site as at present) facilitatinga reductionin vehiclemovements and the installationof thesecond lagoonwill alsosupport thebusiness case for installation of an umbilical spreading system, reducing the long-term reliance on roadtransport. He stated that the addition of the lagoon will support the continued success of an innovative, high technology local business, allow better management of the process and cause little to no adverse effects and for this reason he would hope to see planning permission granted, with forthe reasonsdescribed no additionalconditions tothe 2018permission beingjustified, but respected that the final decision rests with thecommittee.

Members asked officers the following questions:

·      Councillor Sutton referred to the presentation screen and asked for clarification to be provided on the dimensions on one of the slides as he wished to check that there was enough width to allow for maintenance of the existing drain. Officers confirmed that the measurements were 4.5 metres and 10.9 metres. Councillor Sutton stated that he would have like to have seen a slightly greater width than 4.5 metres included.

Members asked questions, made comments, and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Sutton stated that the road surface by the plant is in an awful condition and is not roadworthy for vehicles and the Highway Authority need to take steps to improve its condition.

·         Councillor Connor stated that he is aware that road improvements were due to take place in Cants Drove by the Highway Authority.

Proposed by Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Connor and decided that the application be APPROVED, as per the officer’s recommendation, with an informative to added to the permission in relation to there being sufficient space to adequately maintain the drainage ditch.

(Councillor Mrs French left the meeting at 14.45pm and took no part in the discussion or voting on this item)