March 2009 Newsletter

PDP WINS APPROVAL FOR LARGE EXTENSION TO WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITY IN ASHBOURNE



Vital Earth Ltd is the largest and most advanced in-vessel composting site in the UK. The raw materials for the compost products are green & kitchen waste from kerbside collections and household waste and recycling centres (HWRC’s) in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Together with a sister site near Market Drayton Vital Earth can process over 70,000 tonnes of material otherwise destined for landfill sites.
Despite two recent fires at the site, which made for a highly controversial planning application, PDP was able to win consent for the erection of a large extension to the site’s Waste Reception Building. The development will allow Vital Earth Ltd to streamline on-site activities and processes, thus reducing the chances of future incidents. Derbyshire County Council’s planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the scheme on the 9th March 2009 and planning consent was granted.

March 2009 Newsletter

CONSTRUCTION OF FOURTEEN DWELLINGS FOR SPONDON ENGINEERING, NOTTINGHAM ROAD, SPONDON, DERBY

The 0.3ha site lies on the eastern edge of Derby in a mixed commercial and residential area.

Spondon Engineering is an expanding specialist engineering company relocating to larger premises. The rectangular site contains a former Victorian house, a large 1960s engineering building and a tall mobile telephone mast. The site is not allocated in the local plan for any specific use and pre-application discussions indicated that the site was suitable for residential use.

The application was prepared and submitted for eight houses and six flats. There were no objections from neighbours. The application was heading for an approval when problems arose because highway standards changed. A new head for the department also insisted on a strict interpretation of the new rules.

Detailed measurements were taken, sightlines were re-calculated and a new location for the access together with a new layout for the site, were developed. After six months of negotiation, proposals were finally supported and planning consent granted. The new rules prevented development of an adjoining site which three years before had been granted permission.
Changes in rules and changes in personnel cannot always be anticipated. Policy changes can also cause problems. The case reminded me that fate still can play its part. It was a good result but I was thankful that the geometry of the site to the road allowed the visibility standards to be met (just!).