Corby Energy Recovery Facility

Environmental Statement (June 2016)

Volume 3: Non-technical Summary

Clean Power Properties Ltd

CONTENTS

Introduction 1

Site Location 2

Development Description 3

Site Layout 4

Development Programme & Construction 5

Transport and Access 6

Air Quality and Odour 7

Noise and Vibration 8

Townscape and Visual Amenity 9

Ecology and Nature Conservation 10

Water Quality, Hydrology and Flood Risk 11

Soils, Geology and Contaminated Land 12

Site Waste Management 13

Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 14

INTRODUCTION

This document provides a non-technical summary of the

findings of the Environmental Statement (ES), which has

been prepared on behalf of Clean Power Properties Ltd to

accompany a planning application for the redevelopment of

land at Willowbrook East Industrial Estate, Shelton Road,

Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 5XH.

The Proposed Development is a bespoke Energy Recovery

Facility that has been designed primarily to recover energy

from pre-prepared Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) but is capable

of recovering available resources from mixed solid waste

feedstocks through an on-site fuel preparation plant should

sufficient RDF not be available at any time. Any segregated

materials from the fuel preparation plant will be sent off site

for recycling, or disposal where appropriate and residual

material from the process will then be transferred into the

fuel store for the gasifiers.

The Proposed Development provides a single treatment

facility for solid wastes which would otherwise be destined for

landfill or mass-burn incineration.

The Proposed Development will process up to 195,000

tonnes of waste . All activities will be enclosed in buildings

operated under negative pressure to mitigate potential odour

and noise impacts.

1

The ES identifies and records the results of the

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken to

examine the impacts of the Proposed Development. The

assessment examines the construction and operational

phases of the Proposed Development and considers the

environmental impacts the development will have on a

range of topics.

The ES suggests a range of measures to mitigate the

identified effects and, where opportunities exist, to

introduce improvement measures.

SITE LOCATION

The Site is located within the Willowbrook East Industrial

Estate, Shelton Road, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17

5XH. The Site is located approximately 2.2km

north‐east of Corby Town Centre at National Grid

Reference (NGR) 490910, 290830.

The Site is located in a predominantly light industrial

setting with the following activities around the Site:

• NORTH – A watercourse, known as Willow Brook

North Arm, with green space beyond. Rockingham

Speedway and associated facilities are located

beyond and to the north-east and north‐west.

• EAST – Shelton Road, in an approximate north to

south orientation, with light industrial properties and

unoccupied land beyond.

• SOUTH – Light industrial style properties.

• WEST – Car/vehicle storage area.

The majority of the Site is currently utilised as a car

storage area (i.e. tarmac roads with gravelled areas)

bounded with palisade fencing with the northern

elevation of the Site utilised for landscaping and as a

buffer from the adjacent watercourse.

Access to the Site is via Shelton Road on the western

elevation of the Site. The topography of the car storage

area is relatively flat lying at approximately 106m Above

Ordnance Datum (AOD).

2

The Proposed Development is a bespoke Energy

Recovery Facility that has been designed primarily to

recover energy from pre-prepared Refuse Derived Fuel

(RDF) but is capable of recovering available resources

from mixed solid waste feedstocks through an on-site

fuel preparation plant should sufficient RDF not be

available at any time.

Any segregated materials from the fuel preparation plant

will be sent off site for recycling, or disposal where

appropriate and residual material from the process will

then be transferred into the fuel store for the gasifiers.

The Proposed Development provides a single treatment

facility for solid wastes which would otherwise be

destined for landfill or mass-burn incineration.

The Proposed Development will process up to 195,000

tonnes of waste. All activities will be enclosed in buildings

operated under negative pressure to mitigate potential

odour and noise impacts.

3

DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION

Three gasification plant systems will gasify the fuel in a

reduced oxygen environment and convert it to synthesis

gas (‘syngas’). Gasification. The syngas is then

combusted to produce heat in an efficient process in three

boilers which heat water to produce superheated steam.

The steam from the boilers then passes into one steam

turbine and generator set which efficiently coverts the heat

energy in the steam into electricity which is then exported

to the grid, less any electricity that is used in the operation

of the plant. The gross electricity production is expected to

be c16.4 MW.

Steam or hot water can also be extracted for district

heating purposes.

The process will be regulated by an Environmental Permit

from the Environment Agency which will strictly control the

operation of the facility.

The proposed site layout is illustrated on the following

page.

SITE LAYOUT

4

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND CONSTRUCTION

5

The duration of construction will be approximately 18

months. The construction effects of the Proposed

Development would be managed through the

development of a project and site-specific Environmental

Management Plan (EMP). The EMP would be agreed

with the Local Authority and other relevant bodies prior

to the commencement of works, which as a minimum

would comply with the mitigation measures, set out

within the Environmental Statement.

The EMP would outline methods for contractor and

general public liaison, hours of work, methods to deal

with complaints and outline management practices to

control dust, traffic and access, waste, water resources,

ecological and archaeological effects, ensuring a high

level of control throughout the construction works.

The procedures within the EMP would ensure the

delivery of a high level of environmental control

throughout the construction phase, thereby minimising

the potential for adverse effects.

TRANSPORT & ACCESS

6

The Transport Assessment (TA) has been prepared

alongside a Transport Implementation strategy, comprising

a Staff Travel Plan (STP) and a Delivery & Servicing Plan

(DSP), which together provide the opportunity to reduce

staff dependence on travel by private car and seek to

influence all travel to and from the Site rather than merely

assessing its impact.

The Site has a good level of accessibility by sustainable

modes of travel. Residential wards within 2km lie within

walking distance of the Site and there are no barriers to

walking. A wider residential catchment can be reached by

bicycle using dedicated cycle facilities and lightly trafficked

residential roads. The Site also has good access to bus

services. There are anticipated to be further improvements

to the existing facilities as part of the on-going Priors Hall

Development. The Site is clearly well placed to promote

travel by sustainable modes of transport.

The internal layout of the Proposed Development has

been designed to allow for all vehicles to enter and leave

the Site in a forward gear and to prevent any queuing on

the public highway.

The transport impact of the Proposed Development is

determined by a comparison of the trips that might

realistically be generated by the existing uses, and the

Proposed Development. The DSP promotes

consolidation of vehicle usage but for a robust

assessment the TA assumes that all delivery vehicles

depart empty and all collection vehicles arrive

empty. Even taking account of the effect of these very

robust assumptions, the development would still result in

only nominal changes in traffic movements when

compared to the extant car storage use on the Site. The

changes to the local highway network would be less than

daily variation and would have no effect on highway

capacity or safety.

This assessment shows that even taking worst case

assumptions the Proposed Development would have a

neutral effect on the highway network and a neutral effect

on the remainder of the transport network

AIR QUALITY AND ODOUR

7

An air quality assessment has been undertaken to

determine potential impacts arising from the construction

and operation of the Proposed Development.

The Site does not fall within an Air Quality Management

Area (AQMA) and background pollutant concentrations

are below relevant objectives in the immediate area.

A qualitative assessment of the impact of dust generating

activities during the construction phase has been carried

out and has concluded that construction related effects

are predicted to be negligible.

Detailed air quality modelling has been undertaken to

predict the impacts associated with stack emissions from

the process. Maximum off-site process concentrations

are predicted to be negligible at all receptor locations.

Emissions associated with operational traffic flows

associated with the Proposed Development have also

been identified as negligible.

Odour impacts associated with the Proposed

Development will be minimised by the design of the

facility, abatement plant and the implementation of an

Odour Management Plan. Residual impacts from odour

are considered to be negligible at all receptor locations.

NOISE & VIBRATION

8

The noise and vibration assessment has considered the

noise and vibration effects of the Proposed

Development; specifically the effects of existing

conditions on the development and the effects of noise

and vibration generated by the Proposed Development

on surrounding properties, during both construction and

operational phases.

The assessment has been based on a series of

environmental noise measurements undertaken at the

Site and noise predictions to identify any noise impacts

that are likely as a result of the construction and

operation of the Proposed Development.

During the construction phase of the development,

there is likely to be a negligible effect on nearby

receptors and although the construction works are

temporary by their very nature, mitigation measures

have been formulated to minimise the noise

disturbance. With appropriate mitigation in place the

significance of effects will be negligible at all existing

and proposed receptors.

During the operational phase of the development, the

noise impacts will have a negligible effect on existing

residential receptors due to the appropriate design and

mitigation of the buildings.

TOWNSCAPE & VISUAL AMENITY

9

The townscape and visual impact assessment

methodology has considered the sensitivity, magnitude of

change and significance of the Proposed Development

during construction and operation on the townscape and

resources, and visual amenity.

In terms of townscape, the Site is well suited for the

Proposed Development, occupying allocated brownfield

land adjacent to an industrial estate in an urban fringe

location. There are no designated landscapes,

Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings or Scheduled

Monuments nearby. The potential visibility of the stack

from the grounds of the Grade I listed Kirby Hall, which

lies 2.5 km to the northeast, has been assessed. Digital

visualizations indicate that the stack will remain below the

horizon, even when viewed from the upper windows of

the hall. The Site is already well screened from its

surroundings and this will also apply to the Proposed

Development, although the stack will be a noticeable

addition to the skyline from some local viewpoints within

the urban area.

The Proposed Development provides an opportunity to

establish a more structured and organised use of the

Site, which will be beneficial in terms of townscape.

Visual impacts during construction will be relatively short

in duration, well shielded by existing industry and

planting, and of no greater than a negligible negative

significance.

A native hedgerow will be planted along the south and

west boundary to provide some screening and establish a

wildlife corridor. The existing tree cover to the north and

east will be retained. The Proposed Development will

have no significant adverse effects on visual amenity

within this industrial area and even glimpsed views of the

stack will be seen in the context of other stacks and tall

industrial structures in the vicinity.

ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION

10

The Site currently comprises a large car storage facility with

a thin strip of grassland in the north of the Site, with scrub

and trees present along the eastern Site boundary. There

are no Statutory Designated Sites present within the desk

study search radius (2km).

Potential effects on the Nene Valley Nature Improvement

Area and the un-named Potential Wildlife Site are

associated with runoff, dust and lighting created during the

construction and operational phase. These will be mitigated

to a negligible level.

The effect on bats is associated with potential loss of

foraging/commuting through the increased light spill on-site.

This effect will be mitigated to a negligible level. The effect

on reptiles is associated with the potential for accidental

damage to suitable on-site habitats during construction

works. This effect will also be mitigated to a negligible level.

The effect on Great Crested Newts (GCN) is associated

with the potential for accidental damage to suitable on-site

habitats and killing/injury of GCN during construction works.

These effects will be mitigated to a negligible level.

The effect on Badgers is associated with the potential for

accidental damage to suitable on-site habitats. This effect

will be mitigated to a negligible level. To ensure legal

compliance with The Protection of Badgers Act, a survey for

active setts within 30 metres of all Proposed Development

activities is proposed prior to commencement of

construction works.

Additional enhancement measures will include creating a

set-aside grassland area, a pond, the installation of artificial

reptile and GCN hibernacula and the creation of a native

species-rich boundary hedge.

The Water Quality and Hydrology assessment considers the

potential effects of the Proposed Development on the water

environment in the local area. The key considerations

consist of the potential effects on the Willow Brook North

Arm, the underlying groundwater, flood risk and water

demand.

The Willow Brook North Arm is currently recorded as having

a moderate ecological status and this is predicted to

improve to good by 2027. The key potential effect relevant

to the Willow Brook North Arm and the underlying

groundwater is the risk of remobilising contamination

potentially present on the Site during the construction

period. In order to verify contamination conditions, a

comprehensive intrusive investigation will be undertaken

prior to construction. The findings of the investigation will

be reported to the Local Authority and a strategy for dealing

with any contamination will be prepared and agreed with the

Local Authority. It is considered that it will be possible to

eliminate or minimise all significant pollution linkages to an

acceptable level as part of this mitigation procedure.

Further potential effects during the construction and

operation of the Proposed Development include

contamination arising from general construction activities or

through routine Site drainage. Mitigation has therefore

been recommended in the preparation of (and adherence

to) a Construction Environmental Management Plan

(CEMP). With this implemented, the risk of contamination

to surface water and groundwater will be minimised.

WATER QUALITY, HYDROLOGY & FLOOD RISK

11

The Site is not located within floodplain and, therefore,

there is little or no risk of the Site flooding from rivers or the

sea. The Site is also not vulnerable to flooding from

groundwater, sewers or reservoirs.

Potential effects relevant to flood risk are associated with

managing surface water runoff from the Site. The Proposed

Development will not increase the rate of runoff and,

therefore, will not result in an increase in risk. However, in

line with current policy, runoff will be managed to provide an

overall betterment compared to the current land use.

The proposed foul sewerage loading is considered to be

minor and is therefore not anticipated to adversely affect

local treatment work capacity and/or associated

infrastructure.

In summary, given the location and nature of the nearest

sensitive receptors, the overall environmental effect of the

Proposed Development in relation to water quality and

hydrology following implementation of the proposed

mitigation measures is considered to be negligible.

SOILS, GEOLOGY & CONTAMINATED LAND

12

It is considered that the migration of compounds off-site is

highly unlikely due to the presence of the low permeability

boulder clays and the low solubility of the contaminants.

The remediation of the Site in 2000-2001 was designed to

reduce infiltration and direct any rainwater or runoff into

the dedicated subsurface drains and surface water

systems. Remediation involved the reworking and

levelling of the Site, with validation samples taken of the

surface soils to confirm soil concentrations were below

the acceptable concentrations, prior to capping with

imported crushed natural stone. Venting of any

underground gasses was facilitated by construction of

perimeter granular trenches.

In order to verify contamination conditions, a

comprehensive intrusive investigation will be undertaken

prior to construction. The investigation will include an

assessment of land gas conditions at the Site, with gas

monitoring undertaken over an appropriate period of time.

The findings of the investigation will be reported to the

Local Authority and a strategy for dealing with any

contamination and/or ground gas identified will be

prepared and agreed with the Local Authority.

It is considered that it will be possible to eliminate or

minimise all significant pollutant linkages to an acceptable

level with appropriate (localised) remediation.

The Soils and Geology assessment considers the historical

and current use of the Proposed Development site with

respect to the potential for existing land pollution

(contaminated land). It details the findings of a desk-based

environmental study of the Site and considers the potential

impacts of disturbance of the soils on the Site associated

with the Proposed Development. It also considers the

potential for contamination to arise from the Proposed

Development.

The Site once formed part of a larger area of Corby

involved in ironstone quarrying, associated with the

steelworks and coke production. The Site itself had been

previously worked for Northampton Ironstone using

opencast methods during the 1920/30s. Over some of the

Site sludge lagoons were formed in the depression left by

the ironstone workings.

The Site has been subject to numerous intrusive

investigations between 1983 and 1996. The 1996

investigation by Frank Graham Consulting Engineers

concluded that the Site is of low sensitivity to the

transmission of pollutants arising from the steelworks

waste. The identified source of contaminants on the Site

was the former sludge lagoons which contained elevated

concentrations of heavy metals (primarily Zinc), occasional

elevated concentrations of lead and high sulphur/sulphate

concentrations.

SITE WASTE MANAGEMENT

13

The facility will process up to 195,000 tonnes of waste per

annum through the gasification process in order to

generate Syngas which will result in the export of

electricity.

The gasification plants largest waste stream will be bottom

ash. Any ash produced by the gasification plant will be

used off site as a secondary aggregate material (i.e.

recycled). Air Pollution Control (APC) residues from the

emissions abatement system will be removed off-site for

either landfilling and/or recycling (where possible).

Rejected input waste streams are estimated to be in the

region of 1,500 tonnes per annum. Any rejected loads will

be sent for landfilling.

The main waste water stream once the Site is operational

will be sanitary wastewater from the toilet blocks,

washrooms and catering facilities associated with the

plant. The plant will require a permit to operate from the

Environment Agency (EA). As part of the permit

application process the EA will require the operator to

demonstrate that all wastes generated will be recycled, as

far as is practicable, and that wastes are handled in

accordance with best available techniques (BAT). In

addition, it will be necessary for the Operator to satisfy the

EA that their proposed techniques for collecting, handling

and storing waste materials will be adequately controlled.

During the construction phase demolition rubble and

excavated soils will be generated. Sustainable solutions

will be implemented to enable, as far as applicable, the re-

use of waste materials and avoidance of landfill disposal.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

14

An assessment of the effects of the Proposed

Development on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage has

been carried out. This has established that Roman and

Saxon archaeological remains have been discovered

approximately 800m to the east.

Between the 18th and the early 20th centuries the Site

was under agricultural land either side of a watercourse

which demarcated the boundary of the historic parishes

of Deene to the north and Weldon to the south. In the

18th and 19th centuries this land was probably farmed by

the occupants of a farmstead directly to the north-west.

However, the Site was quarried in the 1940’s and this

would have removed evidence for any associated

buried archaeological remains.

Designated heritage assets are present in the wider

vicinity the nearest of which is the Grade II listed

Weldon Lodge approximately 750m to the east. The

historic significance of the settings of these

designations will be unaffected due to their distances

from the Site and intervening development.