Location
Tiverton, Devon
Client
Menchine Farm AD Ltd
Project
Menchine Farm
Menchine Farm
Pegasus Planning was instructed to act as Project Managers to provide full planning advice for a 1MW Anaerobic Digestion Plant with ancillary equipment and on-site infrastructure at Menchine Farm, near Tiverton in Devon.
Pegasus entered into early pre-application discussions with the Local Planning Authority and statutory consultees in order to provide informed planning input to the design derivation process. Pegasus was also appointed to co-ordinate the EIA Screening Process to determine that an Environmental Impact Assessment would not be required.
We provided detailed planning and landscape advice to the client as part of informed revisions to the scheme. This resulted in a full application being prepared and submitted, consisting of a Planning Statement and a Design and Access Statement. The submitted documents provided a detailed assessment of the proposal in planning terms.
The application also involved the production of a detailed Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment by Pegasus Landscape Design who then provided ongoing input into the design process, with advice on impact mitigation and engagement with issues of highways, transport and air quality.
A number of issues arose following the application submission, from both the Council and the local community. The issues included feedstock sourcing, in response Pegasus produced information and mapping to demonstrate the numerous sustainability benefits of the scheme. The planning process has required specific understanding of waste management policy, from international to local level as it forms an integral aspect of planning for anaerobic digestion.
As a result of ongoing engagement with the Local Planning Authority and statutory consultees Pegasus received a positive recommendation from the Planning Officer however the application was ultimately refused by Council Members.
Our client decided to appeal the decision and this will proceed throughout the end of 2011.
