**Document:** Ballaughton Nurseries Composting Slab Planning Support **Application:** 05/01358/B — Construction of a reinforced concrete composting slab, 1.2m high push walls and a self contained rainwater drainage collection sump **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2005-09-01 **Parish:** Douglas **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/78908-braddan-ballaughton-nurseries-ballaughton/documents/1449685 --- # Ballaughton Nurseries Composting Slab Planning Support ## Borough of Douglas ### Ballaughton Nurseries Composting Slab #### Planning Application Support Document 430/04/21 RT-IM-286 --- July 2005 051358 RECEIVED ON 20 JUL 2005 DEPT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT ## Ballaughton Nurseries Composting Slab [Table omitted in markdown export] ## Planning Application Support Document [Table omitted in markdown export] ## Only Controlled Copy Holders Will Be Issued With Amendments To This Document. ## Please Destroy All Superseded Copies Or Clearly Mark Them As "Superseded". Distribution Record (optional – for use on the original/office copy only instead of a form PQP6/2) [Table omitted in markdown export] ## Contents [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Appendix A Schedule of Planning Application Drawings ## 1. Introduction This document is intended to supplement and support an Application for Planning Approval on behalf of Douglas Borough Council for the construction of a reinforced concrete composting slab, 1.2m high push walls and a self contained rainwater drainage collection sump. ## 2. Location Of Proposed Scheme The proposed scheme is to be constructed within the grounds of Ballaughton Nurseries, Douglas, National Grid reference SC 235740E, 476035N. Ballaughton Nurseries is the operational base for Douglas Borough Council's Parks and Gardens department. The Douglas Local Plan, 1998, designates this area as nursery gardens surrounded by predominantly residential housing and some private woodland. ## 3. Outline Of Scheme The proposed scheme comprises the construction of a 45m x 30m x 0.3m thick reinforced concrete slab surrounded on three sides by a 1.2m high x 0.25m thick reinforced concrete push wall for the composting of vegetation. At the south west corner of the slab an underground reinforced concrete drainage sump shall be constructed to collect rainwater runoff that falls on the composting slab. The proposed scheme will replace an existing composting scheme currently in operation on the site. The current arrangement has no facility to contain rainfall runoff, this being largely uncontrolled surface water runoff from the site to the surrounding area. ## 3.1 Drainage Rainfall falling onto the composting slab will be directed towards "Aco" channel drains or similar approved located around the periphery of the composting slab. Flows will then be channelled towards a drainage sump located at the south west corner of the slab. The capacity of the drainage sump has been designed to accommodate runoff from a 1 in 5 year winter storm event falling on the slab over a 24 hour period. The sump shall be self contained and emptied using a mobile Vactor tanker for disposal elsewhere under a trade discharge consent to be agreed between Douglas Borough Council and the Isle of Man Government Department of Transport Drainage Division. ## 3.2 Landscaping On the North West and South West boundary of the composting slab an earth bund shall be constructed from excavated material obtained from grading of the composting slab and excavation of the drainage sump. The bunds shall be landscaped by Douglas Borough Council's Parks and Gardens department once the works are completed to provide a windbreak to the composting slab. It is envisaged that this windbreak will comprise a hedge screen of an evergreen planting on top of the approximately 1000mm high earth bund. ### 3.3 Access and Traffic Management Access to the proposed works shall be via an existing access road serving Ballaughton Nurseries from the A5, New Castletown Road. As the access road to Ballaughton Nurseries is shared with local residents in Ballaughton Meadow, Ballaughton Gardens and Harcroft Meadows, as well as the Albany Tennis Club, the Contractor shall liaise with the Department of Transport (Highways Division) to discuss traffic management on the shared carriageway with local residents. This will also include discussions on traffic management of vehicles entering and exiting the access road from the A5, New Castletown Road. The site compound will be located within the grounds of Ballaughton Nurseries close to the site of the proposed works. To minimise movements of large vehicle removing excavated material from site, it is proposed that material removed from the grading of the slab and in excavating the drainage sump will be formed into bunds around the periphery of the push walls. ### 3.4 Entry onto Site As the proposed site is within the grounds of Ballaughton Nurseries, normal access to the General Public is not permitted. The Ballaughton Nurseries site will be shared with employees of Douglas Borough Council's Parks and Gardens department, so suitable demarcation fencing designating the site from the operational nursery shall be required. ### 3.5 Noise During construction, the Contractor shall employ the best practicable means as defined in the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to minimise noise and vibration resulting from his operations and shall have regard to BS 5228 1999 (Code of Practice for Noise Control on Construction and Open Sites). In particular: (a) The Contractor shall ensure that all vehicles, equipment and machinery used are fitted with effective exhaust silencers and that all parts of such vehicles, equipment and machinery are maintained in good repair and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and are so operated as to minimise noise emissions. (b) Only sound reduced compressors shall be used, and any equipment or panels fitted by the manufacturer for the purpose of the reduction of noise shall be maintained and operated so as to minimise emission of noise. Any pneumatically operated percussive tool shall be fitted with muffler or silencers which shall be kept in good repair. (c) The Contractor shall follow guidance relating to the requirements for noise control described in the following British Standards and UK government publication: - Code of Practice for Noise Control on Construction and Demolition sites BS 5228, 1975, especially Parts 1 and 2 - Code of Practice for Reducing the Exposure of Employed Persons to Noise (HMSO). Once operational, there will be the occasional delivery to the slab of material to be composted, as well as the removal of composted material. This movement, however, will be largely seasonal as less material will be available for composting during the winter months. A JCB or similar front end loader vehicle will also be operated on the slab to heap the material for composting and also to turn the heaps over to allow for the material at the bottom to be oxygenated. ### 3.6 Dust Construction activities on the site will inevitably generate dust. It shall be a Contractual requirement for the Contractor to employ dust suppression measures at the site, including: (a) Water spraying of construction working areas in roads during particularly dry periods of the construction phase (b) Potentially dusty material stockpiles shall be covered, and wherever possible, enclosed (c) Where necessary, stockpiled material shall be kept damp to avoid wind erosion (d) Where applicable Potentially dusty vehicle loads shall be covered during transportation (e) Regular mechanical sweeping of the approach roads ### 3.7 Bio-aerosols The composting scheme proposed by Douglas Corporation is not large scale, with approximately 3250m³ envisaged as being stored on the site. Composting can produce bio-aerosols and odour which if not managed may become a nuisance. Therefore best practice shall be employed to prevent this. To minimise bio-aerosol emissions as well as assist with the prevention of odour emissions, the following operational measures shall be implemented by Douglas Corporation: - The moisture control of the heaps shall be increased by regular wetting with mist sprays - Checking and turning of the heaps on a frequent basis - this ensures they remain aerobic (i. e. that sufficient oxygen is contained within them). - The use of sweepers and water vehicles to control dust in roadways leading to the site The nearest property to the proposed site is located approximately 95m away. Within a 250m buffer to the proposed site, there are 267 properties. ### 3.8 Working Hours During construction, the Contractor's working hours will be: (a) Monday to Friday: 08:00hrs to 18:00hrs (b) Saturday: 08:00hrs to 14:00hrs (c) Sunday and Bank Holidays: not permitted. Once operational, the composting slab will be operated during normal Douglas Corporation Parks and Gardens working hours, Monday to Friday. ### 3.9 Mud and Detritus It is envisaged that mud and detritus will not be tracked on the public highway as vehicle movements will be largely restricted to the access track serving the composting slab. Any mud that is deposited will be removed by the sweepers discussed in section 3.7 above. ### 4. Waste Disposal Licence Douglas Corporation are aware that a waste disposal license is required for the proposed composting operation at Ballaughton Nurseries and have been advised that a waste licence application would not be considered until planning permission has been granted. Once planning approval has been granted, Douglas Corporation shall apply for a waste disposal license to the proposed site for composting. --- *Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).* *Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/78908-braddan-ballaughton-nurseries-ballaughton/documents/1449685*