Sectors

Energy & Natural Resources

Alliance Planning has a dedicated team responsible for the provision of all aspects of planning advice for natural resources. This includes preparing planning applications and Environmental Impact Assessment's (EIA) for new sites and extensions to established sand and gravel, clay, open cast, limestone, building stone and silica sand sites together with cement, and oil and gas storage facilities.

New Silica Sand Processing Plant and Quarry Extension

Client: WBB Minerals

The development of the first industrial sand processing plant in the UK for 20 years and the extension of the quarry to provide 4 million tonnes of industrial sand. The site lies within the Surrey Green Belt and Surrey Hills AONB and the site is of national importance, supplying a significant proportion of total UK industrial sand production.  The site was consented and the development of the plant is now complete and operational.

Judkins Landfill Site, Nuneaton

Client: Waste Recycling Group

Planning application, environmental impact assessment and waste management licence application for a materials recycling facility, incorporating a waste transfer station, invessel composting, windrow composting, etc.

Norton Disney Quarry

Client: CEMEX UK Operations Ltd

Early in 2007 Alliance secured planning permission for the extraction of 2mt of sand and gravel as an extension to their important Norton Disney Quarry in Lincolnshire. The unit is one of the most profitable in the UK for the company and the consent has secured the immediate future of the site.   The proposal involves the restoration of the site to a landform suitable for nature conservation through the creation of areas of wet woodland and small lakes. Public access has been enhanced at the site through a series of new footpaths, and the creation of a car park and bird hides. Alliance has now been instructed to prepare a submission to secure reserves in the locality for the next 20 years through the development of Swinderby Airfield. An application is expected to be submitted in the first quarter of 2008.

New Onshore Oil and Gas Installations

Client: Star Energy plc

Alliance has been instructed on a series of oil and gas projects on behalf of the Star Energy Group plc. Planning permissions have been secured for vital infrastructure at a number of oil and gas fields throughout the south-east, including new gas storage facilities important in increasing the security of UK energy supplies. More recent applications propose additional infrastructure that will enable the importation of Cooled Natural Gas for use in existing power generators. If successful the development will enable the recovery of over a million standard cubic feet of natural gas per annum that at the moment has to be flared.  A decision is expected in 2008.

Binnegar Quarry, Dorset

Client: SITA UK Ltd

Alliance planning succeeded in winning planning approval on behalf of SITA UK Ltd for a major new Environmental Park delivering sustainable waste management facilities at its Binnegar Quarry Site near Wareham, together with the restoration of the previously worked 74 hectare quarry.

The application had two primary objectives: the rationalization and enhancement in the overall environment of the existing quarry, including former working areas; and the development of a new integrated waste recovery and recycling centre.

In terms of the first objective the permission will facilitate, the restoration of the site, part of which will be transformed into dry and wet heath and acid grassland, wetlands, ponds, hedgerow and woodland areas. The development will also see the establishment of an environmental education and visitor centre.

With regard to the environmental park, facilities will be established that will include for the composting, sorting and separation of recyclable materials from kerbside collections. Screening and crushing facilities will also facilitate the production of secondary aggregates from construction and demolition waste.
The development is subject to a Section 106 legal agreement.

Divethill Quarry, Newcastle

Client: CEMEX UK
Date: 2008

Alliance Planning secured, on behalf of CEMEX UK, a 1.6 million tonne extension to the Company’s existing operations at Divethill Quarry in Northumberland.  Key to the granting of the consent was the resolution of Noise, Ecological and Restoration issues.

This important consent safeguards a further 8 years of production at the quarry and will see the area eventually restored to a mix of agricultural grassland, species rich grassland and the creation of specific areas of rare Whin Sill Grassland.

This success is the third in as many months that Alliance has achieved for CEMEX UK.

Queen Mary Reservoir, Middlesex

Client: Reservoir Aggregates
Date: 2008

Alliance Planning has obtained planning permission for Reservoir Aggregates at Queen Mary Reservoir located within the Surrey Green Belt.

The approval was for a development package involving the removal of the breakwater baffle in the reservoir and will result in the extraction of 1.25 million tonnes of sand and gravel; the importation of as-raised mineral; the siting of a recycling facility and details of restoration, and landscaping on land to the west of the reservoir.

The development package is subject to a Section 106 legal agreement.

Singleton Oilfield

Client: Providence Resources Plc
Date: 2008

Alliance Planning in association with Procyon Oil and Gas has been successful in achieving planning permission on behalf of Providence Resources Plc at its existing Singleton Onshore Oilfield at Singleton Forest in West Sussex within BERR Licensed area PL240.

The development involves the drilling of four additional production wells, together with an extension to the existing oilfield compound which lies within a highly sensitive environment designated as Ancient Woodland and an AONB.

The application which was submitted in June 2008 sought to increase production levels to around 850 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), although it is hoped that 1000 BOPD per day can be achieved.

The West Sussex Planning Committee unanimously approved the application in September 2008.

Wind Farm, Carnedd Wen, Powys

Client: Npower renewables

Alliance Planning prepared tourism, land-take, social/economic and community impact assessments for inclusion in the Environmental Impact Assessment to accompany an application under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and Section 90(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for a new wind farm that was submitted to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in December 2008. Carnedd Wen is located in north Powys in close proximity to Snowdonia National Park.

The Carnedd Wen wind farm consists of 65 turbines that have an overall energy generating capacity of between 130-195 megawatts (MW), and a maximum turbine height of 137 metres. The wind farm will generate sufficient renewable energy to meet the average annual electricity needs of between 63,000 and 94,500 homes.

Energy from Waste Facility

Client: Oxfordshire County Council

Alliance Planning were retained by Oxfordshire County Council to prepare expert planning evidence (proof of evidence and rebuttal proof) to support the County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a 300,000 tpa Waste to Energy Facility at Ardley, Oxfordshire. The facility will generate 24MW of energy from low carbon technologies.
 
The project included the presentation of evidence at the Public Local Inquiry held in July 2010 and assistance in the production of cross examination material. 

Fforch Nest Wind Farm, Bridgend, Powys

Client: Npower Renewables

Alliance Planning was retained to prepare a planning policy assessment in respect of the proposed wind farm on behalf of Npower renewables.  The wind farm comprises eleven turbines with a maximum height of 115m. The facility will generate 22-27.5MW of energy which is sufficient to meet the average annual electricity needs of 12,800 homes.

The assessment was utilised as part of the public consultation exercise undertaken by the Npower Renewables during 2006. 

Biomass and Anaerobic Digestion Facility, Cannock

Client: H.E. Humphries Ltd

 

Alliance Planning acted as planning agents on behalf of H.E. Humphries Ltd in respect of the development of an energy generation facility on an existing Green Waste Composting Facility in Cannock, Staffordshire.

The Site is located in the West Midlands Green Belt and will have a through-put of approximately 40,000 tpa of food, wood and green waste. The facility will generate in the order of 2-2.5MW of green electricity that will be exported from the Site to the National Grid. Planning permission for the scheme was granted in February 2010.

Our role involved the preparation of a Planning Supporting Statement and the co-ordination of supporting assessments associated with the preparation of the planning submission together with close liaison with the local residents, Parish Council, Planning Authority and other statutory consultees.

Gonsal Quarry, Shropshire

Client: Salop Sand and Gravel

Alliance Planning is retained by Salop Sand and Gravel to prepare a planning application for an extension to an existing specialist sand and gravel operation at Gonsal Quarry, Shrewsbury.
 
The Application proposes a co-ordinated masterplan of working and restoration including the existing Quarry site and the proposed extension areas in order to avoid sterilising important mineral resources and create one of the largest protected species habitats in the County for Great Crested Newts. The proposal will facilitate the construction of enhanced access arrangements and additional community benefits including the provision of permissive footpaths.
 
Alliance Planning prepared the Planning Supporting Statement and co-coordinated the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment. The project has involved extensive negotiations with a large number of statutory stakeholders including local residents, Shropshire Council, the Highways Agency and Natural England
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Oakamoor

Client: WBB Minerals

Alliance Planning was instructed by WBB Minerals to produce a Master Plan for the redevelopment of the former Moneystone Quarry at Oakamoor on the Staffordshire Moorlands. Alongside DS Architects, Alliance developed an eco-leisure and tourism concept for the former silica sand quarry, maximising the dramatic topography, water features and ecological value of the site. The Master Plan proposals formed the basis of the preferred options for the emerging Local Development Framework.


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