Planning application S24/0568 - Find a freedom of information request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request information related to the Transport and Traffic assessment conducted by Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), as the Local Highway Authority, with respect to planning application S24/0568 submitted to South Kesteven District Council (Erection of an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility and carbon capture, improvement of existing and part creation of new access track, landscaping and other associated infrastructure on land south of Sewstern Road, Gunby, Lincolnshire NG33 5RD). This request is made to assist preparation of a submission in any appeal against planning permission being refused.

Excluding relevant documents related to S24/0568 that are already available on South Kesteven District Council's Planning Portal.

https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planning-building-control/planning-development-management/search-planning-applications

I request all other recorded information including official documents, drafts, emails, notes, and audio and video recordings, that relate to highways matters of this application.

Specifically:

1) Communication with the applicant, or their agent, that discussed the likely location of the satellite storage hubs to store 80,000 tonnes of input energy crops, and output solid digestate and liquid biofertiliser.

2) Communication with the applicant, or their agent, that discussed the new junctions onto the Gunby-Sewstern Road - and measures to control HGV traffic crossing that road, which has a 7.5t weight limit.

3) Review of the application Transport Statement undertaken by LCC to verify the conclusions reached by the applicant, particularly with respect to the impact of over twelve thousand HGVs per year (rather than 'all traffic' types) on the highway network immediately adjacent to the site, and on vulnerable road users sharing that network - and to assess worse case scenarios.

4) Assessment undertaken by LCC on the potential level and safety impact of HGVs queuing on the highway network during peak harvest delivery periods.

5) Consideration by LCC of appropriate planning permission conditions and/or a Traffic Management Plan, including routing restrictions such as prohibiting HGVs from travelling along the Gunby-Sewstern road.

6) Copy of LCC policy, or guidelines, that directed LCC Highways Officers to request the applicant publicly identify the likely locations of satellite hubs in application S/216/01812/24 East Lindsey District Council, but not in this application - when the number of HGV trips between the respective satellite hubs and main sites ('Just in Time' JiT deliveries) are almost identical (13 per day harvest period & 18 per day non-harvest period for S/216/01812/24, and 17 per day all year round for S24/0568), and both applications impact local highway routes that are unsuitable for HGVs (eg S24/0568 constructing an entirely new junctions across the 7.5t weight limited Gunby-Sewstern Road).

7) Communication with South Kesteven District Council Planning Officers that relate to highway matters of application S24/0568.

1). Conversations regarding this took place on the phone and are not available

2). Attached email

3-5). The transport statement was assessed, and our conclusion was that there would be no detrimental impact on highway safety or severe accumulations.

6). This was an experience-led request, rather than being guided by policy or guidance. Due to the nature of the road layout at Wragby Traffic lights, southbound HGV traffic can find a left turn maneuver restrictive due to the tight turn and railings on the footway. As such, further information was requested to understand how the proposals movements would impact this junction and if they could be avoided.

7). Attached is the response to SKDC and details of any PAD meetings would be held by SKDC foi@southkesteven.gov.uk

All the attachments mentioned in this email are already available via the SKDC planning portal

Should you require the attachment mentioned in this response please contact customerinformationservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the below reference number and this can be provided.