Developments proposed up to and within 8km of the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) site are subject to consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) due to their proximity to a hazardous installation. The 8km distance is separated into inner, middle and outer zones and represents the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ)) surrounding the AWE.
The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) position is to advise local authorities on the hazards arising from licensed sites such as the AWE and what factors should be taken into account when planning applications are being considered; this is ultimately in the interest of public safety.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will consult the HSE in accordance with the procedure set out below:
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Health and Safety Executive (who consults with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate)
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Development within the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone (DEPZ) |
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Zone |
Distance |
Development type |
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Inner |
0 -3 km |
All residential or non residential
- Where one or more additional person(s) may live. Work, shop (all applications save listed buildings, conservation area consent, house extensions, shop fronts, prior notifications and telecommunications). |
|
Middle |
3 – 5km |
Residential accommodation or non residential accommodation exceeding 50 people.
· 20 or more dwellings;
· 1000m2 , B1
· 2,400m2 B8
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Outer |
5 – 8 km |
Residential accommodation and non residential exceeding 500 people
· 200 or more dwellings;
· 11,000m2 , B1
· 24,000m2 B8
|
|
In respect of planning applications which are likely to lead to an increase of population, such as the building of a number of new homes, the HSE is likely to advise against the development within the inner zone on the basis of the residential nature of the proposal, together with its size and close proximity to the AWE site boundary. Some developments in the middle and outer zone may not be objected to. The HSE's position is set out in the document below.
The HSE is not suggesting that the AWE is unsafe with regards to the existing population and the HSE may not rule out future developments from taking place within the DEPZ, should certain criteria be met.
Planning officers have had a number of meetings with the HSE with a view to understanding the complex issues. Officers have formed the view that in light of the expert advice given by HSE and in the absence of any other evidence or expertise to refute the advice of the HSE, that planning applications which the HSE advise against, are likely to be recommended for refusal unless there are other significant issues that need to be taken into account.
The HSE has agreed to support the council should any applicant wish to appeal the council’s decision to refuse planning permission.
The map of the AWE's DEPZs is below.
Boundary Hall
The Secretary of State resolved to approve planning permission for the mixed use redevelopment of the Boundary Hall site following a 14 day public inquiry. This decision was made on the basis that the potentially significant benefits of the development, coupled with the fact the proposal is generally in accordance with the development plan, outweighed the real but very small risks of an off-site emergency occurring. The Secretary of State acknowledged that whilst significant weight is attached to the risk of harmful radiation being received by those on the application site if an emergency occurred, the support from development plan policy and the benefits of the proposal outweighed the limited development plan conflict and remote possibility of an incident occurring.
This was a site specific decision that recognised the planning benefits of redeveloping the Boundary Hall site; acknowledging its sustainable location, efficient use of previously developed land, the community benefits secured in the Unilateral Undertaking and the visual benefits of redeveloping a visually unattractive and under utilised site.
Fundamentally, the Secretary of State accepted that the position of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR - an agency of the Health and Safety Executive) (formerly known as the Nuclear Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive) to ‘advise against’ the Boundary Hall proposal was justified and that their methodology/policy position was reasonable. Whilst this position was accepted, the Secretary of State deemed it his role to weigh that advice in the overall planning balance. As such, there is no dispute with regards to the ONR’s advice, but the overall planning balance weighed in favour of the development.
In terms of the implications of this decision for new residential development (that results in a permanent net gain of development involving night-time accommodation – for example residential dwellings, institutions etc, excluding residential extensions) in the inner land use planning consultation zone surrounding the AWE in Tadley; such planning applications are likely to be unacceptable and should be recommended for refusal on the grounds of public safety and implications for the Off Site Emergency Plan, unless it can be demonstrated that the benefits of such development outweigh the associated harm. A number of planning applications that were pending determination by this council will now be progressed to a refusal in light of the outcome of Boundary Hall.
Notwithstanding the above, the ONR is currently not ‘advising against’ planning applications for single residential dwellings within the inner land use planning consultation zone; as such planning applications for single, isolated dwellings are likely to be acceptable, subject to ONR’s consultation response to the associated planning application. There may however be cases where single residential units will not be acceptable to the ONR depending on their location, scale and impact and such schemes are likely to be refused planning permission accordingly, on the basis that a single unit scheme is unlikely to demonstrate significant benefits to outweigh the associated harm.
In terms of the future position, Officers are currently working towards the publication of the Pre-Submission Core Strategy as part of the Local Development Framework, part of this work involves formulating draft policies. Officers are working closely with the ONR to formulate an appropriate draft policy for Tadley which is likely to reflect the position of the council as identified above.
The Core Strategy will also identify settlements where future growth will be permitted to meet the housing needs of the borough. However, in light of the Boundary Hall decision, the current position is that it is unlikely that Greenfield allocations for residential development will be acceptable in Tadley given that the benefits are unlikely to outweigh the harm in comparison to the considerations that might be afforded to a Brownfield site.
Details of the planning application and the Secretary of State's decision can be viewed online. (BDB/67609).
Further information:
HSE's approach and role concerning land use planning can be found here.
Nuclear Safeguarding Zones and Consultation Criteria:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/landuseplanning/nuclear.htm
Methodology applied to determine demographic margins around a nuclear facility:
In addition, and although the HSE's Planning Advice for Development near Hazardous Installations or PADHI is
not used for developments in the vicinity of Licensed Explosive sites or Nuclear sites a link to the advice is below.
HSE's Land Use Planning Methodology - PADHI
Documents
