Sector: Minerals, Waste & Remediation

Firstplan were instructed by Brett Group to assist in securing planning permission for a rail served concrete batching plant at Crawley Goods Yard, an established rail fed aggregates depot.

Utilising Firstplan’s existing knowledge of the Goods Yard, having secured previous permissions for rail served plant and other structures, and building on established relationships with both West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council a detailed pre-application submission was made and early discussions progressed both with the County Council and Borough Council. This was to ensure any potential issues were identified early in the process, notwithstanding the safeguarded status of the site, and that the application was appropriately supported by the full range of technical assessments.

Firstplan were responsible for the co-ordination and submission of the application itself, and working closely with the County and Borough Council were able to ensure that the application was progressed within 12 weeks, reported to Committee with a recommendation for approval and planning permission was successfully secured in November 2016.

Firstplan were instructed by Express Concrete, a newly formed operating arm of the Cappagh Group, to assist in securing planning permission for their first concrete batching plant at a rail served site at Barking Freight Terminal, Ripple Road, Barking.

Firstplan’s role spanned from initial site appraisal, advice on the form and layout of the proposed scheme, detailed pre-application submission and discussions with Barking and Dagenham Borough Council, and the preparation, co-ordination and submission of the application itself. Working closely and responsively with Borough Officers, as well as with TfL Officers, to address issues raised during the course of the application and ensure all matters were robustly addressed Firstplan successfully secured planning permission at Committee in mid-2016.

Following grant of planning permission, Firstplan have assisted with discharge of pre and post commencement conditions. The plant commenced production in Mid-2017 and is now serving the local construction market.

Firstplan helped secure planning permission for: an aggregates recycling facility, asphalt plant and gully waste recycling plant at the former Powergen Site, Bulls Bridge, Hayes.

Firstplan’s role included carrying out discussions and negotiations with LB Hillingdon, the GLA, neighbouring tenants and the Canal and River Trust, together with the preparation of the necessary Statements in order to secure permission at Committee.

Despite the site’s designation for industrial uses, a significant hurdle was the sensitive location of the site, adjacent to listed buildings and the Bulls Bridge Conservation Area, as well as the tree-lined Grand Union Canal. Planning permission was secured with limited conditions, despite objections from the Conservation Officer and other parties, with limited Section 106 liabilities.

Following representations to the West London Waste Plan, Firstplan also successfully secured the designation of the site as a recognised waste / recycling facility, protecting its use for the lifetime of the plan.

Firstplan were instructed by London Concrete to prepare and submit a planning application to expand the concrete batching facilities at their existing rail served Battersea site. The additional plant was required to enable London Concrete to better meet the increasing and significant demand for building materials for development planned within the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area including Crossrail. Firstplan co-ordinated the submission of a range of technical assessments and advised on a range of on-site mitigation measures. By working closely with officers at Wandsworth Council, including the EHO and Highways department, to address initial concerns raised by statutory and internal consultees Firstplan were able to successfully secure a planning permission which included out-of-hours working.

Firstplan advises Aggregate Industries and London Concrete, and, with the Port of London Authority, planning permission is being sought for the re-activation of Orchard Wharf, which is a vacant safeguarded wharf on the River Thames, for the purposes of a river borne freight depot. The site is located directly opposite the O2 Arena, on the north bank of the River Thames.

Firstplan submitted a planning application to the local planning authorities for a river served aggregate handling facility, including an aggregate and cement unloading jetty, an aggregate storage facility, a cement storage terminal, a concrete batching plant, and associated structures and facilities. This application went to appeal, with Firstplan instructing Leading Counsel and a supporting team, and, following appeal and CPO decisions by the Secretary of State, the relevant parties are now engaged in further discussions regarding the proposals.

Firstplan, as retained planning consultants for over ten years, advise National Grid on their ongoing programme of site clearance and remediation, as well as a range of engineering operation. Firstplan has achieved a 100% success rate in obtaining consent for all works in relation to a significant number of sites across the UK, many of which are located within the M25.

Firstplan also works closely with National Grid on their programme of gas holder demolition. This process frees up the former gas work sites for redevelopment. Prior notification applications are required in most cases.

In addition to remediation and demolition, Firstplan also advise and prepare applications for a range of other engineering operations and proposals to facilitate the onward sale of sites, or the continued use of the site for operational purposes. This has included the long term stockpiling of tunnelling spoil for sustainable re-use.

Firstplan was instructed by London Concrete to submit a planning application for a rail served concrete batching plant and aggregate unloading facility on operational railway land at Ferme Park, Hornsey. This highly sustainable form of development at a railhead enables raw materials (principally sand and stone) to be imported by rail. This significantly reduces the number of HGV movements, which would otherwise be required to supply the plant.

Following the refusal of planning permission by Haringey Council, primarily as a result of significant public opposition, Firstplan were instructed to appeal the decision, which was subsequently considered by an Inspector at a Public Inquiry. The appeal was ultimately allowed, and the plant is now open. The plant now handles some 1.3 million tonnes of sand and gravel per annum.