Issue details
Acquire land and associated access rights at Titley in order to develop a phosphorous-reducing wetland site
The creation of wetland areas will, in
addition to improving the water quality of the River Lugg,
positively contribute toward the delivery of the environmental and
economic priorities within the County Plan 2020-2024; enhancing
local biodiversity, enabling sustainable housing growth in the
north of the county and reducing carbon emissions through carbon
sequestration.
The benefits of wetlands in releasing prospective housing
development currently unable to complete the planning process
because of phosphate load will be of particular value in terms of
the local construction economy and the delivery of established
housing targets.
Acquisition of suitable land is essential if wetland schemes are to
be progressed so that their benefits can be realised.
The area of land in question is well positioned in relation to the
wastewater treatment works and the watercourse, and has been
identified as having the physical properties necessary to form a
well-functioning integrated wetland.
Negotiations with the landowner have concluded and the value set
out in the ‘decision made’ section of this report have
emerged as the minimum values which will be accepted by the
landowner. All negotiations have been carried out by agents with
appropriate expertise and experience in this area, appointed to
represent the council’s interests.
The council has undertaken the required due diligence in
considering the acquisition, in particular:
• A commercial valuation of the land in question has been
commissioned previously. At the close of negotiations the agreed
land purchase cost and arrangements set out in the ‘decision
made’ section of this report are recommended by the
council’s appointed agents as being appropriate to the
circumstances.
• A range of site investigations have been undertaken to
verify the suitability of the land, including soil sampling, ground
water risk assessment, preliminary ecological survey and phosphate
load monitoring from the waste water treatment works. A preliminary
wetland design was also undertaken by a specialist consultant on
the basis of the information generated by the site investigations
to confirm that the area of land proposed for acquisition would be
suitable and adequate for the wetland proposed.
• The council’s legal representatives have, through the
conveyancing process, fully assessed the proposed land purchase
agreement to ensure that the acquisition is appropriate and
suitably robust in terms of risk. No unacceptable liabilities or
obligations have been identified which would impact on the proposed
use of the land as a wetland or otherwise result in unacceptable
levels of risk to the council.
• A formal pre-planning consultation was undertaken to
establish the suitability of the proposal for the granting of
planning approval.
• The Environment Agency, and Natural England have been
consulted.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 01/04/2022
Decision due: 25 March 2022 by Service Director – Environment , Highways, & Waste
Contact: David Jones, Programme Manager Email: David.Jones2@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 383320.
Decisions