Decision details
To acquire land and associated access rights at Tarrington in order to develop a phosphorous-reducing wetland site
Decision Maker: Service Director – Environment , Highways, & Waste
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
As set out in the cabinet member decision, 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 suitably 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 ‘red book’ 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.
Contact: David Jones, Programme Manager Email: David.Jones2@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 383320.
Publication date: 09/02/2023
Date of decision: 27/01/2023
Accompanying Documents: