Cherwell District Council
Planning & Development Services
Bodicote House 
White Post Road
Bodicote
Banbury
OX15 4AA

	

Our ref:	WA/2011/109108/01-L01
Your ref:	10/01778/F

Date:		10 January 2011

Dear Mr Lewis

CHANGE OF USE OF FORMER MILITARY BUILDINGS TO BUSINESS (CLASS B1), INDUSTRIAL (CLASS B2), STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION (CLASS B8), RETAIL (CLASS A1), NURSERY/TRAINING CENTRE (CLASS D1) (AS SPECIFIED IN THE SUBMITTED SCHEDULE OF POTENTIAL PLANNING USES.)   HEYFOD PARK, CAMP ROAD, UPPER HEYFORD.

The Environment Agency has assessed this application as having a low environmental risk. 

Due to workload prioritisation we are unable to make a full response to this application.

Advice to LPA/applicant

Approved Document Part H of the Building Regulations 2000 establishes a hierarchy for surface water disposal, which encourages a SUDS approach. Under Approved Document Part H the first option for surface water disposal should be the use of SUDS, which encourage infiltration such as soakaways or infiltration trenches. In all cases, it must be established that these options are feasible, can be adopted and properly maintained and would not lead to any other environmental problems. For example, using soakaways or other infiltration methods on contaminated land carries groundwater pollution risks and may not work in areas with a high water table. Where the intention is to dispose to soakaway, these should be shown to work through an appropriate assessment carried out under Building Research Establishment (BRE) Digest 365.

Advice to applicant

The Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2010 (Regulation 38(1)) makes it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a discharge of a pollutant that might lead to its direct or indirect input into groundwater except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit or an exemption as provided for in the Regulations.  A discharge of 2 cubic metres or less of sewage effluent per day which satisfies the requirements in schedule 2 and 3 of the Regulations is exempt.  Groundwater includes all water below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil. 
 
Yours sincerely

Ms Michelle Kidd
Planning Liaison Officer

Direct dial 01491 828455
Direct fax 01491 834703
Direct e-mail michelle.kidd@environment-agency.gov.uk