Prior Approval For The Change Of Use Of An Agricultural Building To A Dwellinghouse, Hales Hall Farm, Drybread Lane, Out Rawcliffe

In order support the prior approval application for change of use of agricultural building to a dwellinghouse under Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order (GDPO) a desk study report was required to determine if the site met the definition of contaminated land as described in Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The review of the history of the site (using a combination of historic O.S. maps and aerial plates) revealed the site was developed circa 1891 and redeveloped circa 1965. Three off site sourced of ground gases (ponds and a sand pit) were also identified. The ponds were discounted as credible sources given the distance and the sand pit was discounted as there was no evidence of in-filling on the O.S. maps.

Environmental data revealed a tank 20m west as well as a slurry pit to 20m north east of the site. The tank was last identified on the 1938 map.

The walkover survey revealed the site to have been a dairy with pens for livestock (cows), no evidence of the tans to the west of the site were noted and the slurry pit to the north east was a pond at the time of the survey.

As made ground was noted during the walkover survey further works were proposed, two options were given which were either site investigation or remediation in lieu of investigation.

The desk study report was submitted with the application, the decision notice confirmed the acceptance of the report.

Once the recommendations in the Phase I were approved the Phase II intrusive site investigation could be undertaken, the intrusive investigation was undertaken in March 2021 and comprised of the excavation of five trial pits.

The recorded sequence identified made ground across the site, samples of the made ground were taken and subject to chemical analysis.

The qualitative assessment undertaken on the soil chemical data revealed that the made ground was impacted by dibenz(ah)anthracene which posed a potential risk to human health. Proposals for the remediation fo the proposed development were given in the report.

The Phase II report was submitted under 20/00647/DIS, the decision notice confirmed the recommendations of the Phase II were approved.