WS Atkins

Outline Reclamation Feasibility Study

March 1999

 

Contents

 

1.  INTRODUCTION AND SITE DESCRIPTION

2.  SITE PLANNING

Redevelopment issues

Land uses

  1. PLANNING PROCEDURES

Geology, hydrogeology and hydrology

Geology

Hydrogeology

Hydrology

Environmental Summary

Issues to be considered

  1. ENGINEERING ISSUES

Introduction

Use of overburden

Use of inert fill

Building on fill

Stability of quarry slopes

Key points

  1. TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAYS

Introduction

Traffic generation of proposed uses

Access Form and Location

Benefits of the Development

The Way Ahead

  1. PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

 

 

 

1.  INTRODUCTION AND SITE DESCRIPTION

 

1.1  This is a brief report on possible site development opportunities at Midland Quarry, Nuneaton.  This report is to provide specific inputs to the client – Mininvest plc, to incorporate into an overall feasibility study for the redevelopment of the quarry.  The matters examined in this report comprise:

 

Geology and Hydrogeology

Engineering Issues

Traffic and Highways and

Site planning

 

1.2  It must be emphasized this is a very preliminary desk based assessment.  The purpose of this initial appraisal is to establish certain parameters, to guide early decision making on components of a redevelopment scheme and to outline possible next steps in developing proposals further.  This report has been prepared without topographical survey information or a detailed services search and any recommendation must therefore be treated as conceptual.

 

1.3  Midland Quarry is understood to be a former hard rock quarry owned and operated by British Coal.  The precise ownership boundary of the site is not absolutely clear, however it is understood that the site lies between Tuttle Hill, via Queen Elizabeth Road, whilst to the south west is an industrial estate accessed via a housing estate which in turn is accessed off Vernons Lane.

 

1.4     A footpath is believed to run an=long the north west boundary south westward from Tuttle Hill.  Little land is available for development prior to filling or partial filling of the quarry apart from on the south west adjacent to Bar Pool Brook and backing onto the industrial estate served off Vernons Lane.

 

1.5     land levels prior to extraction from the quarry are consistent at 90m+ along the south east side adjacent to the Coventry Canal but the natural land level rises to the north west with levels of 120m on Tuttle Hill and Queen Elizabeth Road.

 

1.6     The quarry is located approximately 1.5km west of Nuneaton centre.  The B4114 runs along the northern boundary of the site.  The Coventry Canal and railway track run along the south eastern boundary.  There is a hospital and school south of the railway both less than 500m from the site boundary.

 

1.7     A site visit has been undertaken and a photographic record compiled.  Key features noted were:

 

- the rural nature of the canal and the opportunities this could provide

- the presence of overburden near the top edge of the quarry, although the volume of this may not be that great

- toptgraphical variations on the land adjacent to the existing industrial estate which may limit the developable area

- a network of open spaces linked by footpaths in the surrounding area, and

- a footpath within the site leading to Tuttle Hill

 

 

 

2.  SITE PLANNING

Redevelopment issues

2.1     The quarry in Mininvest ownership appears to cover an area of approximately 18ha (40 acres).  This falls into three broad zones.  These are:

 

- the relatively flat land at a higher level in the quarry, adjacent to the industrial estate

 

- the main area of the disused quarry void; and

 

- the land near to Tuttle Hill and the canal which is mainly scrub areas together with some old industrial buildings on Tuttle Hill itself.

 

2.2     The size of the quarry, the three zones described above and the nature of surrounding land uses suggests a mixed use scheme comprising industry (B1, B2 and B8 uses), residential and recreational development wpould appear appropriate.

 

2.3     An initial estimate suggested that the site could potentially accommodate:

 

- 5-6ha + of housing;

 

- 3-4 ha of industrial uses;

 

- a local park and open spaces;

 

- a small office village; and

 

- some commercial uses (eg shops/leisure)

 

2.4     In order to be available for development substantial infilling of the quarry would be required.  Potentially this could be either putrescible waste or household waste and different implications arise from each.

 

2.5     Redevelopment of the site should not be seen as a stand-alone project but as fitting into the wider regeneration strategy for Nuneaton.  Potential uses on the Midland Quarry site may well be influenced by proposals for nearby brownfield sites particularly Judkins Quarry which will also be accessed from Tuttle Hill.

 

2.6     We recommend that mininvest retain a close watching brief on the redevelopment of adjacent sites as there may be threats (eg competing land uses) or opportunities, such as shared access imporovementsresulting in lower site development costs.

 

Land uses

2.7     Approximately 3-4ha gross of land is available for industrial development.  This would be suitable for B2 (general industry) uses and B8 (distribution and warehousing) uses.  Assuming a plot ratio of approximately 40% this would suggest a gross floor area of around 14,000m2.

 

2.8     The site can potentially comfortably accommodate 5-6ha (12-15 acres) of housing. <note this assumes infilling of whole quarry void> At an average density of say 12/acre this suggests potentially 140-180 dwellings.  In practice the developable area will be determined by site topography and the need to fill land.

 

2.9    In addition to the above the site lends itself to the creation of a local park.  This could potentially be donated to the local authority as a planning gain.  The park could accommodate a range of features designed to improve the marketability of the housing <note if housing forms part of the scheme a more likely offered planning gain is a footbridge across the canal linking footpaths in the area>.

 

2.10 The canal also provides the opportunity to develop mooring facilities or possibly a small canal basin.  This could be located adjacent to the existing public house and other uses such as craft workshops, restaurants, small scale shopping and other leisure facilities would be compatible with such uses.

 

2.11  A small office village is proposed along Tuttle Hill near the first site access providing a visible location.  The site covers an area of approximately 0.75ha and in conjunction with the canal basin could provide high quality office units in an attractive setting.

 

 

Planning Procedures

 

2.11  It is understood that Mininvest may be considering the submission of an outline planning application to establish the principal of a certain type and volume of development on the site.  There are two main issues to consider:

 

i        For minerals and waste disposal, Warwickshire County Council is the relevant planning authority.  Waste disposal applications have to be full detailed planning applications, including means of access (eg rail sidings), waste volumes, types, working methods, final levels and so forth.  An Environmental Statement may well be required.  It is difficult toi define such measureswithout some involvement of waste disposal operator or potential operator.

 

ii     Industrial and housing development proposals fall within the remit of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.  It is possible to submit an outline planning application incorporating an overall site masterplan for housing, industry and recreation.  However to a certain extent this application is dependant on the waste disposal application.  Planning applications need to be stand alone and careful consideration and co ordination between two applications is required to ensure a coherent overall scheme for the site.

 

2.12  In terms of the next steps a more detailed masterplan depends on undertaking access and waste disposal / filling analyses.  In parallel with this it would be advisable to discuss a masterplan in more detail with the District Council.  To prepare an outline planning application will require some details of finished levels, clear boundaries and required infrastructure (roads and services).

 

3.  GEOLOGY, HYDROGEOLOGY, AND HYDROLOGY

 

3.1     an initial appraisal has been undertaken.  Information sources consulted include:

 

- Ordnance Survey Landranger sheet 140 1:50,000

- British Geological Society (BGS) sheet 169 Drift edition 1:50,000

-  Policy and practice for the Protection of Groundwater, NRA

- Geology memoirs: extract from geology of Coventry

-  Andy Cowan, Warwickshire CC (Planning Department)

-  Environment Agency, Severn Trent

 

Geology

 

3.2  The BGS maps shows the majority of the site to be underlain by the Hartshill Quartzite (Cambrian).  Stockingford Shales (Cambrian) may be present in the North West of the Site.  The Cambrian Rocks have been metamorphosed by igneus intrusions (sills).  The sills are present as diorite bands.  The south eastern part of the site is shown as underlain by Keuper Sandstones (Triassic) (renamed Sherwood Sandstones).  There may be some alluvial deposits adjacent to the south western boundary associated with the surface water course.

 

3.3     There is a major fault line (running north west to the south east) less than 50m to the north of the site between the B4114 and the canal.  Keuper Marl (?Mercia Mudstone) is present to the north of the fault line.  The middle coal measures outcrop approximately 500m to the west of the site.

 

Hydrogeology

 

3.4     Cambrian strata are classed as non aquifiers and comprise various shales, volcanic rocks, grits and quartzites which have been techtonically deformed and highly indurated.  They contain little groundwater except in areas where deep weathering has produced a sub surface permeable zone in which perched water tables may occur.

 

3.5     The Sherwood Sandstones are classed as a Major Aquifer and comprise poorly cemented, locally pebbley sandstones with thin beds and lenses of mudstones.  Flow is predominately intergranular but is enhanced by fracture systems in areas of mining subsidence.  Permeability, both intergranular and fissure, tend to be high.

 

3.6     The Alluvium deposits associated with water bodies may contain groundwater in hydraulic continuity with the surface water body.

 

Hydrology

 

3.7     The Coventry canal runs adjacent to the south eastern boundary of the site.  A stream <the Bar Pool Brook> which appears to discharge into the canal at the southern part of the site flows along the south western boundary.  <A stream, the Holly Stitches Brook, flows into a reed bed and along a ditch running parallel to the Bar Pool Brook and appears to discharge into the canal.>  A spring is reported along the north western boundary.  The void is reported to contain standing water which was previously pumped.

 

Environmental Summary

 

3.8     The Environment Agency report that the site is underlain by a non aquifer.  In addition the EA report that there are no licensed abstractions within a 1km radius of the site and that the site is not located within any currently Source Protection Zone.

 

3.9     Given the above the site is located in an area that would be considered low sensitivity in terms of the groundwater as a receptor.  However it should be noted that fracture systems in the rock may provide a high secondary permeability and this may have a bearing on the engineering required for a waste management facility.

 

3.10   Water is reported to be present in the base of the quarry.  It is understood that a borehole was constructed on the site during quarrying operations.  It is possible that the borehole was required to dewater the quarry.  If this is correct this will have implications for the landfill design in terms of pumping and disposal of groundwater.

 

3.11  There are a number of surface water bodies close to the site.  These represent water management issues which need to be addressed at the design stage.  The construction and sensitivity of the canal needs further investigation. The spring (if present) <I think we have found it but not where we were expecting it if the shallow void water ingress turns out to be a spring rather than a borehole>  and the ditch adjacent to the site will require engineering.  The spring and ditch may require temporary/permanent diversion/culverting during landfill operations.

 

3.12    The site is located in a mixed residential and industrial area.  Issues such as traffic, odour, noise, dust, vermin (including birds) and site security will need to be considered as well as the obvious gas and leachate ones.

 

3.13    Initial consulation with Waste Planning officers at Warwickshire County Council has revealed that the site is identified for restoration by landfill in the Draft <now adopted> Warwickshire waste Local Plan.  This Local Plan has been subject to an inquiry and the Inspectors Report is due in September 1998.  The Environment Agency has not objected to the above designation of Midland Quarry.  Planning Officers stated that the main problem with the site is access and a road access proposal is unlikely to be acceptable.  Rail and Canal transport would be possible.

 

Issues to be considered

 

3.14  A detailed feasibility study is required before deciding on whether inert waste is viable.  The environmental aspects of this should encompass:

 

- Comprehensive site specific environmental risk assessment – detailed review of geology/hydrogeology and potential receptors;

 

- check Waste Local Plan for waste management policy for the area.  Initial enquiries indicate the void is suitable for restoration by landfill;

 

- consult the Environment Agency

 

- potential void space volume and site development costs;

 

- waste arising study;

 

the current situation for waste disposal (what where and lifespan); and

the current situation for waste arisings and future projections

 

3.15  This would need to be followed up with site investigation to confirm geology, hydrogeology, engineering properties of the substrata and background gas levels and surface and groundwarer quality data.

 

  1. ENGINEERING ISSUES

Introduction

 

4.1     There are a number of engineering issues associated with reclamation and development of a site of this nature.  These issues include:

 

- use of overburden to fill shallow part of the quarry

- use of inert fill material in the main quarry void

- building on fill; and

- stability of quarry slopes

 

Use of overburden

 

4.2     In order to consider how appropriate it is to use the overburden to fill the shallow part of the quarry it is necessary to establish the nature and volume of the existing overburden together with the groundwater regime.

4.3      It is assumed that the stockpiled material on the southern side of the quarry is overburden and that it is a wathered form of surface geology in the area generally.  The nature and properties of this material need to be defined.  The volume of overburden material is unclear but we estimate that in the shallow part of the quarry a depth of upto 25m needs to be filled.

 

4.4     The groundwater regime is important and it is necessary to establish the level of the water table and whether that is rising.  If the water table is rising and will reach the shallow quarry then the principle of filling is more difficult.

 

 

4.5     Fill settlement and the rate of settlement depend on the above factors but particularly the nature of the overburden material.  Generally for filling of this depth or greater settlement will be slow with 50% settlement occurring over a period of several years.  Potentially well compacted granular fill could reduce this timescale (eg appropriate colliery spoil).

 

Use of inert fill

 

4.6     from available mapping/drawings we have estimated the total void volume to be of the order of 3.8m cu m.  The depth of the pit is approximately 60m although the depth of water is unknown <we now have a survey> We have assumed only inert waste will be used to fill the pit due to the fact that development on a household landfill would not be appropriate and this would sterilize other potentially developable land in the quarry.

 

4.7     To assess the prospect of filling the quarry with colliery spoil/mudstones requires and understanding of the groundwater regime including water table level, geology and hydrogeology.  The method of handling wastes and actually filling the site would also need to be considered.  It will almost certainly be necessary to pump the base of the quarry dry and options for disposal of this water will depend on whether the quarry water is groundwater or rainwater.  On completion of filling operations wastes would need to be capped with an engineered clay cap.

 

Building on fill

 

4.8     It would not be appropriate to consider building on filled voids unless inert wastes are proposed.  Bearing capacity of the filled ground is unlikely to be a limiting factor.  Fill settlement will be critical and the rate of settlement is as important as total settlement.  Settlement will be almost entirely due to the weight of the proposed fill rather than the loading of any proposed building.

 

4.9     Conventional raft foundations are likely to be required.  Piled foundations would be less appropriate.  The most cost effective site is to operate the site using well compacted fill rather than using ground improvement techniques after the completion of filling.  Flexible services joints in and out of buildings are likely to be required to accommodate differential movements.

 

4.10    Filled ground favours building small units due to settlement.  Large units and terraces of houses should be avaided.  Buildings close to the quarry edge (within the quarry edge) should similarly avaoided as variable fill depths will increase the probability of differential settlement.

 

4.11  Desk study, walkover survey and a ground investigation will be required to establish relevant properties.  In order to analyse slope stability (vital f any slopes are retained in development areas or roads/buildings are proposed near quarry edges) information on ground conditions, the groundwater regime and water infiltration is required.  The construction of a new access road to serve and industrial estate does raise geotechnical issues if close to the edge of the quarry.  Some reduction in quarry slope may be necessary although the rock is likely to be stable.  Prior to road construction, partial (and deep) filling of the quarry could assist in stabilizing the slope.  Slope reduction may then be less likely to be needed.  Constructing the access road with a finished level 1 or 2m below existing would help with both its stability and noise generation.

 

Key Points

 

4.12  In principle the overburden could be used to fill the shallow quarry area but its volume and nature are unknown at this stage.  Subject to engineering factors (ie compaction and settlement) this filled area could be developed given time.

 

4.13  In principle the main quarry void could be filled with inert waste subject to the effects on the groundwater regime.  Development on the filled void would very much depend on the nature of the fill material and compaction/settlement issues.

 

4.14  If quarry slopes are retained in any redevelopment scheme or if construction is top take place near the edge of quarry slopes, slope stabilities will need to be analysed.

 

  1. TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAYS

Introduction

 

1.1     The greatest problem is the size of the quarry in relation to the total site area.  This means firstly that initial access options to open up the site are extremely limited.  With regard to access the options prior to filling are limited.  Information would be required on present day and forecast (due to existing commitments) traffic movements.  Accident records would require to be analysed to ascertain if there are any accident concerns which may limit the acceptability of an access proposal.  Speed information from a survey may be required to demonstrate adequate visibility to achieve a safe junction and a topgraphical survey will be required in order to assess the options available with appropriate visibility.

 

1.2     As in all cases relating to access issues ownership or control of land to the public highway boundary is an absolute requirement.  The presence of any third party land holding is an effective ransom against the development.  Thus it is essential to acquire rights (by ownership or options) over all land that is expected to be needed for access purposes including associated sight linesbefore achieving a consent for development.  Generally this entails obtaining this interest prior to making an application as after this time the intention to develop is public knowledge and affected land has enhanced hope value.

 

Traffic generation of proposed uses

 

1.3    For the purposes of a traffic impact assessment we have taken the preferred development option is: < assuming main void is filled>

 

- approximately 5 hectares of housing

- approximately 3.5 hectares of B2/B8

- approximately 1.5 hectares of B1 retail and leisure

- remainder open space parkland

 

5.4  The area for housing would easily support 150 dwellings (at an average of 12/acre).  This is probably the most that would be accepted off a single cul-de-sac type road or loop road served from one access.  It is noted however that some highway authorities will accept upto 300 dwellings, although this number could not easily be achieved within the proposed residential site area.  150 dwellings could be expected to generate of the general order of 100-150 vehicle movements in the peak hour, split 75 per cent outbound and 25 per cent in the AM peak hour.

 

5.5      3.5 hectares of industrial land is assumed to give 14,000m2 of GFA.  This can be expected to produce of the order of between 160 and 400 inbound trips in the AM peak hour and 60 to 140 outbound trips if it is all in industrial use.  However storage and distribution generates 65 to 135 inbound trips and 20 to 40 outbound trips in the AM peak hour.

 

5.6     B1 office use on 1.5 hectares can be expected to give 5,500-6000m2 of office space.  This would attract 170 to 300 inbound movements and 20-35 outbound movements in the morning peak hour.

 

5.7     Hence assuming 150 dwellings and 60 per cent industrial, 40 per cent warehousing suggests a traffic impact in the AM peak hour of:

 

 

Outbound                              Inbound

Housing                                                                                 75-112                                     25-38

Industrial (at 60%)                                                               36-84                                       100-240

Warehousing (at 40%)                                                        8-16                                         26-54

Office                                                                                     20-35                                       170-300

 

Total impact                                                                          139-247                                   321-632

 

This gives a 2 way flow at the highway access of 460-879 vehicles.

 

Access Form and Location

 

5.8     Any access is likely to include provision for pedestrians and cyclists.  Given this and the nature of Tuttle Hill which is believed to be subject to an urban seed limit but also due to its open nature currently encourages high speed of traffic movement it is considered that a traffic signal controlled junction may be the most appropriate solution.  There are a number of potential advantages to the highway authority and the developer with this form of junction:

 

- it breaks up and reduces the speed of traffic on Tuttle Hill

-  it provides certainty to those served by the side road that they will get safe exit opportunities;

-  it can provide by pedestrian phases for safe pedestrian movement,

-  it is potentially easier for cyclists than a roundabout

-  it does not normally require a significant defelection of the main road as is required for a roundabout.

 

5.9     To ensure a traffic signal junction or roundabout were acceptableat any of the locations considered it would be necessary to measure both the traffic flows to design the junction to accommodate the volume of traffic expected to use the junction and the visibility.  Whilst turning visibility requirements at traffic signals are reduced (from and of side traffic) good forward visibility from the signal heads is required on all approaches.  Advisory/warning signing, indicating signals ahead may be accepted by the authorityas an additional aid where direct visibility is less than desirable (but not below the minimum acceptable).

5.10    Three locations have been considered and appear subject to the necessary detailed surveys and analyses to be possible.  These are:

 

- One at the extreme north west of the site would impact on the house at Tuttle Hill.  The margin between the edge of the quarry and assumed edge of the Mininvest site ownership may be minimal and some additional width/support/stabilization may be required depending on the road location.  The need to minimize this cost by running the road close to the boundary may cause a problem with the 3rd party land at the junction where a radius kerb is required to the west side at Tuttle Hill.  Land on Tuttle Hill would appear to be available to widen the roadat the junction to provide separate straight ahead and turning lanes.

 

Subject to negotiations with the Highway Authority and consideration of verge widths etc as proposed by the local planning authority it is considered that a corridor of some 15m would be required at this location.  For the purposes of initial discussions with the appropriate local authorities we would propose one wide footway of 2.5m with a 1 m verge to separate from a 10m carriageway (to contain within this two one meter cycle lanes <cyclists now accommodated down Bar Pool Brook so 7.3m carriageway envisaged> On the quarry side of the carriageway provision of a 1.5m verge with a crash barrier and behind that unscalable wire fence to control entry to the quarry.  All of this would need to be on consolidated ground of adequate strength and structural integrity to support the loads of a vehicle hitting the crash barrier etc.

 

- a second location again using a traffic signal junction appears to exist at an existing access point one third of the way along the northern frontage to Tuttle Hill.  This would however require the quarry void to be filled and the consent of the Highway Authority to impose a T junction shortly after entering the site.  This would enable housing to be accessed by one smaller road and a wider facility to be constructed to serve an industrial development.

 

- a thid option that would be more difficult in terms of forward visibility of signals is believed to exist towards the eastern end of the site.  It may be that this would be provided as well as an access at the western end so that filling of the main body of the quarry could be a long term objective and the benefit of housing development overlooking the canal could be started whilst industrial development and quarry filling occurred via a western access.  If this was limited to residential access, and with some demolition of frontage buildings it may be possible to achieve a simple priority junction in this area.  With residential use only the flows are as noted above considerably reduced.  However this would depend on flows on Tuttle Hill and the extent to which there are opportunities to join that traffic movement as well as the problems of forward visibility (expected to be over a 90 m distance from 9 metres back from the junction on the side road).

 

5.11  The potential benefits and disbenefits of alternative highway arrangements within the site will need to be fully assessed.  Separate accesses for employment and residential areas from Tuttle Hill would probably maximize the value of each development site.  Linkage between them may not be necessary for motor traffic, however a footpath/cycleway link would demonstrate that efforts are being made to enable trips to be made by non-motorised mode.  This would be appropriate in terms of promoting a less road traffic reliant scheme.  The need for a link depends on the level of development proposed likely trip generation and the views of the Highway Authority.

 

5.12  Alternatively it might be possible to have one major access junction from Tuttle Hill with separate accesses to residential and employment areas fed from this main junction.  Access to employment should not be through a residential development or the opposite (ie access to residential traffic passing through an industrial/employment estate).  However the potential volume of traffic from both development centres may be more than can be accommodated at one junction on Tuttle Hill.  Again numerical analysis would be required to resolve this question and consideration may need to be given to other proposals on the north side of Tuttle Hill.

 

5.13    The feasibility of providing a link between the existing industrial estate and thepotential industrial land is far from certain.  The extent of land available to create such a link is unknown.  More importantly there is a difference in levels between the two sites of 1-2m and Bar Pool Brook would need to be culverted or bridged.  If the connecting link is for 2 way HGV movements then a considerable area for turning movements would be required.  It may be possible to design a roundabout junction instead.

 

Benefits of the Development

 

5.14  Housing near the canal on the eastern end of the site would be very accessible to nuneaton town centre.  The near side of the ring road is within 1 kilometre (about ½ mile) whilst the far side of the same ring road is only 1.5kilometres away (less than 1 mile).  Hence the whole central area is with 15-20 minute walk or a few minutes by bicycle.  This means that such development should be considered sustainable in transport planning terms as it does not require the use of motorized transport for most journeys.

 

5.15    Development of industrial uses depending on location and access proposals may provide a means of accessing the existing industrial estate without requiring vehicles to pass through housing areas as they appear to have to at present.  This could with the north western access in particular run through to Hillary Road and thereby improve the amenity and environment of existing housing areas and hence be a significant planning gain achieved by providing the development.

 

The Way Ahead

 

5.16  The problems, possibilities and costs associated with dealing with the large quarry are considered to be the critical issue.  Once the location and areas of land that can be recovered for building land and whether this is suitable for housing or for industry has been accurately determined it would be appropriate to obtain:

 

- traffic flows

- traffic speed

- visibility data (this latter as part of a full topographical survey on Tuttle Hill and other appropriate areas of the site)

 

5.17  It would also be essential if the westernmost access were considered to prepare a detailed scheme to accommodate the road as it passed by the western edge of the quarry and to confirm with the appropriate authorities what safety measures such as crash barriers, fencing and so forth were required and hence if this access could be achieved at a viable cost or whether further land beyond the Mininvest ownership to the west is necessary.

 

6.  PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

 

6.1     In principle based on limited desk study the site appears to have potential to accommodate inert waste infilling using rail and/or conveyor based transport and development for industrial residential and recreational uses.  Consideration needs to be given to development proposals on adjoining brownfield sites as these may have positive or negative implications for the development of Midland Quarry.

 

6.2     At this stage it is not possible to identify precise developable areas of land.  Site topography, geotechnical considerations, infrastructure needs and the views of the planning authority (via appropriate planning approvals) need to be taken into account.  Our initial view is that 3-4 ha of industrial land could be developed together with 5-6ha of housing land and an office village plus some commercial leisure elements (eg pub/restaurant, health club, shops etc) located around a new canal basin or similar focus.  It is not clear at this stage whether linked accesses will be necessary.

 

6.3     In order to progress concepts for the development of the site there are two principla issues which require more investigation.  These are landfilling and access.

 

6.4     Residential development cannot take place without filling or partial filling of the quarry and therefore the feasibility of this needs to be examined as a priority.  The critical matters which need to be confirmed are:

 

the nature source and likely volumes of inert waste;

- measures required to ensure that this inert fill can be built on;

- the costs/viability of such a fill proposal (including transport/handling facilities); and

- the timescales involved ie when could housing development take place.

 

6.5     In principle industrial development could take place in advance of filling and residential development.  The key to achieving this is the provision of a satisfactory access.  There are two key matters to be considered:

 

- whether an appropriate access can be accommodated within Mininvests current land ownership.  This in itself requires clarification with the Highway Authority to confirm their requirements in terms of road width and type of junction.  Our preliminary view is that further land may be required.

 

- related to the above is the geotechnical aspect of constructing a new road or building adjacent to the quarry edge.  It is by no means certain that this can be achieved at reasonable cost and further investigation is required.

 

6.6     With regard to the residential development site it would be possible in principle to create a high quality scheme incorporating new open space and commercial uses.  Proximity to a canal and canalside walkway a new local park and Nuneaton town centre suggests this represents a good potential housing site.  It is possible that some land could be developed for housing irrespective of industrial development or waste disposal.  Feasibility clearly depends on filling the quarry and being able to build on the filled land.

6.7     A small office village and leisure/recreational facilties could be developed around a new canal basin or similar focus near Tuttle Hill.  Some development in this location could potentially take place in advance of filling of the main quarry.

 

6.8     In order to develop the conceptual plan into an outline planning application it will be necessary to:

 

– establish the feasibility of landfilling and development thereon; <or alternative use of the void as a waterbody with eg tourist houseboats on>

- decide what the application is to cover: housing, industry or both;

-  define land areas, potential floorspace and uses;

-  identify all services and service requirements;

-  ensure layout is compatible with topography (via a survey)

-  discuss scheme with Planning Authority and Highway Authority

-  refine layout/road detail as appropriate

-  prepare structural landscape scheme

 

  1. THE NEXT STEP

 

7.1     Mininvest has proved to be a company who are interested in the long term development potential of not only this but other similar brownfield sites.  They seem to be concerned with the future viability of these sites both in terms of community as well as in terms of employment.  Their stated aim is to provide sustainable development in preference to quick profit and this is admirable.

 

7.2     if they are to achieve success in this aim it must be noted that the roblems associated with developing sites such as these are immenses.  At Midland Quarry we have highlighted some of these problems and Mininvest will need to address these before development can take place.  Considerable research will need to be carried out before they can make final decisions on what and how the land can be used.  The scope of this report is too narrow to answer all the questions but we believe that we have attempted to at least answer some and highlight others.

 

7.3     In addition to posing what we believe are significant questions WS Atkins have prepared a series of drawings to accompany this report which show possible future options for land use.  The drawings show a possible strategic policy for the site that could be used in whole or in part dependent on agreement with the local planning department.  It should be noted that final studies as mentioned above may affect the viability of these options and that full research will need to be commissioned by Mininvest before definite proposals can be finally defined.

 

7.4     WS Atkins are pleased to have been asked by Mininvest to carry out this initial study and trust that it will be of assistance in finding a successful solution to the use of this valuable site.

 

Appendix 1

 

Plans showing phased restoration and redevelopment of former quarry site

 

Phase one – Land adjacent to pool Road Industrial Estate

Phase two – Land adjacent to Tuttle Hill Road

Phase three – Replacement of Lake with deep void filling

Phase four – deeper void filled – urban village complete

 

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