Planning permision - site of muck heap & muck disposal

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Micawber

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We are quite some way down the planning permission path having been granted permission for our proposed U shape stable block consisting of 5 stables and a storage barn of wood construction. However the permission came with three conditions that require approval, these being details of exterior lighting, colour of the finished building and where we intend to site the muck heap.

Our response was that lighting would be kept low key with LED downlighters to provide modest illumination immediately outside each stable and possibly one down light midway on each external wall to provide a small area of light immediately around the building for use only when safety dictates. We've not had a response to this yet

Colour of the building - we've said it's being constructed in pressure treated timber so it will be stained with that and therefore natural wood finish. Again no response yet.

Site of muck heap and disposal of stable muck. We stated that it is not our intention to have a muck heap and that stable muck will be loaded directly onto a suitable trailer which will be regularly carted away for composting and agricultural use. We have just had a response from Environmental Health wanting clarification on where the trailer is to be sited, how often it will be emptied and cleaned.

I would be interested to hear from anyone else who has faced a similar situation and what was done to alleviate concerns from EH. We have no near residential neighbours.
 
We were lucky. We got our permission before the muck heap regulations etc came as part of the planning considerations.

Are you using a stable construction firm? They are usually pretty clued up on these things, even if they haven't done the plans for you.
 
We are in a Village with neighbors and not been asked at all about muck heap? How strange. We only started building properly a few months back too although got Planning Permission over 3 years ago now.
 
Yes we're using a stable construction Co who drew up the plans but it's been our intention to trailer it so permanent muck heap was never envisaged.
 
It's possible that their concern will be that even if the muck is to be trailered away on a regular basis they want to make sure that any run off (there will still be a certain amount especially during wet spells) will not be effecting any grazing or soak away into any watercourses etc. The following advice is from DEFRA;

Quote: Temporary field heaps should be sited where there is no risk of run-off polluting watercourses. They should be at least 10 metres from a watercourse and 50 metres from a well, spring or borehole that supplies water for human consumption or for use in farm dairies. Practicalities should be considered when siting a muckheap. For example, year-round vehicular access may be required if the manure is to be collected for disposal. The heap will need to be located conveniently for stables, but not so close as to cause horses health problems or a nuisance from flies. Importantly, the location of the heap should be such that it does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or people using public rights of way.
 
Thanks Jaycee, we had previously read and taken into account the DEFRA advice. Our intention is to obtain a modern purpose built muck trailer which can be covered so runoff ought not to be a problem.
 
Might also be worth checking that the people taking it away do not need a "waste transfer licence" if they do need it then they will need to have it.
Do you have an area of hardstanding away from any drains on the plans? If so I would site it there even if it's not where it's going to be
 
Micawber said:
Yes we're using a stable construction Co who drew up the plans but it's been our intention to trailer it so permanent muck heap was never envisaged.
Click to expand...

They should be able to advise you though. They will have planned other yards that did have muck heaps.. I would site your trailer in a spot that meets their terms for a regular muck heap. (Then once they're built put it where it suits you!)
 
Whilst I was going through the planning process, my muck trailer had a tarpaulin over it and the photos submitted as part of my proposal showed it covered. That same tarpaulin now covers my fertiliser spreader's hopper...

My planning application said that all muck would be removed off-site by contractors. I don't seem to have ever got around to organising that... Some goes on the muck heap here (which was "landscaped" during the planning process so it was not visible from the buildings) and some goes to local allotment owners.

I had to submit samples of the barn wood, roofing and the sand to the planners. If I changed any of these 3 I needed an amendment. The other 2 stipulations were "not for commercial use" (no problem - I don't like other people playing with my toys) and no floodlighting (I did have 4 IP67 13A electrical sockets put around the school though - mmm wonder what I could use them for?).
 
Thought I'd better post an update....

We eventually had all our proposals regarding the conditions approved and the stables have been up and running for about a month now. We had no problem with our proposals for the lighting and colour of the stain but only gained approval regarding the stable muck after we specified:
We indicated we were going to use a purpose built covered muck trailer.
Where the trailer was to be sited.
Arrangements and location where the muck was eventually to be tipped.
How often the trailer was going to be cleaned.....
 
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