Peel Sewage Treatment Works SCI

MANX UTILITIES AUTHORITY PEEL SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

OCTOBER 2023

Wardell Armstrong Sir Henry Doulton House, Forge Lane, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5BD, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1782 276 700 www.wardell-armstrong.com

DATE ISSUED: 02nd October 2023 JOB NUMBER: CA11812 REPORT NUMBER: 001 VERSION: STATUS:

V0.1 Final

MANX UTILITIES AUTHORITY PEEL SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

OCTOBER 2023

PREPARED BY:

Adam Day Associate Director

Chris Bean Technical Director

This report has been prepared by Wardell Armstrong LLP with all reasonable skill, care and diligence, within the terms of the Contract with the Client. The report is confidential to the Client and Wardell Armstrong LLP accepts no responsibility of whatever nature to third parties to whom this report may be made known.

No part of this document may be reproduced without the prior written approval of Wardell Armstrong LLP.

Wardell Armstrong is the trading name of Wardell Armstrong LLP, Registered in England No. OC307138. Registered office: Sir Henry Doulton House, Forge Lane, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5BD, United Kingdom UK Offices: Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Bolton, Bristol, Bury St Edmunds, Cardiff, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Truro. International Office: Almaty.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES LAND AND PROPERTY MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING

MINERAL ESTATES WASTE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Contents

• 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................1
• 2 Planning policy ...................................................................................................................2

• 2.1 National Planning Policy..............................................................................................2

3 Pre-application Engagement..............................................................................................3

• 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................3

• 4 PublicEngagement Summary and Responses....................................................................6

• 4.1 Attendance and Feedback...........................................................................................6
• 4.2 Summary of Feedback.................................................................................................6

• 5 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................8 5.1 Feedback Summary .....................................................................................................8

• 3.2 Consultee Engagement ...............................................................................................3
• 3.3 Call For Sites Engagement...........................................................................................3
• 3.4 Public Engagement......................................................................................................4
• 3.5 Public Exhibition Details..............................................................................................4

Appendices

• Appendix 1: Consultation Programme Detailed Summary
• Appendix 2: Peel STW 2021 Call for Sites publications

CA11812/FINAL OCTOBER 2023

1 Introduction

• 1.1.1 This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) has been prepared in support of a planning application for a Sewage Treatment Works (STW) on land to the south of Peel, off Glenfaba Road.
• 1.1.2 The SCI has been prepared to outline the proactive and comprehensive engagement process that the applicant (MUA) has followed during the preparation and design process.

• 2 PLANNING POLICY

• 2.1 National Planning Policy

• 2.1.1 The Isle of Man does not have a bespoke Statement of Community Involvement guidance document to define the scope of consultation required during the planning application process. The importance of consultation within the planning process is however emphasised throughout the Town and Country Planning Act 1999, albeit from the perspective of the determining body rather than the applicant.
• 2.1.2 The policy document of principal relevance in determining applications is the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 (IMSP), which identifies the core policies to guide development proposals on the Island. The Central Strategic Aim found within the plan is as follows:

“To plan for the efficient and effective provision of services and infrastructure and to direct and control development and the use of land to meet the community’s needs, having particular regard to the principles of sustainability whilst at the same time preserving, protecting, and improving the quality of the environment, having particular regard to our uniquely Manx natural, wildlife, cultural and built heritage”.

• 2.1.3 To plan for development which meets the needs of the community, it is essential that a thorough consultation exercise be undertaken with the community to enable the proactive exchange of views, concerns and ideas, which can ultimately be fed into the design of proposals to ensure they best serve the interests of that community.
• 2.1.4 Key consultees engaged with throughout the consultation process include members of the public, local business owners, and key community organisations. This has ensured a comprehensive engagement process which has effectively publicised the proposals and afforded the opportunity to members of the public to provide comments.

• 3 PRE-APPLICATION ENGAGEMENT

• 3.1 Introduction

• 3.1.1 An important aspect of the planning process is effective consultation and as such public engagement has been undertaken during the preparation of the planning application.

• 3.2 Consultee Engagement

3.2.1 The nature of the proposals requires that they are appropriately assessed via an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). To support the composition of a robust EIA, a scoping process was undertaken in the first quarter of 2023 which comprised engaging with and seeking technical input from statutory consultees as to the likely composition of the Environmental Statement. This has subsequently shaped the method and approach taken in the technical surveys and assessments to ensure they effectively consider all requisite matters.

• 3.3 Call For Sites Engagement

• 3.3.1 In April 2021, MUA undertook a call for sites to identify any potential wider locations that may be suitable to house the proposed STW and a possible pumping station should one not be accommodated on the STW main site, or it was determined this would present a more cost-effective solution.

• 3.3.2 This process was publicised via both a press release issued in local newspapers, as well as a general advert distributed amongst the community (both documents can be found at Appendix 2). These documents explained the process being undertaken, as well as the criteria which submission sites should meet. This was identified as follows:

• • The party supplying the submission should have a controlling interest in submitted site.
• • Pumping station site proposals should be for areas of approximately 60m x 60m with existing adjacent highway access or a defined route for such.
• • Treatment Works site proposals should be for areas of approximately 3.5 Acres (1.4Ha or 14,000m2) or more, with existing adjacent highway access or a defined route.

• 3.3.3 This process received submissions from 7 individual parties/groups, some of which contained multiple potential sites. These sites were taken forward in the overall

assessment process and given due consideration as potential locations for either the STW or a pumping station.

3.4 Public Engagement

• 3.4.1 The public engagement process provided an opportunity for external parties to express their views on the proposals prior to the submission of the planning application. Responses from consultees have, where appropriate, contributed the site design and informed the planning application.
• 3.4.2 A series of exhibitions were held to allow members of the public to view the outline plans for a new sewage treatment works to serve the Peel catchment area. This was advertised in advance using social media, newspaper articles, the internet, by radio and posters were displayed outside the venue and in various outlets in Peel.
• 3.4.3 Over 200 local MU Business Tariff users were sent a letter two weeks previously inviting them to a bespoke evening business briefing held following the initial exhibition.

• 3.4.4 A bespoke meeting was also held with the Peel Town Commissioners (PTC) to brief them on the proposals and the forthcoming consultation events. This meeting was held on Tuesday 15th August, prior to the public exhibition, which afforded the opportunity for the PTC to input into the format of the exhibition, and how information may be most effectively conveyed.

3.5 Public Exhibition Details

• 3.5.1 The exhibition was opened to the public at the Peel Centenary Centre on Wednesday 16th August from 10:00 to 19:00. This was followed by a briefing to local businesses from 19:00 to 20:00.

• 3.5.2 The exhibition was again held on the 17th August at the Peel Centenary Centre, opening at 10:00 and closing at 15:00.

• 3.5.3 The exhibition was subsequently moved to the Town Hall and was on display from Friday 18th August to Monday 4th September 2023, where it was under the control of the PTC, and accessible to members of the public during normal opening hours.

• 3.5.4 On entry to the exhibitions, visitors were invited to write down their post code and also asked on exit to complete a single A4-sided questionnaire on their views on the project and the information presented at the exhibition. It also gave an opportunity to leave further detailed information on their particular viewpoints. Respondents

• could leave their contact details to allow Manx Utilities to respond directly to any specific questions.
• 3.5.5 A ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ information sheet or ‘FAQ’ was made available to all visitors attending the exhibition. The exhibition itself was supported by a number of detailed display boards which explained both the scheme and the requirement for the proposals.
• 3.5.6 A detailed summary of all exhibition documents, methodology, attendance and public feedback is provided at Appendix 1 of this statement. A summary of findings and feedback is provided within the following section for ease.

• 4 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY AND RESPONSES

• 4.1 Attendance and Feedback

• 4.1.1 The exhibition events were well attended, with a significant number of attendees taking the time to provide a written response via the questionnaires provided. Over the course of the events, 120 visitors were recorded via the postcode proforma, although the actual number is likely to be higher as this only recorded individuals who took the time to fill out the document. There were also 82 questionnaires submitted providing comments on the scheme.
• 4.1.2 The questionnaire distributed provided a series of directly scored questions which were answered on a sliding scale of 1 – 5, a score of 1 indicating a poor rating and a score of 5 indicating a good or excellent rating. Question 1 asked directly ‘Do you support our plans for first-time sewage treatment for Peel?’. Of the 82 questionnaires received throughout the engagement process, the average response to this was 4.6/5, equating to the overall level of support for the scheme sitting at 92.1%.

• 4.2 Summary of Feedback Public Exhibitions

• 4.2.1 Question 2 of the feedback document afforded members of the public the opportunity to build on their response to question 1 through the provision of a supporting comment. Written feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, with only a small number of concerns identified. A table detailing the responses received to this is provided in full as part of Appendix 1, however in summary there were 31 positive comments, 16 suggestions for further improvements and 5 negative comments.
• 4.2.2 The 31 positive comments received recognised the pressing need for modern sewage infrastructure and praised the appropriate location, design and overall concept. There was also appreciation and recognition of the thorough engagement exercise being undertaken, and the overall explanation provided.
• 4.2.3 The 16 suggestions largely pertained to the access route and whether it could be utilised or extended to access the wider Peel industrial area, thereby reducing the number of vehicles travelling into Peel. Other suggestions queried whether there were any alternative locations considered, the possible inclusion of renewable energy generation, further ecological enhancements, and whether storm water could be separated from sewage in the first instance.

• 4.2.4 Of the 5 negative comments received, 2 considered that Peel would be better served linking to Meary Veg or the Iris scheme, 1 was concerned with the use of a holding tank on Peel promenade, 1 considered the access inadequate and the final comment considered the scheme would have a detrimental impact on food production.
• 4.2.5 Further opportunity for feedback was provided at question 8 of the feedback form, a full summary of which is again provided at Appendix 1, along with detailed responses provided by MUA. A total of 34 respondents submitted 35 questions and made 13 statements or observations in this section of the questionnaire. A number of these queries overlap with comments made in response question 2 of the feedback form as well as offering general support for the scheme, however additional queries raised are summarised as follows:

• • Concerns over discharge into the sea
• • Queries over treatment process of waste
• • Questions surrounding supporting technical studies and where they can be found
• • Question over how the site itself will be effectively drained
• • Concerns over traffic generation and highways implications re. road degradation, and safety
• • Concerns over Flooding in Peel
• • Query over the future use of the Glenfaba House site
• • Questions over site selection process and whether this should be reviewed

Business Briefing

• 4.2.6 On the evening of 16 August a briefing was made to invited business who had been sent an invitation 2 weeks previously. They were on business electricity tariffs within the Peel IM5 1 post code areas.
• 4.2.7 8 businesses were represented by 11 attendees along with 3 members of PTC and two MHKs. They received a presentation of the outline of the proposals displayed in the room followed by an explanation of the planning process and when construction might follow after that. The 45 minute meeting ended after a question-and-answer session.

• 5 CONCLUSIONS 5.1 Feedback Summary

• 5.1.1 Over 92% of the individuals who attended the exhibition and completed the questionnaire supported the proposals displayed by MU. Over three quarters of visitors were local Peel residents. 98% of visitors understood the reasons for the project and 92% of them found the exhibition very clear and easy to understand.
• 5.1.2 The small number of visitors who did object to the work and left completed questionnaires also provided contact details which will permit all outstanding concerns to be answered directly to them.
• 5.1.3 The application is supported by various detailed technical assessment, including a full Environmental Statement which assesses the overall impact of the proposals, and seeks to demonstrate that there will be no unacceptable impacts as a result of the development.
• 5.1.4 Key concerns identified during the consultation relating to traffic and highways impact will be addressed through the submitted Transport Assessment. This has considered road safety, traffic volume, access requirements and suitability as well as routing for vehicles both during construction and operation. This will ensure there are no unacceptable impacts on the surrounding road network or the users thereof.
• 5.1.5 Other notable concerns included potential flood risk which has been considered and assessed via a Flood Risk Assessment, supported by a detailed Drainage Assessment to ensure runoff can be appropriately managed so as to not create adverse impacts elsewhere.
• 5.1.6 Matters surrounding Development Plan Policy and the site selection process are dealt with in the Planning Support Statement. This identifies the extensive site selection process and methodology followed, and how the project meets the Development Plan Policy requirements, as well as being a key component in achieving wider environmental objectives. Several comments of note received over the consultation process queried why Peel could not link into the existing IRIS network, noting the STW at Meary Veg in particular. This option would be prohibitively expensive, in addition to removing capacity from the STW which may be required in the future. Detailed assessment has determined that a new STW serving the immediate Peel locality is the most efficient and sustainable approach.

MANX UTILITIES AUTHORITY PEEL SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Appendices

CA11812/Final