Application form
Please make sure you have read all the notes carefully before you start to fill in the application form. This application form can either be completed by hand or electronically - it is available on the Planning homepage at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning. Please complete all five sections. The deadline for submitting applications is 8 September 2006. An acknowledgement letter will be sent to the person who has completed this form.
1 Please provide a name and contact details of the lead organisation responsible for this work.
Name | Julie Hamilton |
Job title | Strategy and Support Manager |
Organisation | Clackmannanshire Council |
Address | Development & Environmental Services , Lime Tree House , Alloa |
Telephone | 01259 452657 |
Fax | 01259 452547 |
Email | jhamilton@clacks.gov.uk |
2 If this is a joint application, please list the other partners who had a key role. You should also inform your partners that you are nominating the project for an award.
1 Jacobs UK Ltd , Glasgow | 2 Marshall Construction, Alloa |
3 | 4 |
5 | 6 |
3 Tick the category of nomination
Title of entry | Black Devon Wetland and Landfill Project |
Please complete the form on the following pages by providing a brief summary of the piece of work you have entered. You must also conclude with a key reason as to why you think this work merits an Award. Only the two A4 pages supplied here can be used and your text must fit within the boxes. The font size should be no less than 12pt.
The judging criteria are set out below. Please tick only the key criteria relevant to your entry:
You must describe, in your written submission, how the criteria which you have ticked relate to your project.
Description of project
The combined formation and restoration of a landfill site. The project required the landfill to be capped and restored using 100,000m3 of soils. The soils were obtained from an adjacent field by soil stripping, which created an opportunity for environmental gain by creating wetland area, extending the existing Black Devon wetland site. This approach was developed by waste management and planning staff with a consultant designing the scheme and delivery by a local contractor producing considerable environmental benefits for the local community - low traffic flows, biodiversity gain, potential access to the Forth estuary. These benefits were all related to the Council's sustainability objectives .The project also resulted in considerable cost savings to the Council . |
Context - describe the background to the project
The Council was faced with the prospect of restoring a 200.000m_ of landfill following the end of its operational use in April 2004 . This in order to meet SEPA requirements involved considerable soil importations to cap the landfill. The site is adjacent to Forth (a SPA) and Black Devon Rivers, some 2km south of Alloa. Surrounding landscape is carseland behind the sea wall, including the award winning Black Devon wetland ( SEPA Habitat Award 2000). Clackmannanshire Local Plan acknowledged the importance of rivers in terms of biodiversity, amenity and access and the Council had a desire to make the Forth more accessible to the community. These factors were critical to the design and implementation of the project as well as offering best value in terms of license requirements and the wider environment . |
What are the aims and objectives of the project?
Sustainable Development is a key aim for the Council and has been guiding the Council's delivery of waste management at local level as well as through participation in the Forth Valley Area Waste Plan. The Council's principle objective was to comply with licence requirements to restore the site in as cost effective way as possible .The sensitivities of the site - Black Devon wetland and Forth SPA - required to be recognized as well as potential access to the Forth. These influenced the project design and delivery on the ground that sought the safe restoration of the landfill with environmental gain maximized through enhanced habitat, access and avoiding the transport of 100,000m3 of soil from distant locations. These aspects related to important biodiversity, sustainable objectives and access objectives of the Council. |
Timescale - over what timescale has the project been developed?
The Council was aware that Black Devon Landfill licence would expire in 2004 and due to its location adjoining the River Forth an extended licence period was not possible. The Council's Waste Management team instigated internal discussions to assess the restoration requirements in relation to the sensitivities of the site and the acquisition of soils. Waste management and planning staff evolved a methodology to strip soils from adjoining land for capping material with the coincidental creation of wetland as a consequence of the works. Consultants were appointed and produced the detailed restoration plan in 2003 which following planning approval in 2004 was evolved into a tender document. The actual works took place between April and September 2005. |
Action - explain the process and action taken
Following the agreed concept and discussions with SEPA and SNH. Consultants were appointed to design and manage the project on site. Planning staff provided input to the process on the wider environmental issues with specific advice in relation to creation of the wetland. Once the works commenced on site they were monitored to ensure that they were being carried out to the required standard. Following completion the wetland is being monitored by the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership to identify and record flora and fauna establishing on site. |
Explain the role of the key partners
Waste Management as the clients were aware of the Council's commitment to deliver best value on the ground as well as Sustainable Development, which was also a key principle of the Forth Valley Waste Plan. The sensitivities of the environmental issues in the locality resulted in the involvement of planning staff from Council's Sustainable Development team to evolve the concept. The Consultants designed the project to be cost effective and deliver the environmental outcomes desired by the Council and also oversaw the actual works to ensure compliance with the project design and detailed specification. |
Results - what results were achieved?
The Project has resulted in the waste management licence requirements being met with the additional benefits of creating new habitat with 19.2ha of restored landfill and approximately 21ha of wetland - a priority habitat at Scottish level. The project also allows for potential access to the Forth seafront and improves the amenity value of the core path linking Alloa to Clackmannan. Despite only being established in the last year the wetland is already host to a variety of species including Lapwings, Shell Duck, Heron, Oyster Catchers and Redshank. The project achieved a cost saving to the Council of £244,000 ,in comparison to the importation of soil. This also meant that the adjoining urban area was not subject to environmental disturbance from thousands of lorry trips and the damaging effect of their associated carbon footprint. |
Conclusion - in summary, why does this piece of work merit an Award?
The need to restore a landfill site in a sensitive location with potential adverse impacts on the locality of the site and the nearby urban area has by a innovative approach by Council staff resulted in considerable environmental gain to the local community .The innovative approach reduced the actual cost to the Council's budget and has added considerable benefit to the local community both during and following completion of the works. Availability of on site soils reduced lorry trips and allowed rapid restoration of the site resulting in a lower carbon footprint overall for the project. The project is an example of tangible sustainable development being delivered on the ground with immediate and extended benefits over time, that will protect and enhance local habitat and community access. |
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