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Facts & Observations

This page outlines key points on the site proximity, planning context, asphalt operations, and the potential health and environmental impacts.

Site Location

Given its location near residential housing and children’s schools, the site is fundamentally unsuitable for asphalt manufacturing.

Residential

The closest Residential Areas are only a short distance away from the Asphalt Plant:​

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  • Thistle Grove – approximately 550 metres away

  • Sylvandale – approximately 550 metres away

  • Great Gannet – approximately 600 metres away

  • The Holt – approximately 620 metres away

Schools

A number of children's Schools are also located in close proximity to the Asphalt Plant:

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  • Commonswood Primary School – approximately 1,000 metres away

  • James Mark Academy – approximately 1,250 metres away

  • Watchlytes Primary School – approximately 1,300 metres away

Health & Environment

The potential Health and Environmental issues that Asphalt production introduces are broad and wide-ranging

Hazardous Substances

Asphalt plants typically emit various hazardous substances, many of which are tightly regulated due to their known risks to human health. 

Potential Health Risks

The potential health risks from exposure to these pollutants include:

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  • Increased asthma and breathing problems - Especially affects children, older adults, and people with lung conditions

  • Higher risk of heart disease and stroke - Linked to long-term exposure to fine particles

  • Greater cancer risk - Asphalt emissions include substances classified as carcinogens

  • Ongoing irritation to eyes, throat, and lungs - Even low levels can cause discomfort

  • Mental health impact from persistent odours - Odours can lead to stress, anxiety, and reduced wellbeing

Permits, Planning Permission & Conditions

The current Planning consent is for an Inert Recyclying site, which does not include the production of Asphalt:

Permits

What we understand about the required permits

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  • ​​We are unable to find any specific environmental permit for an asphalt plant at the site from searching in the Environment Agency’s public register under the operator's  name or the location

  • Asphalt production is a Part B activity under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR), requiring:

    • A bespoke environmental permit for industrial installations

    • Planning permission for the specific use of the site

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What this means

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  • Without a permit, operation of an Asphalt Plant, whether fixed or mobile, would be unauthorised and non-compliant

  • The operators hold an "A16 permit" that allows non-hazardous physical waste treatment, not asphalt production

  • The A16 permit is suitable for low-risk, non-thermal waste treatment, not for industrial production like asphalt

  • Local authority and the Environment Agency would be the enforcement bodies

Planning

The original Planning Application ​PL/0112/19 was submitted to Hertfordshire County Council in 2019

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  • There was no mention of the Asphalt Plant that has been recenty introduced in 2023

  • The Asphalt Plant is a Mobile plant, that can be moved to a different location

  • The Asphalt Plant is currently situated on the site area permitted for "Stock Piling (Longer Term)"

  • The planning process should include an Air Quality Assessment, Noise Impact Assessment, Ecological Assessment, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment, and other important studies to fully evaluate the environmental, health, and community impacts

  • The original Plans in 2019 included a "Bio-Mass Boiler", but due to public concerns on the health, environment and visual impact, this was removed from the plans

Current Conditons

Within the Planning Application, the following conditions apply:

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# 3 - All waste management operations at the site shall take place within the following hours:

  • 07:30am to 18:00pm Monday to Friday

  • 07:30am to 14:00pm on Saturdays

  • No work is permitted on Sundays or Bank Holidays

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#4 - Only Inert Waste from demolition and excavation sources is permitted to be accepted, stored and processed at the site. (NOTE  - THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PRODUCTION OF ASPHALT!)

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#8 - There should be no more than 170 lorry movements (85 in, 85 out)....in any one working day

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#9 - Wheel Washing. The highway shall be kept free of mud and debris at all time

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#21 - Noise. A detailed noise mitigation should have been implemented

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#23 - Dust Control. Areas outside of the boundary should not be affected by dust nuisance

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