Sutton Council has secured a £2.34 million fund to ensure the long-awaited restoration of Beddington Farmlands can proceed, following a planning committee decision to approve a revised restoration plan.
The Beddington Farmlands site, an 88.4-hectare former landfill with a history of mineral extraction and landfill use, has been the subject of restoration plans since 1995. The restoration aims to transition it into a publicly accessible nature reserve. The primary environmental concern addressed by the restoration is the ecological unviability and environmental risk associated with the previous plan for acid grasslands, which was incompatible with the site's alkaline soils. David Warburton, Senior Biodiversity Officer, explained that the previous proposal for acid grasslands proved to be ecologically unviable and environmentally risky
due to the site's alkaline soils and potential for acidification of watercourses. Forcing an acidic habitat once the alkaline soil proved technically unviable and environmentally risky as well,
he stated. The new plan addresses this by replacing acid grassland with species-rich lowland meadow and ensuring a sustainable water supply for lakes. Additionally, the site contains flammable elements like gas wells, and managing grasslands to prevent thatch build-up is important to mitigate wildfire risk. The latest approved plan mandates phased delivery by 2029.
Councillor Jake Short, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, expressed confidence that the nature reserve will be a significant asset for the borough. The revised plan includes an upgraded access strategy for safe vehicle and pedestrian access, balancing public enjoyment with wildlife protection. This involves improved pedestrian and cycle facilities, the installation of access gates, and new seating areas.
Specifically, it facilitates the new east-west access, upgrades the western permissive path to the bird hides, and removes the dead-end Beddington Park fence path.
The revised pathways are designed to highlight natural viewpoints while prioritizing nature conservation. A new 900-square-meter agricultural building is also planned for conservation grazing and equipment storage, providing a place for cat during the winter months and also for storing of tractors and agricultural equipment.
Simon Shellcraft, Planning Enforcement Manager, and David Warburton, Senior Biodiversity Officer, presented the revised plan to the committee. They highlighted that the new permission represents a significant improvement on the previously consented but undelivered scheme. David Warburton explained that the new lowland meadow is rated highly in biodiversity metrics, even higher than acid grassland, and will attract ground-nesting birds like skylarks, which are a priority species. The meeting information does not specify other ground-nesting bird species besides skylarks that are expected to be attracted.
The Section 106 agreement, a crucial legal document, is being progressed and will include financial consequences for missed milestones. Anne Biggs, Head of Planning and Building Control, explained that if they don't meet certain milestones, they would have to effectively pay a sum of money.
A cash collateral trust, with a minimum sum of £2.34 million, can be drawn down to carry out works in default if milestones are not met, providing a strong incentive for the applicant to adhere to the plan. The agreement is designed to be much tighter and the actual contract itself is going to be much more enforceable moving forward.
Councillor Tom Foster, Chair of the Conservation Access Management Committee (CMC), emphasised the desire to scrutinise the process and ensure the restoration is completed. The CMC will play a key role in reviewing the details of the conditions, including access arrangements and habitat creation. The new planning application provides greater powers to enforce delivery and monitor progress, with regular monitoring reports from a qualified ecologist.
The site's owner, Valencia Waste Management (VWM), has stated that the certainty of the revised permission will allow them to release greater resources towards the site's restoration, potentially leading to a faster, phased delivery of public access. VWM are the successors in title for the land from Viridor landfill operations and were required to restore the site by the end of 2023. The meeting information states that Valencia elected to revert to a previous proposal, which is to line the wetland areas with a membrane to prevent any pollution that may be in their water from entering the aquifer.
VWM has also been involved in operational progress on the ground, including earthworks, avian habitat preparation, conservation grazing, invasive species control, and reedbed creation. The new restoration plan mandates phased delivery by 2029, and the speed of delivery will be influenced by the operator's ability to release resources and the progress made in finalizing the Section 106 agreement.
