Chapter 6 -  Developing the Strategy – the Process so Far

We have already consulted on the Issues and Options for the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies. This was in May and June 2007. We are now consulting on the Preferred Options for this (see separate document).

The Core Strategy and Development Control Policies will largely determine which potential minerals sites get allocated, which is why work on the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies is more advanced than the site specific allocations document. For this reason we recommend also reading the Preferred Options for the Core Strategy and Development Control Policies.

In summary, the preferred options for the core strategy and development control policies that are relevant to minerals development are as follows:

• The overall spatial strategy sets out the locational principles in the form of broad areas where minerals development will be encouraged. Although minerals can only be extracted where they occur, if there is a choice of potential allocations then this policy area gives an indication of where we would prefer to see them. The strategy suggests that the growth areas of Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn and Thetford will provide the bulk of the capacity for Norfolk’s minerals site allocations. Smaller minerals site allocations will also be encouraged in and around the larger and growing market towns; Wymondham, Attleborough, North Walsham, and Fakenham. The cumulative impact of development that is co-located will need to be mitigated, though it is recognised that the co-location of facilities offers synergistic relationships that can reduce overall transport and environmental costs. Minerals allocations will be safeguarded and we intend to develop Minerals Consultation Areas for silica sand to protect sterilisation of this more scarce resource. The overall strategy also has a strong approach to mitigating climate change, integrating the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the rest of the plan.

• Minerals supply. The minerals landbanks will be maintained as close as reasonably possible to 7 years supply for sand and gravel and and 10 years for carstone, except in the instance of borrow pits for major infrastructure needs, in which case the landbanks could go significantly over the 7 and 10 years. No landbank will be maintained for other minerals. The use of secondary and recycled aggregates will be encouraged through working with district councils to encourage them to maximise their use as part of residential, commercial and industrial development. In addition, minerals development will need to show how it is maximising the use of such aggregates.

• The impact on transport and traffic will be assessed and managed through requiring Transport Assessments². Through these, developers will need to show how accessibility and sustainable transport opportunities are being maximised and impacts on congestion and road safety minimised, the latter supported by road safety audits. To promote freight modal shift onto rail and water, potential site allocations near rail freight facilities and wharves will be encouraged. For the residual lorry traffic, the use of unsuitable roads will be reduced, primarily by encouraging potential site allocations with good access to the route hierarchy.

• In terms of environmental protection and our natural and cultural heritage, we are suggesting a robust approach on avoiding adverse impacts on protected and sensitive areas of the county, such as Sites of Scientific Interest, Heritage Coast, Historic Parks and Gardens, and Groundwater Zone 1. This generally means that we will try to avoid allocating minerals sites in or adjacent to such areas, whilst balancing this against the need to provide enough allocations to meet the minerals supply needed. Developers and operators will also be required to show that they will minimise their impact on the environment though appropriate construction and management of their operations, such as using secondary and recycled aggregates and renewable energy. Minerals development offers opportunities upon restoration, and although these opportunities will be assessed on a case by case basis, priority will be given to restoration that helps develop Norfolk’s ecological network and therefore its biodiversity.

• With regard to amenity and well being, we have proposed a robust approach on avoiding clear adverse impacts on human health. This means that we will try to avoid allocating minerals sites in Air Quality Management Areas. We will also have development control policies that will require developers to minimise impacts on air quality (in areas not covered by Air Quality Management Areas), dust, odour, noise, vibration and light pollution.

²Only required for developments over a certain size of operation