Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council
Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council
Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council
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MINERALS, WASTE AND ENERGY<br />
MINERALS, WASTE AND ENERGY<br />
12.13<br />
When considering a particular proposal, the <strong>Council</strong><br />
will take the following factors into account:<br />
• How the proposal will assist Merseyside’s<br />
contribution to the national or regional need for<br />
the mineral in the North West, (in the case of<br />
aggregates provision this is set down in Minerals<br />
<strong>Plan</strong>ning Guidance Note 6 - see footnote 14 );<br />
• The need to maintain a landbank of permitted<br />
reserves in Merseyside; and<br />
• How the proposal will affect intra- and<br />
inter-regional supply of minerals and aggregates.<br />
12.14<br />
The following policies identify the environmental and<br />
other planning considerations which will be taken into<br />
account in assessing minerals applications, and which<br />
will be balanced against the need for the proposal.<br />
SAFEGUARDING OF MINERALS RESERVES<br />
12.15<br />
Government policy (in Minerals <strong>Plan</strong>ning Guidance<br />
note 1 “General Considerations and the <strong>Development</strong><br />
<strong>Plan</strong> system”) advises that valuable mineral<br />
resources should be safeguarded from other forms of<br />
development, which could effectively sterilise the<br />
resource for future generations. However, it is equally<br />
important not to blight land which could otherwise be<br />
developed for other uses through inappropriate<br />
safeguarding of land to meet future needs for mineral<br />
development that may never materialise, particularly<br />
if the mineral resources are considered unlikely to be<br />
exploited in practice.<br />
Borough. However, there have been no recent<br />
proposals either for deep mining or open cast coal<br />
extraction in <strong>Knowsley</strong> and little is known about<br />
whether the resources could viably be extracted in<br />
the future. Silica sand resources are restricted to a<br />
small area to the east of Kirkby. Silica sand is an<br />
asset of national importance and should not be used<br />
for aggregate purposes although there has been no<br />
recent activity or interest in the extraction of this<br />
mineral. Little is currently known about the extent of<br />
brick clay resources (other than the existing quarry in<br />
Tarbock) and other minerals which may be present.<br />
POLICY LINKS<br />
Policy G1<br />
“<strong>Development</strong> within the Green Belt”<br />
Policy G2<br />
“Landscape Character and Amenities of the Green<br />
Belt”<br />
Policy G3<br />
“Agricultural Land”<br />
Policy G4<br />
“Rural Diversification”<br />
Policy DQ5<br />
“<strong>Development</strong> in Conservation Areas”<br />
Policy DQ7<br />
“Listed Buildings”<br />
Policy DQ9<br />
“Sites and Areas of Archaeological Importance”<br />
Policy ENV1<br />
“Control of Pollution in New <strong>Development</strong>”<br />
Policy ENV2<br />
“Noise and Vibration”<br />
POLICY MW2:<br />
PROPOSALS FOR MINERAL DEVELOPMENTS<br />
1. The exploration, appraisal, winning and<br />
working, processing and handling of minerals,<br />
including provision of aggregate depots, will<br />
only be permitted if the following criteria<br />
are met:<br />
(i) Proposals are accompanied by an<br />
operations statement which sets out how<br />
the impacts of the development on the<br />
matters detailed in table 12.1 below will<br />
be minimised and which is acceptable to<br />
the <strong>Council</strong>;<br />
(ii) Proposals are accompanied by a<br />
restoration and aftercare plan covering the<br />
matters set down in table 12.2 below which<br />
is acceptable to the <strong>Council</strong>.<br />
Procedures<br />
2. <strong>Plan</strong>ning conditions or legal agreements will<br />
be used to ensure that mineral development<br />
does not have an unacceptable impact on the<br />
environment. They will also be used to ensure<br />
that restoration and aftercare plans are<br />
complied with so that the site can be returned<br />
to appropriate beneficial use.<br />
EXPLANATION MW2<br />
12.17<br />
Policy MW2 sets general criteria which will be<br />
applied to all proposals for minerals and related<br />
forms of development. All planning applications<br />
involving mineral operations will need to be<br />
accompanied by an operational statement,<br />
restoration and site aftercare plans clearly identifying<br />
the standards to be achieved, as set out in Minerals<br />
<strong>Plan</strong>ning Guidance note 7 "The Reclamation of<br />
Mineral Workings". Provision for the aftercare of<br />
minerals sites should normally be for up to five years,<br />
although the <strong>Council</strong> may seek to extend the period<br />
of aftercare beyond this period where this is<br />
necessary to achieve reclamation objectives.<br />
12.16<br />
In <strong>Knowsley</strong>, there are known resources of coal, brick<br />
clay, coal bed methane, silica sand, and potentially oil<br />
or gas. The general location of coal resources within<br />
the Borough is shown on maps provided to the<br />
<strong>Council</strong> by the former National Coal Board, and is<br />
concentrated at the southern and eastern parts of the<br />
Policy ENV3<br />
“Light Pollution”<br />
Policy ENV9<br />
“Protection of Habitats and Designated Sites”<br />
Policy ENV10<br />
“Protection of Species”<br />
14 ”Minerals <strong>Plan</strong>ning Guidance Note 6: Guidelines on National and Regional Aggregate Provision in England” Office of<br />
the Deputy Prime Minister June 2003<br />
140<br />
KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />
KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />
141