HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

transportation options to meet community needs which cannot be satisfied by identification of resources
within the Plan area itself.
Minerals
13.5 Hillingdon's remaining deposits are a finite resource; worked at a moderate rate they will
contribute to local sand and gravel and inert waste disposal requirements for the longest practicable period.
If released at a faster rate they would contribute to a wider need in the short-term but would be used up
faster, accelerating the ultimately inevitable point when all aggregates have to be obtained from further
away at the cost of extra long distance traffic and extra pollution. A lower production rate minimises
environmental disruption at the time but spreads it over a longer period, possibly creating undesirable
lengthy periods of uncertainty and planning 'blight'. A balance has to be sought as successive generations
face increasingly difficult decisions as the less sensitive deposits become worked out but demand continues
unabated.
13.6 Release of deposits in more sensitive locations can only be justified where day-to-day
management standards are very high and the prospects of a rapid return of sites to a high quality condition
suitable for an economically viable beneficial after use are assured. Some mineral working has made a
positive contribution to a changed landscape and alternative uses. For example, much of the character and
quality of the Colne Valley Park arises from the creation of lakes, some of which have been designated as
Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Future opportunities of this kind are limited because most remaining
sand and gravel is in the south of the Borough, which has a lower water table and presents some problems
in relation to potential 'birdstrike' hazard to aircraft using Heathrow and to helicopters overflying.
13.7 The flat topography and lack of natural screening features in the south of the Borough requires
particular care in the organisation of workings which can be highly visible and severely intrusive.
Although mineral working is a 'temporary' use of land its effects on individuals can be long-term,
frequently extending over many years. Workings may not only be intrusive themselves but delay or
uncertainty over future operations can extensively blight an area or property.
13.8 Larger sites give an operator greater commitment and provide the best chance of securing an
orderly phasing of working and of locating plant, access and other facilities in the least sensitive locations.
In addition they provide a measure of assurance about future production and remove the necessity for the
local authority, residents and the industry to devote resources to periodic discussion of what are frequently
the same issues. As a result they minimise blight by providing a higher degree of assurance about future
working and they minimise sterilisation of reserves in margins within the area concerned. The Council
would favour a comprehensive approach as opposed to fragmented or piecemeal proposals where this
would provide a discernibly better scheme.
The Relationship with Strategic Minerals Policy
13.9 The Department of the Environment issues guidance on broad strategies which Minerals
Planning Authorities are strongly advised to implement. Minerals Planning Guidance Note 1 (MPG1)
states: 'In relation to aggregates full consideration should be given to the conclusions of the Regional
Aggregates Working Parties and Guidelines issued by the Secretaries of State.' The current Guidelines are
set out in MPG6 'Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England' (published April 1994 and based on
1985-1992 data). The strategy of MPG6 is based on a general decrease in the proportion of supply of
aggregates from primary land won sources up to 2006, with the balance of steadily rising demand
throughout that period being met by greater use of marine dredged sand and gravel 'imports' of aggregates
from other Regions and recycled materials. This renders the role of Hillingdon's rail aggregates depots
(and marine wharves elsewhere) progressively more important as London's own land-won production
declines.
13.10 MPG6 currently states 'a sufficient stock of permitted reserves (a landbank) should be
maintained for all aggregate minerals. The aim should be to provide for the release of land to maintain a
stock of permissions, for an appropriate local area, sufficient for at least seven years extraction unless
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan