HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

crucial factor and the Minerals Planning Authority will monitor the rate of satisfactory restoration of
workings and the effects of recycling policies to seek to ensure that permissions granted for mineral
working do not outstrip the rate of supply or lead to continued use of unsuitable materials. (See Paragraphs
13.35 and 13.36, Policies MIN16 and MIN17).
MIN7 FOLLOWING MINERAL EXTRACTION, RESTORATION BY LANDFILL OF THE
BEST AND MOST VERSATILE AGRICULTURAL LAND MUST UTILISE THE MOST
SUITABLE TYPE OF FILL MATERIAL COMPATIBLE WITH ACHIEVING THE
OBJECTIVES OF POLICY MIN4.
Restoration of Sand and Gravel Workings for Purposes other than Agriculture
13.26 Development pressures have already fragmented many agricultural holdings throughout the
Borough but are strongest in the south. Changing national and international farming policies could further
impede attempts to utilise smaller residual parcels of land for agricultural purposes, notwithstanding their
other physical characteristics being suitable. Additionally, better understanding of restoration techniques,
coupled with public and private financial pressures, is leading to more proposals to extract sand and gravel
from under sports fields and other sites formerly regarded as unavailable. Such proposals will be
determined on their individual merits, having regard to all relevant policies in this Plan and other material
considerations. The normal presumption will be a return to the original use with the application containing
appropriate technical restoration details; however that may not always be appropriate and alternative
beneficial use(s) and specification(s) may be specified. The following policies set out a broad strategy
appropriate to the differing characteristics of mineral working in the north and south of the Borough.
Reference should also be made to policies set out in Chapter 3 when preparing schemes.
MIN8 SOUTH OF THE A4020 UXBRIDGE ROAD, THE MINERALS PLANNING AUTHORITY
WILL SEEK MORE EXTENSIVE TREE PLANTING AND WILL ALSO GIVE
CONSIDERATION TO THE CREATION OF AMENITY WATER AREAS IF THE
OPPORTUNITY ARISES. IN BOTH CASES IT WILL HAVE REGARD TO THE NEED TO
AVOID BIRD STRIKE HAZARD AT HEATHROW AIRPORT BY APPROPRIATE LANDSCAPE
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. POLICY MIN10 WILL APPLY TO WATER AREAS.
MIN9 NORTH OF THE A4020 UXBRIDGE ROAD, THE MINERALS PLANNING
AUTHORITY EXPECTS RESTORATION TO GENERALLY FOLLOW EXISTING
TOPOGRAPHY WITH PLANTING OF ALREADY ESTABLISHED SPECIES AND, IN THE
CASE OF WATER AREAS, THE CRITERIA SET OUT IN MIN10.
MIN10 IN THE COLNE VALLEY PARK AND OTHER AREAS WHERE A WATER BASED
AFTERUSE IS INDICATED:-
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
APPLICANTS SHOULD SHOW HOW EXCAVATION IS TO BE ARRANGED TO
PROVIDE FOR BENEFICIAL AFTER-USE(S) CONSISTENT WITH PROVIDING A
BALANCED RANGE OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND/OR CREATION OF NEW
HABITATS BEFORE ANY PLANNING PERMISSION IS GRANTED;
THE RESTORATION SCHEME SHALL PROVIDE IN EACH CASE FOR GRADED
BANKS, PROVISION OF A NATURAL (ie. IRREGULAR) LAKE PERIMETER,
PROVISION AND/OR RETENTION OF ISLANDS AS A LANDSCAPE FEATURE
AND SANCTUARY FOR WILDLIFE, AND GENERAL LANDSCAPING TO BE
PROVIDED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE;
WHERE THE AFTER-USE IS TO BE SAILING AND/OR FISHING, THE LAKE
BOTTOM MUST BE SUITABLY CONTOURED, THE FEASIBILITY OF LINKING
WITH EXISTING BODIES OF WATER SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND WHERE
APPROPRIATE WILL BE ENCOURAGED BY THE MINERALS PLANNING
AUTHORITY;
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan