HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

MIN19 THE MINERALS PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL SEEK TO ENSURE THAT THE
PRESENT LIMITED SUPPLIES OF CATEGORY A WASTE CAN BEST BE USED FOR
RESTORATION OF SAND AND GRAVEL PITS WHERE THEY OFFER THE GREATEST
PROSPECTS OF ACHIEVING HIGH QUALITY RESTORATION AND A RAPID RETURN OF
THE LAND TO BENEFICIAL AGRICULTURAL USE. WHERE THE TIMESCALE FOR THE
SITE TO BECOME STABLE IS LIKELY TO EXCEED A FIVE YEAR AFTERCARE PERIOD
THE MINERALS PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL SEEK AN APPROPRIATE LEGAL
AGREEMENT WITH APPLICANTS SPECIFYING AN ALTERNATIVE PERIOD AND SUCH
OTHER MEASURES AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO THE METHOD OF RESTORATION
ENVISAGED.
13.39 The use of clean inert fill to improve derelict or damaged land or to secure other agricultural
improvements can be beneficial if properly planned and executed and carried out in accordance with a
scheme agreed by the Minerals Planning Authority. The onus will rest with individual applicants, however
to demonstrate that any such proposals would result in the improvement of the land's agricultural land
classification and that this improvement cannot be achieved by less disruptive means (such as land
drainage, management techniques etc). The Council's Derelict and Damaged Land Survey of 1993 and
Policies in Chapter 3 of the plan detail the Local Planning Authority's stance on this matter.
Pollution Control Considerations
13.40 The Minerals Planning Authority will keep under review the statutory requirements for
Environmental Assessments having regard to the continuing legislative changes to be expected, especially
as a national strategy for sustainable development evolves. The current position is that the Minerals
Planning Authority will continue to exercise environmental controls through the development control
process, other policies in this Plan and procedures set out in Circular 15/88.
13.41 All currently active landfill sites are licenced by the Environment Agency and leachate and landfill
gas controls are now routinely incorporated after discussion at the planning application stage with the
Environment Agency and other bodies because of their possible impact on restoration options. The Local
Planning Authority will keep the arrangements for all kinds of pollution control under review as the
provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990, come into force, replacing those of the Control of
Pollution Act 1974.
MIN20 THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL REQUIRE ANY NEW PROPOSALS
INVOLVING LANDFILLING OR THE RE-WORKING OR DISTURBANCE OF OLD LANDFILL
SITES TO DEMONSTRATE THE INCORPORATION OF A GAS CONTROL AND
MONITORING SCHEME. THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY ALSO WILL REQUIRE
APPLICANTS WISHING TO CHANGE THE USE OF LAND RESTORED BY LANDFILL TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PROPOSALS:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
HAVE TAKEN ACCOUNT OF LANDFILL GAS;
WILL NOT RESULT IN ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD AFFECT ANY
VENTING OF LANDFILL GAS OR OTHER POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES;
WILL PROVIDE SUITABLE PROTECTION OF ANY POLLUTION CONTROL
MEASURES.
13.42 Mineral working and landfill for restoration can affect the flood plain and in designing proposals
the Local Planning Authority will expect such proposals to satisfy policies OE7 and OE8. In addition, the
excavation of permeable sand and gravel and its replacement by impermeable 'plugs' of sealed landfill for
restoration in accordance with the requirements of Waste Management Licences issued under the
Environmental Protection Act 1990, has caused increasing concern about the potential effects on the water
table adjacent to workings, with the potential to adversely affect cellars, buildings, structures and services.
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan