Background Document
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Draft West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan (Regulation 18) Background Document April 2016 Contents Contents ................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction ...................................................................................... 2 Duty to Cooperate ................................................................................ 3 2. Vision and Objectives ........................................................................ 4 3. Minerals Supply and Demand .......................................................... 29 Aggregates – Land won sharp sand and gravel ....................................... 29 Aggregates – Soft sand ....................................................................... 37 Silica Sand ......................................................................................... 50 Chalk ................................................................................................ 60 Clay .................................................................................................. 70 Stone ................................................................................................ 85 Hydrocarbons (Oil and Gas) ................................................................. 93 4. Safeguarding Minerals Resource ................................................... 107 5. Safeguarding Minerals Infrastructure ........................................... 128 6. Glossary ........................................................................................ 138 1 Draft West Sussex JMLP - Background Document April 2016 1. Introduction 1.1. This Joint Minerals Local Plan Background Document supports the development of the West Sussex Joint Minerals Local Plan that is being prepared by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), under the provisions of Section 28 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the ‘Duty to Co-operate’ . Once adopted by WSCC and the SDNPA, the Plan will set out how and where minerals should be produced in West Sussex in the future. Different chapters of this document cover different elements of planning for future minerals supply in West Sussex as follows: • Vision and Objectives • Minerals Supply and Demand o Aggregates . Land won sharp sand and gravel . Soft sand o Silica Sand o Clay o Chalk o Hydrocarbons • Minerals Resource Safeguarding • Minerals Infrastructure Safeguarding 1.2. A separate document, known as the Minerals Site Selection Report, has been produced that explains how the sites proposed for allocation in the Plan have been selected. 1.3. This document summarises the most up to date evidence which builds on the evidence presented in the following Background Papers which were published in 2014: • Background Paper Engagement – Report of Outcome • Background Paper 1 – Spatial Portrait (Version 2) • Background Paper 2 – Minerals in West Sussex (Version 2) • Background Paper 4 – Safeguarding Minerals Infrastructure (Version 2) • Background Paper 5 – Safeguarding Mineral Resources (Version 2) 1.4. This document considers different options associated with the supply of minerals in West Sussex and how preferred options for minerals development have been selected. It shows the options which were initially identified and then how ‘reasonable alternatives’ were selected which were then subject to Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (incorporating Strategic 2 Draft West Sussex JMLP - Background Document April 2016 Environmental Assessment (SEA)1. A separate Sustainability Report (together with a Non-Technical Summary), which sets out the findings of the SA, has been published for comments alongside the draft JMLP. 1.5. This document, and the above background papers, have all been made available to inform the public consultation on the Draft Joint Minerals Local Plan that includes draft policies on the future supply of minerals in West Sussex 1.6. Comments are invited on this document and, in particular, on how the preferred options have been selected. The outcomes of the consultation will help the Authorities prepare the final draft Plan that they propose to submit for examination. Once the final draft Plan (to be known as the ‘Proposed Submission’ Plan) has been prepared, comments will be invited its ‘soundness’ and legality in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. 1.7. More information about the Joint Minerals Local Plan can be found on the Council’s website: www.westsussex.gov.uk/mwdf. If you require clarification on any of the content within this document please contact us at: [email protected]. Duty to Cooperate 1.8. Following their identification, draft minerals supply options were shared with neighbouring minerals planning authorities and comments were requested. The comments received were taken into account in the selection of the preferred approaches. Engagement with relevant minerals planning authorities is ongoing and the consultation on the draft JMLP is considered to form part of that engagement. A document setting out details of the engagement undertaken to ensure compliance with the Duty to Cooperate will be published alongside the Proposed Submission Plan later in 2016. 1 As required under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and in accordance with the SEA Directive (European Directive 2001/42/EC) 3 Draft West Sussex JMLP - Background Document April 2016 2. Vision and Objectives 2.1. To guide the direction of the emerging Plan, it is necessary to establish a Vision and Objectives from which the policies and allocations will develop. The Vision and Strategic Objectives present the aspirations for future minerals supply in West Sussex and detail how these are likely to be achieved. The 14 Strategic Objectives ensure that minerals supply in West Sussex meets market demand in a sustainable manner. 2.2. This chapter explains the derivation of the following draft Vision and Strategic Objectives which have been included in the draft JMLP: Vision By 2033, West Sussex: Will be a place where minerals are produced in ways which conserve and enhance the beautiful outdoors of West Sussex, in particular the special qualities of the South Downs National Park, for the benefit or current and future generations. Will be a place where the production and transportation of minerals does not detract from it having thriving communities and being a special place to live and visit. In particular impacts associated with the transport of minerals by road will have been minimised. Will have contributed to the supply of minerals, in particular aggregates, clay, chalk, building stone and oil and gas, to support growth in West Sussex. In particular social and economic progress of both the Coastal West Sussex and Gatwick Diamond strategic growth areas will have been supported through the provision of aggregate to enable the delivery of new development. Will be a place which seeks to meet its own needs for minerals while aspiring to source more and more minerals from alternatives to extraction of indigenous resources, and from areas outside the South Downs National Park and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Will have made a contribution to the needs of other areas in a manner which is consistent with this Vision, in particular by ensuring the supply of minerals via ports at Shoreham and Littlehampton and railheads at Chichester, Crawley and Ardingly. 4 Draft West Sussex JMLP - Background Document April 2016 Will have ensured minerals have been produced in a manner that protects and enhances the historic and natural environment, and contributes to a low carbon, circular economy. Will have safeguarded valuable mineral resources, including the soft and silica sand of the Folkestone Beds, the sharp sand and gravel around Chichester, clay needed for individual brickworks, and building stone from needless sterilisation by other development. Will be a place where the use of locally produced bricks and locally sourced stone, particularly Horsham Stone, Hythe Sandstone, Ardingly Sandstone and flint, has enhanced local distinctiveness and the rich archaeological heritage will have been protected. Will be a place where mineral sites are restored to the highest standards, leading to larger, better managed and connected green infrastructure and areas of habitat including lowland heath, woodland and wetland habitats and conserved and enhanced populations of priority species. Restored sites will increase opportunities for recreation and responsible tourism and for habitat creation within the South Downs National Park, recognising the purposes of the SDNP. Strategic Objectives Minerals production and use Strategic Objective 1: To promote the prudent and efficient production and use of minerals, having regard to the market demand and constraints on supply in the Plan area. Recycled and Secondary Aggregates Strategic Objective 2: To maximise and prioritise the supply and use of secondary and recycled aggregates before supply and use of primary sources; in particular to reduce reliance on land-won aggregates. Soft and Silica Sand Strategic Objective 3: To make provision for soft sand to meet the needs of West Sussex from outside the South Downs National Park, where possible; and only make provision for a declining amount of extraction within the SDNP over the Plan period. Strategic Objective 4: To protect the South Downs National Park by only providing for silica sand from within it in