Bedfordshire and Luton Minerals and Waste Local Plan First Review: Adopted 2005 Table of Contents 1.1 Introduction...................................................................................... 4 1.2 Statutory Framework....................................................................... 4 1.3 National and Regional Planning Policy Framework ........................ 5 1.4 Functions of the Minerals and Waste Local Plan ............................ 6 1.5 Procedure and Publicity .................................................................. 8 1.6 Sustainability Appraisal ................................................................... 9 2 Minerals: Extraction Strategy ........................................................................ 10 2.1 Minerals extraction strategy .......................................................... 10 3 Minerals: Context ........................................................................................... 12 3.1 Sand and Gravel for Aggregates................................................... 12 3.2 Industrial Sands............................................................................. 13 3.3 Brickclay........................................................................................ 13 3.4 Chalk ............................................................................................. 14 3.5 Fuller’s Earth ................................................................................. 14 3.6 Building Stone ............................................................................... 15 3.7 Aggregate Recycling ..................................................................... 15 4 Minerals: Policies .......................................................................................... 16 4.1 Aggregates Landbank ................................................................... 16 4.2 Silica Sand Landbanks.................................................................. 17 4.3 Protection of Mineral Resources / Mineral Consultation Areas ..... 18 4.4 Rationalisation of reserves and restoration of old sites................. 19 4.5 Requirements for determination of minerals applications ............. 21 4.6 Importation of materials for processing ......................................... 22 4.7 Borrow Pits.................................................................................... 23 4.8 Rail aggregates depots ................................................................. 24 5 Waste strategy ............................................................................................... 25 5.1 Background ................................................................................... 25 5.2 Key Principles................................................................................ 26 Applying the strategy: Projected requirements for non-inert wastes........... 29 5.3 Imported Wastes ........................................................................... 29 5.4 Local Wastes................................................................................. 32 Implementing the strategy: provisions for future management of waste..... 39 5.6 Waste minimisation and management of wastes at source .......... 39 5.7 Integrated Waste Management..................................................... 45 5.8 Non-inert Waste Transfer and Recovery of Materials ................... 48 5.9 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) ........................... 52 5.10 Composting ................................................................................... 53 5.11 Anaerobic Digestion ...................................................................... 56 5.12 Energy Recovery Plant.................................................................. 57 5.13 Non-inert Landfill ........................................................................... 60 5.14 Pre-landfill treatments for biodegradable waste............................ 63 5.15 Landfill Gas ................................................................................... 64 5.16 Landraising.................................................................................... 64 5.17 Sewage Treatment Works and Management of Sewage Sludge.. 65 5.18 Clinical Waste................................................................................ 66 5.19 Inert wastes................................................................................... 67 5.20 Safeguarding of waste management sites .................................... 68 6 General and Environmental Policies .............................................................. 69 6.1 Matters to be addressed in planning applications ......................... 69 6.2 Restoration / improvement of Marston Vale.................................. 72 6.3 Environmental Improvement of the Greensand Trust area ........... 73 6.4 Environmental improvement of the Ivel and Ouse Valleys............ 74 6.5 Protection of Green Belt land ........................................................ 75 2 6.6 Protection of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land................. 76 6.7 Protection of Chilterns AONB........................................................ 77 6.8 Protection of AGLV land................................................................ 79 6.9 Landscape protection and Landscaping........................................ 80 6.10 Protection / enhancement of trees and woodland......................... 81 6.11 Protection of sites of national nature conservation importance..... 82 6.12 Protection of locally designated sites ............................................ 83 6.13 Species and Habitat Protection and Enhancement....................... 84 6.14 Archaeology .................................................................................. 86 6.15 Historic Buildings and the Historic Environment............................ 87 6.16 Pollution control............................................................................. 88 6.17 Disturbance ................................................................................... 89 6.18 Flooding......................................................................................... 90 6.19 Water resources............................................................................ 90 6.20 Public Rights of Way ..................................................................... 91 6.21 Transport: alternative means......................................................... 92 6.22 Transport: suitability of local road network.................................... 93 6.23 Ancillary minerals and waste developments ................................. 94 6.24 Buffer zones .................................................................................. 94 6.25 Restoration.................................................................................... 96 6.26 Aftercare........................................................................................ 97 6.27 Monitoring and Review.................................................................. 97 7 Proposals map ............................................................................................... 99 8 Appendices................................................................................................... 100 Appendix 1: List of Main Current Guidance and Legislation ..................... 101 Appendix 2: List of Acronyms and Abbreviations...................................... 105 Appendix 3: Glossary................................................................................ 107 Appendix 4: Forest of the Marston Vale Aims and Objectives.................. 117 Appendix 5: Greensand Trust Aim and Objectives ................................... 118 Appendix 6: Ivel and Ouse Countryside Project ....................................... 119 3 Introduction 1.1.1 The Minerals and Waste Local Plan is a statutory local plan prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It sets the detailed landuse policy framework for the extraction of minerals and management of waste. Government guidance states that plans of this type should be reviewed at least once every five years. 1.1.2 This document is the first review of the Bedfordshire and Luton Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP). The previous Plan covered the period 1996- 2006, and the administrative areas of Bedfordshire County Council and Luton Borough Council. The review is a complete replacement Minerals and Waste Local Plan. It covers the same administrative area as the 1996 Plan, and covers the period 2000 – 2015 (inclusive). 1.1.3 Whilst the whole plan has been reviewed, the policies covering waste management have been subject to the most significant changes. This reflects recent and rapid shifts in National and European waste policy. The revised MWLP takes full account of these developments, and aims to promote the shift away from waste disposal towards more sustainable management based on waste minimisation and resource recovery. 1.1.4 Policies for minerals development have also been thoroughly reviewed, but little change has been required from the approach of the 1996 MWLP. The main modification is the removal of the previously identified preferred extraction areas, as these have now been brought into operation. 1.2 Statutory Framework 1.2.1 Local Government in Bedfordshire is administered via the two-tier County / District model, whilst Luton Borough is a Unitary Authority. Under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Bedfordshire County