Planning, Environment & Design South Downs National Park - Soft Sand Study August 2012 Contents 1. Introduction & Terms of Reference ........................................................................................ 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Study Aim & Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 1 The Scope of this Report ....................................................................................................................... 2 2. Mineral Definitions ................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Soft Sand ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Sharp Sand ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Silica Sand ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Sand & Gravel ........................................................................................................................................ 3 3. Distribution & Availability of Soft Sand Resources ................................................................. 4 Soft Sand Distribution ............................................................................................................................ 4 Availability of Soft Sand ......................................................................................................................... 6 4. Minerals Planning Context ..................................................................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 7 The Managed Aggregates Supply System ............................................................................................ 7 Minerals Planning for the South East Region ........................................................................................ 7 Minerals Planning in the South Downs National Park ........................................................................... 8 Minerals Planning Policies of Surrounding MPAs ................................................................................. 9 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 16 5. Trends in Demand & Permitted Reserves ............................................................................ 17 Regional Trends in Demand ................................................................................................................ 17 Local Trends in Demand ...................................................................................................................... 17 Regional Permitted Reserve Trends .................................................................................................... 18 Local Permitted Reserve Trends ......................................................................................................... 19 6. Permitted Soft Sand Sites, Markets & End Uses .................................................................. 20 Permitted Soft Sand Sites .................................................................................................................... 20 Current Markets and End Uses for Soft Sand ..................................................................................... 21 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 22 7. Provision of Soft Sand in the Current Plan Period ................................................................ 23 Hampshire Allocations ......................................................................................................................... 23 West Sussex „Long List‟ Sites .............................................................................................................. 25 East Sussex Site Allocations ............................................................................................................... 27 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 27 8. Analysis of Reserves Information ......................................................................................... 28 Reserve Calculation Tables ................................................................................................................. 28 Sand & Gravel Reserves ..................................................................................................................... 30 Soft Sand Reserves ............................................................................................................................. 30 Potential Influence of National Park Status on Soft Sand Provision ................................................... 31 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 31 9. Planning & Sustainability Implications of Altering the Traditional Supply Pattern .................. 33 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 33 Sustainability Issues ............................................................................................................................ 33 Potential Alternatives ........................................................................................................................... 34 Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 37 10. Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 38 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 38 Soft Sand End Uses & Markets ........................................................................................................... 38 Provision of Soft Sand in the Study Area............................................................................................. 39 Alternatives to Future Extraction within the SDNP .............................................................................. 39 Apportionment in the SDNP ................................................................................................................. 40 Appendix A: Figures A.1 to A.3 (Resources and Constraints) ..................................................... 44 Appendix B: Figures B.1 to B.3 (Permitted and Potential Sites) .................................................. 45 Appendix C: Figures C.1 to C.4 (Soft Sand Resources) .............................................................. 46 South Downs National Park - Soft Sand Study March 2013 i 1. Introduction & Terms of Reference 1. Introduction & Terms of Reference Background 1.1 This report relates to the consultancy contract „Soft Sand Study‟ between the South Downs National Park Authority and Capita Symonds Limited. 1.2 Mineral Planning Authorities (MPAs) are required to plan for provision of aggregate minerals within their areas, including types of sand & gravel. Soft sand is a valuable mineral resource that, for certain end uses, cannot be substituted by other materials and a significant proportion of the resource in the South East is located within the National Park boundary and distributed across the National Park, and adjoining parts of Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. 1.3 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires (paragraph 116) that applications for major development within National Parks should be refused planning permission except in exceptional circumstances, and where it can be demonstrated that they are in the public interest. This broadly echoes the stance taken, specifically in relation to mineral development, within the former Minerals Policy Statement 1 (MPS1: Planning and Minerals), Consideration of such applications is required to include an assessment of the need for the development; the cost of and scope for developing elsewhere, outside the designated area; and any detrimental effects on the environment, the landscape and recreational opportunities. 1.4 The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) assumed its full powers in April 2011, including responsibilities as the Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) for the Park area. SDNPA has commissioned this work in partnership the adjoining MPAs represented by Hampshire County Council, West Sussex County Council and East Sussex County Council, in response to the cross-boundary nature of this planning issue. Study Aim