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Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste
Local Plan: |
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1. INTRODUCTION
Why Plan?
1.1 Hampshire is underlain by extensive deposits of economically valuable minerals. In particular, the County is a significant source of sand and gravel for use as aggregates in the construction industry producing around 2.6 million tonnes a year in recent years. Chalk is worked for agricultural lime and as an aggregate. Clay is used for brickmaking and lining landfill sites. Oil and gas are produced as energy sources and industrial raw materials.
1.2 The provision of adequate supplies of aggregate minerals to the construction industry is essential for the building of houses, schools, hospitals, roads, sewers, factories, warehouses and offices. For example, every new house requires around 50 tonnes of aggregate. However, a large and growing part of the need for aggregates is for use in the repair and maintenance of our existing roads, buildings and other structures. The continued supply of aggregates and other minerals is essential to the economic and social well-being of the nation. All mineral planning authorities have responsibilities in seeking to ensure that these needs are met in ways that will not prejudice the environment.
1.3 All Hampshire's households, businesses and industries produce waste - currently around 2.8 million tonnes a year. Although much of this waste can be recycled or used for recovery of resources, such as the production of energy, most of it has to be disposed of. At present, only a small proportion of the total waste stream in Hampshire is recycled or recovered. Most of Hampshire's waste is currently disposed of by landfilling (tipping). Adequate provision must be made for the disposal of that waste which is not recycled or recovered. It is fundamental to the social, economic and environmental well-being of the County that the need for waste disposal is met in a safe and efficient manner.
1.4 The existence of workable mineral deposits and suitable waste disposal sites depends, in the first instance, upon the geology of the area. In particular, minerals can only be extracted where they exist in the ground. Across much of Hampshire minerals of potential economic value lie within areas of attractive landscape, nature conservation interest, amenity value or good quality agricultural land or are located close to houses and places of work. Similarly, the best sites in operational terms for waste handling, treatment and disposal are often in locations that are environmentally sensitive.
1.5 Minerals and waste planning is a sensitive and often emotive issue and easy solutions do not exist. The right balance has to be struck between the needs of society for minerals and for dealing with waste and the need to protect the environment and people's quality of life. To achieve this, it is essential to have up-to-date policies to provide a clear planning framework for decisions to be made and to identify suitable locations to meet the needs of the County for minerals and waste development.
1.6 The Hampshire County Structure Plan includes broad strategic policies for controlling and guiding development for the supply and processing of minerals and the management and disposal of waste. The purpose of this Minerals and Waste Local Plan is to set out detailed policies and guidance on minerals and waste development. It provides a basis for Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council to make decisions on planning applications and gives a greater element of certainty regarding the location of future minerals and waste development to both the industries concerned and the residents of Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
