Minerals & Waste Plan: proposed Quarry sites

Policy 20 (from 2013 Plan: Local land-won aggregates. An adequate and steady supply of locally extracted sand and gravel will be provided by maintaining a land-bank of permitted sand and gravel reserves sufficient for at least seven years from:

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2. extensions to the following existing sites

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i. Bleak Hill Quarry Extension, Harbridge (sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 13) – 0.5 million tonnes

 

ii. Bramshill Quarry Extension (Yateley Heath Wood), Blackbushe (sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 1) – 1.0 million tonnes 3. new sand and gravel extraction sites, provided the proposals address the development considerations outlined in 'Appendix A - Site allocations':

 

iii. Roeshot, Christchurch (sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 11) – 3.0 million tonnes ii. Cutty Brow, Longparish (sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 3) – 1.0 million tonnes iii. Hamble Airfield, Hamble-le-Rice (sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 9) – 1.50 million tonnes

 

iv. Forest Lodge Home Farm, Hythe (soft sand / sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 10) – 0.57 million tonnes

 

v. Purple Haze, Ringwood Forest (soft sand / sharp sand and gravel) (Inset Map 12) [SEE ORIGINAL TEXT]

– 4.0 million tonnes

 

4. Proposals for new sites outside the areas identified in Policy 20 (including extension of sites identified in Policy 20 (1) will be supported where:

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a. monitoring indicates that the sites identified in Policy 20 (1), (2) or (3) are unlikely to be delivered to meet Hampshire’s landbank requirements and / or the proposal maximises the use of existing plant and infrastructure and available mineral resources at an existing associated quarry; or

 

b. the development is for the extraction of minerals prior to a planned development; or c. the development is part of a proposal for another beneficial use, or d. the development is for a specific local requirement. The extension and new sites identified above are shown on the 'Policies Map'.

 

6.74 Any development at the sites identified in Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregate) would be subject to the ‘development considerations’ outlined in 'Appendix A - Site allocations'. The development considerations along with the other relevant policies of the Plan should be addressed at the planning application stage. If and when a planning application is submitted for development at one of the sites identified in the Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregate), more detailed appraisal of impacts against the policies in this Plan will take place.

 

6.75 The identification of sites in Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregates) follows significant site appraisal of the potential deliverability as well as environmental, amenity and economic impacts of the sites and/or opportunities(130) . This also includes the results of the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal of local land-won aggregate proposals(131) , the Habitats Regulation Assessment(132)(133) and the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment(134) as well as the outcomes of public consultation exercises. The sites identified also ensure a sufficient geographical distribution to ensure the majority of Hampshire’s aggregate needs are met.

 

6.76 In 2010, Hampshire’s existing sand and gravel quarries had permitted reserves of 14.22 million tonnes (mt) of sharp sand and gravel and 1.70mt of soft sand. The Hampshire Authorities acknowledge that silica sand is also extracted at Kingsley and Frith End quarries alongside soft sand and this is considered in the section on 'Silica Sand'. The new locations and extensions identified in the Plan are expected to provide a total reserve of 11.57mt which is expected to last until the end of 2028. The yield figures contained in the policy are only a guide to the likely mineral resources which may be extracted.

 

6.77 It is anticipated that the additional sand and gravel reserves identified within the Plan will be developed at varying timescales within the Plan period. Reserves from the extension sites are expected to be required as the existing permitted reserves become exhausted. It is anticipated that the sites are likely to be delivered at the following points within the Plan period, subject to planning permission being granted for development: Bleak Hill Quarry Extension (Bleak Hill) - from 2020+; Bramshill Quarry Extension (Yateley Heath Wood) - from 2020+; Roeshot - from 2013+; Cutty Brow - from 2013+; Hamble Airfield - from 2016+; Forest Lodge Home Farm - from 2016+; Purple Haze - from 2018+.

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6.78 The exact timings of sites coming on stream will depend on the market conditions, extraction at other sites in the nearby area and planning permission being granted for the development.

 

6.79 The extension and new sites identified in Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregates) are considered by the Hampshire Authorities to be the most sustainable, deliverable and acceptable options in terms of the environment and local amenity and best meeting the objectives of the Plan. The two extension sites identified are considered to be the most suitable and deliverable options for the extension of an existing operational site at this stage and the site operations have already been shown to be acceptable. There are no soft sand sites identified for potential extension. All potential options for soft sand site extensions were considered, but they all had significant deliverability and / or sustainability issues associated with them, meaning they are not suitable for further consideration at this stage.

 

6.80 Proposals at Bramshill Quarry and Purple Haze are accompanied by development considerations which may restrict development in certain parts of their site allocations. These areas have been included within the site allocation boundary as it will allow the Hampshire Authorities to have greater planning control over potential impacts on the restricted areas identified.

 

6.81 Deliverability of the sites identified within the Plan may be impacted by issues including land ownership, un-envisaged environmental issues at the time of Plan preparation or the resource not being as anticipated.

 

6.82 As already set out under the supporting text for Policy 17 (Aggregate supply – capacity and source), Hampshire’s aggregate sales will be monitored throughout the Plan period to ensure resource security and 'Appendix C - Implementation and Monitoring Plan' contains aggregate supply triggers on this issue. This monitoring will highlight if the sites identified in Policy 20 (2) (3) (Local land-won aggregates) have not come forward and if there is a requirement for further sand and gravel development to meet demand. 6.83 Further opportunities for the extraction of local land-won aggregate have not been identified within the Plan as the Hampshire Authorities considered that there were no other sustainable and deliverable options suitable for allocation at the time of plan preparation. However, Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregates) allows for extraction from other sites outside the sites identified within the policy to meet additional demand, if required. Evidence shows that over the last 15 years, 4.76mt(135) of local land-won aggregate came from un-planned unallocated opportunities, meaning historically these opportunities have played an important role in meeting Hampshire’s demand for local land-won aggregate. They can also offer some contingency if there is an increased demand for aggregate. It is expected that this will account for at least 3.08mt over the Plan period, which equates to 0.15mt per year of the Plan. Unplanned opportunities may include: i. extensions to permitted local and active mineral extraction sites which are not allocated in Policy 20 (3) (Local land-won aggregates) but located in the MSA. This may include the extension of sites where the original permitted workings have not been implemented at the time of Plan preparation; or ii. sustainable maximisation of suitable existing plant and / or infrastructure either at or associated with an existing quarry to meet Hampshire's landbank requirements: or iii. sites where there is a proven local need for aggregates to meet local demand. This may include when allocated sites have not come forward and there is a need for aggregate in that area, where the mineral would otherwise be sterilised and where development is associated with another beneficial use; or

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6.83 Further opportunities for the extraction of local land-won aggregate have not been identified within the Plan as the Hampshire Authorities considered that there were no other sustainable and deliverable options suitable for allocation at the time of plan preparation. However, Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregates) allows for extraction from other sites outside the sites identified within the policy to meet additional demand, if required. Evidence shows that over the last 15 years, 4.76mt (135) of local land-won aggregate came from un-planned unallocated opportunities, meaning historically these opportunities have played an important role in meeting Hampshire’s demand for local land-won aggregate. They can also offer some contingency if there is an increased demand for aggregate. It is expected that this will account for at least 3.08mt over the Plan period, which equates to 0.15mt per year of the Plan. Unplanned opportunities may include:

 

i. extensions to permitted local and active mineral extraction sites which are not allocated in Policy 20 (3) (Local land-won aggregates) but located in the MSA. This may include the extension of sites where the original permitted workings have not been implemented at the time of Plan preparation; or

 

ii. sustainable maximisation of suitable existing plant and / or infrastructure either at or associated with an existing quarry to meet Hampshire's landbank requirements: or

 

iii. sites where there is a proven local need for aggregates to meet local demand. This may include when allocated sites have not come forward and there is a need for aggregate in that area, where the mineral would otherwise be sterilised and where development is associated with another beneficial use; or

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iv. sites where prior extraction of minerals is required before other development takes place which may sterilise the resource. This may include planned development identified in other Local Plans and sites with planning permission for other non-minerals development; or

 

v. sites not allocated in the Plan but located in the MSA. This includes Whitehill & Bordon where mineral resources are specifically safeguarded through as Policy 15 (Safeguarding – mineral resources); and

 

vi. mineral extraction is required for other beneficial uses where the primary purpose for its extraction is not for the mineral and it takes place to support other non-mineral developments in a given location e.g. creation of agriculture reservoirs, recreational lakes or borrow pits for a specific localised need.

 

6.84 Further extraction opportunities will need to demonstrate that they can meet the criteria set out in Policy 20 (4) (Local land-won aggregates) as well the objectives and policies in this Plan.

 

6.85 An extension or deepening to an active sand and gravel site is defined as a site which abuts or is connected via an internal haul road or other infrastructure such as conveyors or pipelines, to an established site with access onto the public highway. Existing quarries generally have an established site access, screening and on-site infrastructure so it may be more sustainable to continue activities at sites where investment has already been made, rather than develop new ones. This may also include satellite sites. An extension may also occur where a mineral resource would be sterilised if a site were to close. The extension of an existing site which requires HGV’s to cross a public highway will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances and where proposals meet the other policies in the Plan. The acceptability of extending existing mineral extraction sites will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will include an assessment of cumulative impacts which may be associated with continued working and other economic considerations such as market areas. Proposals to extend existing sites will only be supported where past performance of the existing operations has been adequately demonstrated. There may be circumstances where there are overriding environmental and amenity impacts which may outweigh the need for further development in an existing location or if cumulative impacts with other existing or proposed sites are considered to be excessive.

 

Sections 4. 'Protecting Hampshire's Environment' and 5. 'Maintaining Hampshire's Communities' consider these issues in more detail alongside other policies within the Plan.

 

6.86 Although borrow pits are not generally supported, there are some circumstances where they are the most sustainable way of providing aggregates for another planned local development project such as the construction of new roads or major built development. This is particularly likely to be the case where a borrow pit would minimise the potential impacts on local communities and the environment. Borrow pits can help to safeguard resources of higher-grade material for primary uses. Proposals for borrow pits will only be permitted where there is a clearly identified need, where the aggregate extracted is for use only within the specific construction projects in which it is related to, and the site is located on land surrounding the construction project, within a ‘corridor of disturbance’.

 

6.87 The sites identified in Policy 20 (Local land-won aggregates), alongside other unplanned opportunities to extract local land-won aggregate will meet the requirements for sand and gravel up to 2030 as set out in Policy 17 (Aggregate supply – capacity and source). This is set out in Table 6.3.

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SEE ORIGINAL TEXT FOR TABLE OF AGGREGATE QUANTITIES

 

6.88 Hampshire is currently able to meet its aggregate supply needs in accordance with national planning policy, from sites outside of the National Parks. It is therefore highly unlikely that further local land-won extraction in Hampshire’s two National Parks will be granted planning permission, if more sustainable options for extraction outside of the designated areas are available. However, it is important to acknowledge that there are sand and gravel resources located in or in close proximity to the National Park boundaries(136) . In particular, the South Downs National Park has important resources of soft sand and silica sand which are both considered to be a scarce resource within the Plan area. However, mineral development should only take place in designated areas such as Hampshire's National Parks, in exceptional circumstances and should not compromise the reasons for the National Park designation. This is considered in more detail in the section on 'Landscape and countryside'.

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6.249 Hampshire has a number of hazardous waste recycling and recovery facilities which provide an important role in managing this form of waste. Significantly, the Fawley Thermal Treatment Centre plays a national role in the disposal of many hazardous waste materials through incineration while the non-hazardous landfill at Pound Bottom provides disposal capacity for hazardous waste in the form of asbestos only.

 

6.250 Most energy recovery facilities or specialist incinerators produce a fly-ash or Air Pollution Control (APC) residues which are hazardous and require pre-treatment and then disposal at hazardous landfill sites. Hampshire currently has three energy recovery facilities for municipal waste, another for commercial wastes as well as a high temperature incinerator specifically for hazardous wastes. Total APC residues in 2009 were 12,900 tonnes(235) .

 

6.251 Other hazardous waste produced in Hampshire includes asbestos waste which can be deposited in dedicated hazardous cells within non-hazardous landfill. In 2009, Hampshire’s arisings were estimated at about 7,900 tonnes and some of this was landfilled at the Pound Bottom landfill site(236) . Industrial residues such as those from drilling muds which are produced in oil and gas extraction in Hampshire are produced in small amounts, most of which can be dewatered and the remaining sludge disposed at hazardous landfill. It is estimated that there are circa 50 tonnes of Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLW) arising in Hampshire per annum. There is no Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) or High Level Waste (HLW) arising in Hampshire.

 

6.252 The existing hazardous waste management capacity in Hampshire is estimated to be 520,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) which is higher than the total estimated hazardous waste arisings in 2030 of 155,000tpa(237) . However, about half of this capacity is for waste transfer and very little is currently recycled. The majority of hazardous waste management capacity is from: recovery - oil treatment or incineration with energy recovery facilities (200,000tpa); and disposal - high temperature incineration (60,000tpa).

 

6.253 Between 2006 and 2009 approximately 24,000tpa of hazardous waste was imported while a declining amount has been exported. In 2009, around 68,000 tonnes of hazardous waste was exported(238) . The amount of hazardous waste that was managed in Hampshire in 2010 was approximately 118,000 tonnes(239) .

 

6.254 All forms of hazardous waste should be treated as far as possible up the waste hierarchy and as close as possible to the source of the waste arising. Specialist facilities for recycling, recovery or treatment of hazardous waste should be located where they meet other Plan policies and in particular the criteria set out in policies 27 (Capacity for waste management development) and 29 (Locations and sites for waste management)