Briefing paper No 10

Minerals and Waste Development Framework

Summary

This Briefing Note gives details about Minerals and Waste Development Frameworks. This new approach will replace the current development plan system. Frameworks will comprise a core strategy, site allocations, action area plans and proposals maps. The Government has proposed procedures for the production of Frameworks which include continuous community involvement. It is proposed that the main aspects of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework will be adopted by 2006.

Introduction

The Government is introducing a new system for the preparation of development plans. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill currently progressing through Parliament proposes replacing the existing system of local, structure and unitary development plans. The new regime envisages having a two tier approach with regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks. Mineral and waste development frameworks will replace mineral and waste local plans.

The Government’s reasons for introducing the new system is to speed up the preparation and review of plans and to achieve more effective involvement with the community. The new system also envisages a wider spatial planning approach identifying other delivery mechanisms.

Key Objectives of the new system

Local Development Frameworks will build upon the best aspects of the current approach and promote greater integration between the various local authority and other agency’s strategies and the land use planning system. The new approach will be a continuous process with scope to overlap the production of various aspects of the new plans. There will be a clear requirement for a comprehensive evidence base and a sustainability / strategic environmental appraisal. The new system will require a clear approach to community participation and an involvement all the way through the process.

Minerals and Waste Development Frameworks

All plan-making authorities, including County Councils in respect of minerals and waste documents, must submit a Local Development Scheme to the First Secretary of State for approval within six months of the commencement of the Act. The Scheme is a public statement of a three year project plan. It has to indicate the documents to be prepared, the policies/ proposals from existing plans that will be saved, the proposed timetable for preparing the documents and how progress will be monitored. It has to identify the resources required, constraints and milestones. The approach has to show the involvement of other local partners and stakeholders in the preparation of the documents.

The development plan documents will be subject to independent examination, and Statements of Community Involvement which will set standards for involving the community in the preparation of documents/major development control decisions will also be subject to independent examination.

The development plan documents must include a core strategy, site specific allocations of land, action area plans and proposals maps. For minerals and waste development the core strategy should take account of the need to contribute appropriately to national, regional and local minerals requirements at acceptable social, environmental and economic costs, and the local strategy for waste management based on the best practicable environmental option assessment at the regional level. The time horizon for the core strategy should be at least 10 years from the date of adoption. Site specific allocations should be founded on a robust and credible assessment of the suitability and availability of land for particular uses. Area Action Plans will be used where needed to provide a framework for areas of change or conservation. The proposals map will be on an Ordnance Survey base and identify development sites as well as areas of protection. For minerals and waste there is a considerable list of requirements, including minerals safeguard areas, contaminated land and areas protecting the water environment.

Development plan documents should provide an agreed vision for the area endorsed by the community and stakeholders and addressing short, medium and long term priorities. The documents should not be restricted to planning matters and can include other elements which relate to the use of land. They should not be compromised by unrealistic expectations on the future availability of infrastructure. Reference is also made to preparing a sustainability appraisal and strategic environmental assessment.

Authorities should take key decisions on the strategy and proposals at an early stage in consultation with bodies identified in the Statement of Community Involvement. With regard to preferred options the authority has to publish proposals for general comments for a period of six weeks. Following this stage the authority has to prepare the submission document. It is envisaged that the authority should be building consensus through continuous community involvement and therefore this should not lead to the need to fundamentally change the preferred options and proposals. Authorities have to ensure that the development plan documents are soundly based.

Following submission of the development plan documents, authorities invite representations for a period of six weeks. Any proposals received for alternative site allocations have to be subsequently advertised for comment. Authorities should not normally propose any changes to the documents after submission. Authorities at this stage seek conformity with the regional spatial strategy from the regional planning body. After the public examination on the development plan document, the inspector will produce a report which will be binding on the authority.

Authorities have to produce an annual monitoring report on progress with development plan documents.

Future programme of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework

The Material Resources Strategy was launched in September 2003 which will formulate an overarching strategy to direct all aspects of minerals and waste. The Material Resources Strategy will combine four key projects. These involve preparing the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework, developing the strategy to achieve the Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative vision; reviewing the Project Integra Strategy (which will examine collection and disposal arrangements up to 2020) and reviewing the strategy for provision of services through Hampshire Household Waste Recycling Centres.

The preparation of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework is linked to the production of the Material Resources Strategy. The stakeholder dialogue currently underway covers all aspects of both documents.

The likely commencement date of the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill is June / July 2004. The County Council will submit a Minerals and Waste Development Scheme as soon as possible after the commencement date. It is envisaged that the pre submission consultation on the main aspects of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework will commence about December 2004. It is likely that a Statement of Community Involvement will be adopted by Spring 2005. The submission to Government of the main aspects of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework is programmed for about Autumn 2005. The Public Examination would be held in early 2006 with adoption of the documents later in 2006.

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