Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)
Managing the Effects of Mineral Development
18.15. This policy sets out the requirements that planning applications for mineral working and minerals infrastructure will be expected to address. The policy applies to both proposals at existing sites and those at new ones.
Policy DLP82 Managing the Effects of Mineral Development Comment
- Proposals for new mineral working or mineral-related infrastructure at both new and existing sites should demonstrate how they contribute towards the strategic objectives of Policy DLP80. They should accord with all other policies of the Local Plan including those in relation to the protection of the environment (natural and historic), public amenity and health, and surrounding land uses, or otherwise demonstrate that other material considerations outweigh any policy conflict. Proposals will be assessed in terms of:
- minimising any adverse visual impacts.
- effects on natural (including ecological networks), built, and historic (including archaeological) environments and on public health.
- generation of noise, dust, vibration, lighting, and vehicle movements.
- compatibility with neighbouring uses – taking into account the nature of the operations, hours of working, the timing and duration of operations and any cumulative effects.
- harm to water quality and resources and flood risk management and impacts upon the drainage network.
- ground conditions and land stability.
- land use conflict – proposals should demonstrate compatibility with the uses already present within the surrounding area.
- impacts on the highway and transport network.
- where necessary, mitigation measures should be identified to reduce any adverse effects to an acceptable level.
Justification
18.16. The NPPF places several requirements on minerals planning authorities when setting policies for assessing minerals developments and for assessing individual proposals – including adverse impacts on the natural and historic environment and on human health, cumulative effects of multiple mineral facilities, control and mitigation of noise, dust and vibration, and restoration and aftercare at the earliest opportunity and to a high environmental standard.
18.17. This policy sets out the general requirements that will apply to all proposals involving the development of mineral infrastructure and mineral working.
18.18. Mineral infrastructure proposals are defined as storage, handling, and processing facilities (such as depots and recycling facilities) and transportation facilities (such as rail sidings, rail heads and canal wharves). In the context of Dudley Borough, mineral working proposals are only likely to include any prior extraction in advance of a large-scale development scheme.
18.19. Mineral developments differ and early discussion with the mineral planning authority is recommended to clarify the scope and detail of information that will be required. It will be important that the applicant demonstrates the proposal to be consistent with national policy and the overall Spatial Strategy.
Evidence
- Black Country Minerals Study (2020), Wood
- Dudley Borough Minerals Study (2023), WSP
Delivery
- Planning applications and permissions
- Developers- to consider and satisfy the general requirements and additional assessment criteria set out in this policy when submitting minerals development proposals.
Monitoring
|
Policy |
Indicator |
Target |
|
DLP80 |
Levels of aggregates produced from secondary and recycled sources. |
Maintenance of current levels over the plan period. |
|
DLP81 |
Applications for non-mineral development within the 'buffer zones' around mineral extraction sites and mineral infrastructure that comply with the safeguarding provisions in the policy. |
100% |
|
DLP82 |
Percentage of applications for mineral related development satisfying the requirements set out in the policy. |
100% |
