Policy information sourced from the Bexley Unitary Development Plan - Written Statement

MIN1

In considering proposals for the exploration, exploitation and storage of minerals, the Council will seek to ensure that the environment and public amenity and safety are safeguarded, by ensuring that the following criteria are met:

  1. there is an identified national, regional or local need for the mineral concerned and that the quantity and quality of the reserve should be sufficient to justify the extraction;
  2. there are no significant adverse effects on the environment, including Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (Policies ENV23-25), and sites of archaeological importance (Policies ENV56-58) or residential property;
  3. there are no significant adverse effects arising from traffic generation and access/egress to and from the site;
  4. the proposals should not significantly increase the risk from flooding or adversely affect ground and surface waters; and
  5. there are satisfactory proposals for the restoration and after-use of the extraction site.

MIN2

Proposals for mineral exploration, exploitation and storage would not normally be permitted where this use would result in the loss of high quality agricultural land (grades 1, 2 and 3a) and/or land with a high recreational, amenity or nature conservation value unless the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food indicate that they are satisfied that after a period of aftercare the lands’ former (undisturbed) physical characteristics are likely to be restored as far as it is practicable to do so and would be likely to sustain the demands of commercial agriculture.

MIN3

Where Policy MIN2 is satisfied, the Council will have regard to the economic viability of any farm units involved and the phasing of extraction.

MIN4

Wherever possible, potentially workable mineral deposits will be safeguarded from surface development that would sterilise the minerals or prejudice their working. Where development is proposed the Council will consider the prior excavation of the mineral, subject to Policy MIN1.

MIN5

The Council will seek to ensure that disused mineral sites are restored to a high quality by the developer, within a reasonable time scale and to a condition such as to make possible an appropriate and beneficial after use. Where infilling is necessary there will be a presumption against the use of degradable waste without satisfactory measures to deal with landfill gas and leachate both during and after operations.

MIN8

The Council will encourage the efficient use of minerals, including the use of recycled materials to ensure that:

  1. the borough’s limited remaining resources are used appropriately; and
  2. to minimise the need for the importation of minerals.

For more information please see the Bexley Unitary Development Plan