Policy information sourced from the Braintree District Council Local Plan 2013-2033.

LPP 70: Protecting and Enhancing Natural Resources, Minimising Pollution and Safeguarding from Hazards.

Proposals for all new developments should prevent unacceptable risks from all emissions and other forms of pollution (including light and noise pollution) and ensure no deterioration to either air or water quality. All applications for development where the existence of, or potential for creation of, pollution is suspected must contain sufficient information to enable the Local Planning Authority to make a full assessment of potential hazards. Development will not be permitted where, individually or cumulatively and after mitigation, there are likely to be unacceptable impacts arising from the development on:

  • The natural environment, general amenity and the tranquillity of the wider rural area;
  • The health and safety of the public including existing residents, and future occupiers of all new developments;
  • Air quality;
  • Surface water and groundwater quality, groundwater source protection areas, drinking water protected zones;
  • Odour;
  • Compliance with statutory environmental quality standards;
  • Noise.

Development will be permitted when there is no unacceptable risk due to:

  • Siting on known or suspected unstable land;
  • Siting on land which is known to be or potentially affected by contamination or where the land may have a particularly sensitive end use;
  • The storage or use of hazardous substances.

Proposals for development on, or adjacent to land which is known to be potentially affected by contamination, or land which may have a particular sensitive end use, or involving the storage and/or use of hazardous substances, will be required to submit an appropriate assessment of the risk levels, site investigations and other relevant studies, remediation proposals and implementation schedule prior to, or as part of any planning application.

Soil quality must be protected during development to protect good quality land and to protect the ability of soil to allow water penetration by avoiding compaction.

In appropriate cases, the Local Planning Authority may impose planning conditions, or through a legal obligation, secure mitigation measures, remedial works and/or monitoring processes.

For more information, please visit Braintree District Council’s Local Plan here.