Policy information sourced from the Hillingdon Local Plan: Part 1

EM9: Safeguarding Mineral Resources

The Council will safeguard mineral resources in Hillingdon from other forms of development that would prejudice future mineral extraction. The Council will define the ‘Mineral Safeguarding Area’ in the Hillingdon Local Plan: Part 2- Site Specific Allocations Local Development Document based on the geologically mapped sand and gravel resource that is considered to be of current and future economic importance. Major developments in the Area will only be permitted where it has been demonstrated that:

  • the mineral concerned is no longer of any value or potential value, or
  • the mineral can be extracted prior to the development taking place, or
  • the development will not inhibit extraction if required in the future, or
  • there is an overriding need for the development and prior extraction cannot be reasonably undertaken, or
  • the development is allocated in a local development document, or
  • the development is not incompatible.

The Council will also safeguard areas within 250m of the Preferred Mineral Safeguarding Area as a buffer for the future extraction of the sand and gravel reserve, to safeguard the resource from the impact of ‘proximal development’.

For more information please see the Local Plan: Part 1