Policy information sourced from the Minerals local plan for Berkshire (Part 1)

Policy 7

Within the framework provided by Policy 6, the merits of all applications for the extraction of sand and gravel will be assessed having regard to all material considerations, including

  1. the likely effects of the proposal on living conditions, and the likely effects of the traffic which it would generate; 
  2. the need to protect the character and amenities of individual settlements, and to protect important open gaps between settlements from development which would cause long-term harm to the land’s function;
  3. the need to protect sites or areas of ecological, geological, archaeological, historic, or architectural importance;
  4. the desirability of protecting Grade 1, 2 and 3a farmland, and the likely effects of the proposal on farm structure;
  5. the need to protect woodland, areas of attractive landscape, and individual landscape features;
  6. the need to protect existing recreation sites, and to protect and enhance the recreation value of the public rights of way network;
  7. the need to guard against environmental damage resulting from changes to the water table;
  8. the need to protect water bodies and other water features, and to protect the water environment generally, including the protection of the flow, quantity and quality of water supplies, and protection against increased risks of flooding to property and people;
  9. the need to minimise disturbance by securing the phased release of extraction sites; by encouraging (subject to all other planning considerations) the orderly progression of working and restoration in areas where extraction is to take place or is already taking place; and by resisting the unnecessary spread of working to new areas.

For more information please see the Minerals local plan for Berkshire (Part 1)