Policy information sourced from the Surrey Waste Local Plan

14 – Protecting Communities and the Environment

Planning permission for waste development will be granted where it can be demonstrated that:

A) It would be consistent with relevant national planning policy with respect to the following key environmental assets:

  • The protected landscapes of the Surrey Hills AONB, the High Weald AONB, the South Downs National Park, and the Kent Downs AONB.
  • Sites of international or European importance (SPA, SAC, Ramsar) for biodiversity, or of national importance (SSSI, NNR) for biodiversity or geodiversity where those are located within the county or could be affected by development located within the county.
  • Nationally important heritage assets, including Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, and Registered Parks & Gardens where those are located within the county or could be affected by development located within the county.

B) It would not result in unacceptable impacts on communities and the environment. The term ‘unacceptable impact’ should be interpreted in accordance with current national and local planning policy and planning guidance relevant to each of the following matters:

  • Public amenity and safety including:
    • Impacts caused by noise, dust, fumes, odour, vibration, illumination.
    • Impacts on public open space, the rights of way network, and outdoor recreation facilities (including on the accessibility of such spaces, networks and facilities).
  • Aerodrome and airport safeguarding, including the risk of birds striking aircraft and including impacts due to the position or height of buildings and associated structures.
  • Air Quality, including impacts on identified Air Quality Management Areas and Clean Air Zones.
  • The Water Environment including:
    • Flood risk, (arising from all sources), including impacts on, and opportunities to provide and enhance, flood storage and surface water drainage capacity.
    • Water Resources, including impacts on the quantity and quality of surface water and ground water resources, taking account of Source Protection Zones, the status of surface watercourses and waterbodies and groundwater bodies.
  • The landscape including impacts on the appearance, quality and character of the landscape and any features that contribute to its distinctiveness, including character areas defined at the national and local levels.
  • The natural environment, including biodiversity and geological conservation interests, including site of local importance (LNR, SNCI, RIGS) for biodiversity or geodiversity, irreplaceable habitats (e.g. Ancient Woodland), and protected species).
  • The historic landscape, on sites or structures of architectural and historic interest and their settings, and on sites of existing or potential archaeological interest or their settings.
  • Land and soil resources including impacts on their use, quality and integrity and including opportunities for remediation, the need to protect any best and most versatile agricultural land, and the need to address existing and potential contamination and land stability issues.
  • Cumulative impacts arising from the interactions between waste developments, and between waste development and other forms of development.
  • Any other matters relevant to the proposed development.

For more information please see the Surrey Waste Local Plan