Policy information sourced from the Surrey Minerals Plan

MC1 Location of mineral development in Surrey

Mineral extraction of concreting aggregates will be concentrated on the river terrace gravels of the Thames in north west Surrey. Mineral extraction for soft sand will be concentrated on land within the Lower Greensand Formation in south west and eastern Surrey. Preferred areas for future sand and gravel production are identified in the Primary Aggregates DPD.

Resources of silica sand are restricted to specific parts of the Folkestone Formation on the eastern side of the county. A preferred area for silica sand working adjoins the existing working north of Bletchingley and an associated area of search provides a potential resource for further extraction at the end of the plan period should this be required. A second area of search at Chilmead Farm, east of Redhill, has been identified.

The permitted reserves of brick clay from the Weald Clay deposits in the south of the county are likely to be adequate during the plan period to sustain production at the three existing sites. Areas of search are identified to enable the continuation of brick manufacture at these locations, and at Rudgwick in West Sussex, should this be justified by landbank considerations.

Oil and gas development will be concentrated in the southern half of the county.

Priority for locating aggregate recycling development will be given to urban areas particularly in north west Surrey, Guildford, Woking and Reigate / Redhill. Where urban land is not available, consideration should be given to suitably located previously developed land close to urban areas, subject to Policy MC3, and to temporary use of mineral sites to be restored with inert fill. Sites for such facilities and other forms of mineral development, such as rail aggregate depots, will be safeguarded to enable supply of alternatives to land-won minerals.

Sites of preferred areas and areas of search for possible future working, and sites for other mineral development, are shown on the Key Diagram.

For more information please see the Surrey Minerals Plan