Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021

SI 10 Aggregates

An adequate supply of aggregates to support construction in London will be achieved by:

  • encouraging re-use and recycling of construction, demolition and excavation waste within London, including on-site
  • extracting land-won aggregates within London
  • importing aggregates to London by sustainable transport modes.

Development Plans should:

  • make provision for the maintenance of a landbank (i.e. seven years’ supply) of at least five million tonnes of land-won aggregates up to 2041, in particular through a landbank apportionment of:
    • at least 1.75 mt to London Borough of Havering
    • at least 0.7 mt to London Borough of Redbridge
    • at least 1.75 mt to London Borough of Hillingdon
    • at least 0.7 mt to London Borough of Hounslow.
  • ensure sufficient capacity of aggregates wharves and aggregate rail depots is available to ensure a steady and adequate supply of imported and marine aggregates to London and maximise the movement of aggregates by sustainable modes
  • support the production of recycled/secondary aggregates and, where practicable, expand capacity at/or adjacent to aggregates wharves and rail depots and quarries during their operational life, within or adjacent to major construction projects.

All Mineral Planning Authorities should, in Development Plans:

  • identify mineral safeguarding areas to protect sand and gravel resources from development that would otherwise sterilise future potential extraction
  • identify and safeguard sites and facilities, including wharves and railheads, with existing, planned or potential capacity for transportation, distribution, processing and/or production of primary and/or secondary/ recycled aggregates.

To reduce the environmental impact of aggregate sites and facilities development proposals should:

  • demonstrate that appropriate measures to deal with aftercare, restoration and re-use of minerals sites following extraction are in place; with particular emphasis on promoting green infrastructure and biodiversity
  • ensure that potential impacts, in particular to the natural and historic environment and to human health, are assessed and effectively controlled.

Development proposals should be designed to avoid and mitigate potential conflicts with sites safeguarded for the transportation, distribution, processing and/or production of aggregates, in line with the Agent of Change principle.

For more information please see The London Plan 2021