Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Pre-Submission Publication

(1) Appendix 2 – Existing Mineral Site Specific Allocations and Areas of Search Policies

Appendix 3 – Existing Waste Site Specific Allocations Policies

Appendix 4 - Development excluded from safeguarding provisions

In accordance with Policies WP17, MP10 and MP11, Local Planning Authorities in Norfolk should consult Norfolk County Council on planning applications within Minerals Consultation Areas and Waste Consultation Areas.

It is neither practicable nor necessary for consultation to occur on all developments proposed through planning applications. Therefore, it is proposed to restrict the type of developments requiring consultation to those with significant potential for affecting the future use of areas and sites referred to above.

The following developments will be excluded from the consultation process:

1. Proposals for minor infilling of development in towns and villages within the defined settlement limits identified in adopted local development plan documents

2. Applications for householder development including:

Construction of a replacement dwelling where the new dwelling occupies the same or similar footprint to the building being replaced;

Minor extensions to existing dwellings or properties where they lie within the immediate curtilage;

Proposals for the provision of incidental and non-habitable structures lying within the curtilage of an existing dwelling (such as driveways, garages, carparks and hard standing).

3. Advertisement applications

4. Applications related to existing permissions, such as reserved matters, or for minor amendments to current permissions.

5. Applications for new or improved accesses.

6. Applications for listed building consent or Conservation Area consent

7. 'Minor' extensions/alterations to existing buildings

8. Applications for 'temporary' buildings, structures or uses (for up to five years)

9. Proposals for the erection of agricultural buildings immediately adjacent to an existing working farmstead.

10. Proposals for 'minor' works such as fencing or bus shelters

11. Proposals for the demolition of a residential or other building

12. Extensions to existing settlements of no greater than 2 hectares, unless the extension is within 250 metres of a safeguarded minerals or waste site, or 400 metres of a safeguarded water recycling centre.

Appendix 5 - Safeguarded mineral infrastructure - railheads and wharfs (December 2021)

Appendix 6 - Safeguarded mineral extraction sites by district (December 2021)

Appendix 7 - Safeguarded waste management sites by district (December 2021)

Appendix 8 - Safeguarded Water Recycling Centres (December 2021)

All WRC are operated by Anglian Water Services Ltd

Appendix 9 – Schedule of requirements of a Minerals Infrastructure Impact Assessment (MIIA) and Waste Management Facilities Impact Assessment (WMFIA)

An MIIA or WMFIA is expected to be evidence based and informed by quantified information. It is recognised that the requirements of an MIIA or WMFIA may be addressed through other evidence-based documents, such as those addressing transport, odour and noise issues. In these instances, it would be acceptable for the MIIA or WMFIA to signpost to the relevant section of complementary evidence supporting the planning application.

Appendix 10 - Implementation of Mineral Safeguarding Areas and Mineral Consultation Areas Policy

A10.1 General process to be followed for non-mineral applications on Mineral Safeguarding Areas / Mineral Consultation Areas (MSAs/MCAs)

A10.1.1 This appendix should be read in conjunction with Mineral and Waste Local Plan policy MP11 and its associated supporting text.

A10.1.2 Where land in an MSA/MCA are proposed for allocation through the Local Plan process, the Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) would welcome early engagement with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to understand how mineral safeguarding matters have been addressed in the site selection process ahead of any formal consultation procedure.

A10.1.3 Where any proposed allocations or applications for large-scale multi-phase built developments, such as sustainable urban extensions or garden towns, fall with an MSA/MCA; full consideration of mineral safeguarding issues should be investigated early in the process. Non-mineral development may not be planned to come forward for several years, providing the opportunity for more comprehensive mineral extraction to take place well in advance of such development. Such extraction proposals are likely to be County Matters in two-tier areas given that any application would need to be a standalone minerals application rather than linked to the primary built development proposal. Under this scenario, two applications would be required to be submitted: one to the LPA and one to the MPA.

A10.1.4 Consultation by the applicant with local mineral operators can help to determine any commercial interest in undertaking prior extraction of the resource based on its quantity, quality and viability of prior extraction, both as a standalone activity and in the context of having to restore the site to facilitate the primary development.

A10.1.5 As with any planning applications, such applications may be refused or granted permission. In addition, consideration should be given to whether planning permission is required for the acceptance of the mineral at a processing plant at an existing mineral working as receipt of this material may extend the life of the existing working.

A10.1.6 For clarity and consistency, Norfolk's LPAs should identify any mineral and waste safeguarded sites on their own Policies Map for their relevant administrative area.

A10.1.7 It is important that Mineral Safeguarding issues are recognised on a site as early in the planning process as possible. The potential for prior extraction should be recognised and built into the master-planning process. A comprehensive design process that recognises where viable mineral resources occur may influence the design of a site, especially in relation to site topography and sustainable drainage system design.

A10.2 When a Mineral Resource Assessment (MRA) is required (Policy MP11)

A10.2.1 Appendix 4 of this document contains a list of proposed development which would be exempt from the requirements of M&W Local Plan Policy MP11. If a prospective development does not fall within these exemptions applicants/proposers should consult the mapping of MSAs either through the interactive mineral resources map, or the printed Policies Map.

A10.2.2 If the redline application area of the prospective development falls wholly or partly within an MSA then the applicant should follow the process for preparing an MRA set out below. If an application which is exempt from the requirements of Policy MP11 is submitted to Norfolk County Council, in its capacity as the MPA, for a mineral safeguarding response, no response will normally be sent to either the LPA or applicant.

A10.2.3 Where the policy tests and thresholds of Policy MP11 are met, whether it be the preparation of a Local Plan, Masterplan or planning application, the need for a MRA is expected to form part of pre-application discussions between the relevant LPA, the prospective developer and/or the MPA as relevant. The MPA requires an MRA to be undertaken as soon as practical, and at such a time that it can shape and inform the early stages of a Master Plan/planning application.

A10.2.4 The Norfolk County Council (as the MPA) is keen for prior extraction not to be seen or viewed as an undue barrier for development coming forward. In this respect, it is stressed that potential applicants should undertake an MRA (when required) as soon as possible and seek to get agreement on the conclusions of this with the MPA.

A10.2.5 For the majority of non-mineral and non-waste developments (excluding large developments as mentioned previously) the LPA will be the district or borough council. Any prior extraction of mineral to meet the requirements of Policy MP11 is likely to be considered ancillary to the proposed non-mineral development, in the same way as other construction works such as sustainable drainage systems and bunds.

A10.2.6 An inadequate or absent MRA when required by policy, or any other failure to demonstrate compliance with safeguarding policy, would likely be considered by the MPA as being out of conformity with the Development Plan as it would be contrary to Policy MP11, and inconsistent with national policy and guidance; and should be advertised as a departure application. In this instance, Norfolk County Council, in its capacity as the MPA would also be likely to be raise a statutory objection. These would be material considerations of considerable weight in the determination of the application by the LPA.

A10.2.7 In that respect, it is considered that LPAs should include the need for MRAs within their Validation Checklists and highlight their need in pre-application discussions.

A10.2.8 Each response from the MPA will take into account factors such as the mineral importance of the MSA resource, the particular use of a safeguarded mineral site, the nature of the proposed development, whether viability has been properly assessed and the compatibility or degree of conflict. Any mitigation which could address any adverse impacts would also be relevant.

A10.3 The Scope and Level of Detail of a Mineral Resource Assessment

A10.3.1 The general process below provides an outline of how prospective developers should address safeguarding issues related to MSAs. This advice is general in nature and may be supplemented or amended by specific advice on individual sites. It is recommended that prospective applicants engage in discussions regarding safeguarding with the MPA early in the planning process.

A10.3.2 The NPPF (paragraph 212) is clear that LPAs should not normally permit other development proposals in MSAs if it might constrain potential future use for mineral working. However, the prior extraction of these minerals would mean that implementation of the proposed non-mineral development would no longer constrain any such potential future use for mineral working, and therefore this NPPF principle would be satisfied.

A10.3.3 If a proposed development is located on a MSA then there are two main issues to be addressed in formulating a safeguarding response:

• the applicant should carry out investigations to identify whether the resource is viable for mineral extraction, and
• if the mineral resource is viable, the applicant considers whether it could be extracted economically prior to development taking place.

A10.4 Ground investigations and testing

A10.4.1 Applicants may find it useful as part of their discussions with the MPA to provide a draft trial pit/borehole location plan which can be agreed with the MPA at an early stage. This will ensure that the subsequent investigations and assessment are derived from an appropriate distribution of trial pits/boreholes. This would help in preventing additional work later in the application process as the result of an objection from the MPA.

A10.4.2 Either the Environmental Statement or, in the case of non-EIA applications, the Planning Statement should address relevant mineral safeguarding issues for the proposed development, through the inclusion of a Mineral Resource Assessment.

A10.4.3 The mineral deposits found in Norfolk are highly variable, and the data used to define the MSAs is general in nature. Therefore, site investigations are required to prove the exact location of any deposits, assess the quality of any mineral and the depth of any overburden present. These factors principally determine the viability of the site.

A10.4.4 The nature of any potential prior mineral extraction would be likely to be shallow in comparison with dedicated sand and gravel workings, because of the intended final use of a site for non-mineral development. There would be differences in the likely depth of extraction depending on several factors. These factors may include whether the proposed non-mineral use of the site would be residential or non-residential, as well as the topography of the site and whether grading or levelling of the site is required for the proposed non-mineral use. There may be opportunities for more general mineral extraction in areas proposed for industrial uses, where construction at a lower level would reduce any potential amenity impacts from these buildings, such as reducing any visual intrusion from the scale of the buildings.

A10.4.5 The scope of the MRA, including a schedule of proposed borehole locations, should be agreed with the MPA before commencement. It is expected that the MRA be carried out by a competent person, such as a minerals surveyor. Information must be representative of the whole site as reliance on limited data, for example poor borehole log coverage, is likely to result in an inaccurate assessment being undertaken. It is acceptable to utilise existing borehole information where this exists, but this may be required to be supplemented by additional borehole logs to provide the required level of site-specific detail.

A10.4.6 The MPA will not always require prior extraction to take place across the full extent of the development site, nor to the full depth of the resource. However, the maximum amount of extraction considered viable in the context of the development is encouraged to minimise the amount of resource sterilised.

A10.4.7 The scope and level of detail of a MRA will be influenced by the specific characteristics of the site's location and its geology, as well as the nature of the development being applied for. Therefore, it is considered that mineral investigations, either as boreholes or trial pits to a depth of 2.5m-3.5m, would be appropriate for residential developments. This range of depths has been used for investigations on other proposed residential developments in Norfolk. For non-residential developments a greater depth may be appropriate depending on the likely founding and groundworks depths.

A10.4.8 The spacing of trial pits and/or boreholes is important to ensure that a thorough assessment of the mineral resource across a site can be made. An initial spacing of approximately 100m-150m centre to centre should be considered, with additional locations if required to determine the extent of deposits on site.

A10.4.9 Logs for trial pits and/or boreholes should be completed to an accepted industry standard, such as the Pan‐European Standard for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Reserves (PERC) Standard, and must note the depth of the water table if this a significant consideration in determining viability.

A10.4.10 The boreholes/trial pits for mineral investigations could be linked to the investigations normally required as part of the geotechnical study to support a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) which would normally be to a similar depth.

A10.4.11 The assessment of the onsite mineral resources would require the addition of Particle Size Distribution (PSD) tests on batches of any sand and gravel bearing deposits recovered, although this is often carried out for the FRA. Assessment of the results of the Particle Size Distribution testing should refer to material class types in Table 6/1 of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works: vol. 1: Specification for Highway Works Series 600, to identify potential suitability for use in the construction phases.

A10.5 Concluding on the Findings of the Minerals Resource Assessment

A10.5.1 An MRA is expected to be evidence based and informed by quantified information based on the site investigations, testing and assessment. If no viable deposits were found at the depths likely to be considered appropriate there would only need to be a short statement to this effect and the submission of borehole logs and PSD results as evidence.

A10.5.2 If mineral investigations were to prove a viable deposit, an assessment would be required to determine the quantities of material which could be recovered, this should make use of details of the layout of the proposed development. The MRA should provide conclusions on the practicality of prior extraction, which should be made in the context of the viability of the non-mineral development that is creating the sterilisation risk. Assessing the practicality of prior extraction as a standalone operation is to assess a false premise.

A10.5.3 The conclusion should consider the environs surrounding the site including the presence or absence of constraints to prior extraction, such as existing residential development. However, in doing so it should recognise that generally the shallow nature of prior extraction, or the reuse of material extracted as part of the groundworks is likely to be less than would normally be the case for a commercial mineral working. It is considered that, in general, conditions and mitigation measures could reduce impacts to the levels likely for any other part of the construction project; and should propose mitigation such as buffers accordingly.

A10.5.4 The assessment will need to consider whether there are areas of the site where viable mineral resources exist which would not be built on as part of the proposed development and from which mineral could not be extracted. For example, areas of mature woodland which would remain as part of the development.

A10.5.5 The National Planning Practice Guidance provides detail on the methodology and mitigation for noise and dust assessments for mineral workings. This would be a matter for the detailed assessment at the planning application stage.

A10.5.6 The methodology for the practical implementation of prior extraction could take the form of a Materials Management Plan – Minerals (MMP-M). For areas of construction, the MMP-M will estimate the potential quantities and types of materials that would be potentially recoverable from areas such as groundworks, sustainable drainage systems, and landscaping areas.

A10.5.7 The aim of the MMP-M should be, as a minimum, to balance as far as possible the mineral recovered from these operations with site construction activity which would consume aggregate, such as road sub-bases, granular fill, and bunding required etc.

A10.5.8 The MMP-M should consider the extent to which onsite material recovered would meet the specifications required for the construction phases. There is usually potential for significant amounts of material recovered to be reused on site. However, there is likely to be a need for some grades of material from traditional sources. There is also likely to be material recovered from the site which is 'Out of Grade' for onsite use could be sent to the supplier of aggregate as a return run, where it could be processed and used; this has been an approach taken by other developments in Norfolk.

A10.5.9 There are benefits in terms of sustainability which could accrue from the use of onsite materials, and there may be cost benefits resulting from the reuse of onsite resources in terms of reduced demand for import and export of material, and the associated costs of transport.

A10.5.10 On some sites where more general extraction takes place, there may be opportunities for a net export of material, this would be encouraged subject to no unacceptable impacts after appropriate mitigation measures are taken into account. The MMP-M should contain measures to ensure that the export of such materials is recorded, and such records are available to the LPA/MPA for monitoring purposes.

A10.6 Additional requirements for sites underlain by silica sand resources

A10.6.1 The above process is sufficient for those sites underlain by sand and gravel and carstone safeguarding areas. Sand and gravel and carstone are relatively low value aggregate minerals which have local to regional importance. However, the silica sand found in Norfolk is used in industrial processes such as glassmaking. It is a high value mineral of national importance and is scarce in England. Therefore, the potential sterilisation of silica sand resources has a far greater sensitivity than for aggregate minerals.

A10.6.2 Site investigations on sites where the underlying mineral resources are silica sand will need to be far more detailed. Boreholes should be used to prove the depth of the mineral resource. The location of boreholes should be placed across the site to ensure that a comprehensive picture of the resource underlying the whole of the site is obtained. Samples from various depths in each borehole will be necessary to ensure identification of silica sand deposits within the resource which are of suitable specifications for industrial uses. It vital that proposers of such sites engage with the MPA at an early stage, and that site investigations are carried out as part of the preliminary work in preparing an application or site allocation.

A10.6.3 As part of these site investigations, contact should be made with only silica sand operator in Norfolk (Sibelco UK Ltd), as they will be able to determine whether onsite resources are of commercial importance. If following investigations, testing and communication with the mineral operator it is determined that the silica sand does not meet the specifications for industrial uses, then it should be treated in the same manner as for aggregate minerals. If the silica sand resource is proved to be of importance as an industrial mineral, the MRA will need to take into account the national importance of the mineral resource in determining the quantity of mineral that will be recovered from the site. The MRA should seek to balance the relative importance of these valuable and scarce mineral resources with the need for the non-mineral development. In determining non-mineral applications on sites with such proven silica sand resources the LPA must take into account NPPF paragraph 212 in coming to a decision. The MPA would expect that it would be necessary for the non-mineral development to be of at least national importance in order to override mineral safeguarding of commercially viable silica sand.

Appendix 11 – Forecast Waste Arisings

(1) Appendix 12 - Glossary

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs): Areas designated by local authorities because they are not likely to achieve national air quality objectives by the relevant deadlines.

Aftercare: The treatment of land for a period (usually five years) following restoration to bring the land to the required standard so that it is fit for its agreed after-use.

Afteruse: the use (usually for agriculture, forestry or amenity) that land is put to once restored following mineral working, or temporary waste management operations such as landfill.

Aggregates: Materials such as sand and gravel and crushed rock, used in the construction industry for purposes such as concrete, mortar or roadstone.

Agricultural waste: Waste that is specifically generated by agricultural activities. It includes manure and other wastes from farms, poultry houses and slaughter houses; harvest waste, and pesticides.

Amenity: a positive element or elements that contribute to the overall character or enjoyment of an area.

Anaerobic Digestion: Anaerobic digestion is the biological treatment of biodegradable organic waste in the absence of oxygen, utilising microbial activity to break down the waste in a controlled environment. Anaerobic digestion results in the generation of:

● Biogas, which is rich in methane and can be used to generate heat and/or electricity;

● Fibre, (or digestate) which is nutrient rich and can potentially be used as a soil conditioner; and

● Liquor, which can potentially be used as a liquid fertiliser.

Ancient Woodland: An area of woodland which has had a continuous history of tree cover since at least 1600.

Appropriate Assessment: Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora requires an Appropriate Assessment to be undertaken to assess the impacts of a land-use plan against the conservation objectives of a European Site and to ascertain whether it would adversely affect the integrity of that site.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 for the purposes of preserving and enhancing their natural beauty.

Area of Search: areas where knowledge of mineral resources may be less certain but within which planning permission may be granted, particularly if there is a potential shortfall in supply. If it is not possible to designate Specific Sites, or Preferred Areas, the alternative way to plan for the steady and adequate supply of minerals is to designate Areas of Search.

Biodegradable waste: any waste that is capable of undergoing natural decomposition, such as food and garden waste, paper and cardboard.

Biodiversity: The variety of all life on earth (mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, plants etc).

Borrow pit: A temporary mineral working to supply material for a specific construction project.

Brownfield land Also known as "previously-developed land". Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. This excludes: land that is or has been occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill purposes where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures; land in built-up areas such as private residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously-developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape in the process of time.

Buffer: Buffers are areas of land within the allocation which would remain unworked for mineral extraction to mitigate potential impacts (for example, on amenity, landscape or ecology). Where a buffer is included in a site allocations policy or map it is 'indicative' and is intended only to illustrate where assessment at this stage has indicated that there may be impacts which, in principle, are likely to require buffers to mitigate them. The exact distances and coverage of any buffer, if required, would be determined following assessment of the detail of potential impacts as part of any future planning application.

Carstone: Carstone is a ferrunginous brown sandstone quarried in West Norfolk. It is used primarily for construction fill. When the iron content is high it can meet higher specifications. Traditionally in West Norfolk it was used as a building material.

Climate change: Changes in climate resulting from an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (e.g. emissions from transport and industry), global changes to land surface, such as from deforestation, and an increase in atmospheric concentrations of aerosols.

Composting: A process where organic wastes (such as garden and kitchen waste) are broken down aerobically (in the presence of air) to create a product that can be applied to land to improve soil structure and enrich the nutrient content of the soil.

Conservation Area: An area designated by the Local Planning Authority under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as possessing special architectural or historical interest.

Construction, Demolition and Excavation waste (CD&E): CD&E waste can be in the form of certain types of: Construction wastes (e.g. surplus supplies of materials specifically required for a single project as well as waste originating from site preparation), Demolition wastes (e.g. used material resulting from demolition activities); or Excavation wastes (e.g. usually consisting of soils and stones which cannot be used beneficially, such as from tunnelling operations, the soil component may not be inert).

Commercial and industrial waste (C&I): Waste from shops, industrial and business premises.

County Wildlife Site: A site of local importance for wildlife. Outside SSSIs, County Wildlife Sites are the best sites for wildlife in Norfolk. Sites are designated using stringent criteria, by a committee composed of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk County Council, Natural England, the Norfolk Biological Records Centre, and the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership.

Cumulative Impact: The combined impacts of a number of developments on the environment, amenity, health, traffic etc.

Development Management: The process through which the Council determines whether a proposal for development should be granted planning permission, taking into account the development plan and any other material considerations.

Development Plan: Statutory documents described in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) that set out the planning policies and proposals for the development and use of land. Decisions on planning applications must conform to the Development Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Development Plan Documents: A term brought in by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. They set out spatial planning policies and proposals for an area. Development Plan Documents are also referred to as Local Plans.

Disposal: Waste disposal operations include: deposit into or onto land (e.g. landfill), incineration, permanent storage, treatment operations where the final compound or mixture will be disposed of.

Ecological network: Areas of semi-natural habitat that are linked by corridors or "stepping stones", and thus enable wildlife to move through the wider landscape.

Energy from Waste (EfW): Utilising the embodied energy of waste materials to generate electricity and heat through direct combustion or indirect combustion of biogas.

Energy recovery: The generation of heat and power from the thermal treatment of waste, the production of fuels from other forms of treatment and the combustion of landfill gas and gas from anaerobic digestion to create electricity.

Examination: The Local Plan will be subject to an independent examination by an independent planning inspector. The recommendations in the Inspectors report will inform the final adopted version, but are no longer legally-binding.

Gasification: A process whereby carbon based wastes are heated in the presence of air or steam to produce fuel-rich gases.

Geodiversity: The variety of rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and landforms, together with the natural processes which shape the landscape.

Geomorphology: The study of landforms and the formative processes that shape the physical landscape.

Green Infrastructure: A network of multi-functional green space, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities.

Greenhouse gas: Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane which, when their atmospheric concentrations exceed certain levels, can contribute to climate changes buy forming a barrier in the earth's atmosphere that traps the sun's heat.

Gross Value Added (GVA): the value generated by any business or organisation that produces goods or services. The calculation for GVA is: value of goods and services produced, minus the costs of production in terms of raw materials and other direct costs. It does not take into account the effects of taxation or subsidies. This can be measured across a geographical area, industry or sector, and can used as a measure of productivity and growth.

Groundwater Source Protection Zones: The Environment Agency divides groundwater source catchments into four zones. These are based on the number of days taken by any pollutant to flow to the borehole. Source Protection Zone 1 is defined as a zone within which any contamination would reach the borehole within 50 days. This applies to groundwater at and below the water table. This zone also has a minimum 50 metre protection radius around the borehole. These zones are designed to provide control over activities taking place near boreholes which could result in contamination reaching the public water supply.

Groundwater: Water within soil, sediments or rocks below the ground surface. Water contained within underground strata is referred to as an aquifer.

Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appropriate Assessment): Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora requires an Appropriate Assessment to be undertaken to assess the impacts of a land-use plan against the conservation objectives of a European Site and to ascertain whether it would adversely affect the integrity of that site.

Hazardous waste: As defined by The List of Wastes Regulations 2005, eg asbestos, acids, oils, petroleum products, paint, mercury, solvents, un-depolluted end-of-life vehicles. It is waste that poses potential threats to public health or the environment (when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed). This can be due to the quantity, concentration or characteristics of the waste. This type of waste includes elements of healthcare waste.

Heritage asset: A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions because of its heritage interest. Designated heritage assets include World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Protected Wreck Sites, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields and Conservation Areas. Heritage assets can also be non-designated.

Historic Environment: All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and landscaped and planted or managed flora

Household waste: Household waste includes all mixed waste that is collected from households; all materials taken to local bring banks or collected at the doorstep or kerbside for recycling and composting; all waste (apart from rubble) that is taken to the County Council operated Recycling Centres; litter and street sweepings.

Household waste recycling centres: Provided by Waste Disposal Authorities as places where the public can deliver their household waste for recycling or disposal. These sites usually incorporate skips, collection areas for waste refrigeration and metal appliances, and recycling banks. Some sites have containers for materials such as waste batteries, paint, oil and wood. These facilities do not generally accept trade waste.

Incineration plant: Any stationary or mobile technical unit and equipment dedicated to the thermal treatment of waste with or without recovery of the combustion heat generated This includes the incineration by oxidation of waste as well as other thermal treatment processes such as pyrolysis, gasification or plasma processes in so far as the substances resulting from the treatment are subsequently incinerated.

Inert waste: Waste that does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological, transformations; does not dissolve, burn or otherwise physically or chemically react, biodegrade or adversely affect other matter with which it comes into contact in a way likely to give rise to environmental pollution or harm to human health; and, in particular, does not endanger the quality of any surface water or groundwater.

Inert waste recycling: Includes the recycling of secondary aggregates at centralised processing facilities or where the material arises. Material is delivered by skip or bulk vehicle for crushing, screening and grading for re-use. Unusable residues may be used in landfill engineering. Hardstanding is required for stockpiles of material, and for locating crushing, screening and grading machinery. Some elements of the operation and storage may be enclosed, but it is mostly undertaken in the open air.

In-Vessel Composting: The aerobic decomposition of shredded and mixed organic waste within an enclosed container, where the control systems for material degradation are fully automated. Moisture, temperature and odour can be regulated, and a stable compost can be produced much more quickly than outdoor windrow composting.

Initial Consultation: A stage of the Local Plan preparation process where community engagement is sought from individuals and organisations to inform the identification of key issues and the potential options for addressing them.

Landbank: A stock of mineral reserves with planning permission for their extraction.

Landfill: The term landfill relates to waste disposal mainly below ground level whereas landraise, also generically referred to as landfill, refers to waste disposal mainly above pre-existing ground levels. Modern landfill practice requires a significant degree of engineering in order to contain the waste, control emissions and minimise potential environmental effects. The primary by-products of landfilling, where biodegradable materials are disposed of, are landfill gas and leachate (a liquor resulting from water passing through the waste mass) and much landfill engineering is geared towards dealing with these substances. As such, landfill sites require containment lining systems and abstraction systems for both landfill gas and leachate.

Landfill gas: A by-product from the decomposition of biodegradable wastes. The gas is a mixture of up to 65% methane and 35% carbon dioxide plus trace gases and vapours.

Landscape character: A distinct and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one landscape different to another.

Leachate: A liquor resulting from water passing through the waste mass and therefore containing contaminants.

Listed building: A building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance using provisions under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. A listed building may not be demolished, extended or altered without special permission being granted by the Local Planning Authority. The Local Planning Authority must also consider if development nearby could cause adverse impacts to the listed building, and whether mitigation could address these impacts.

Local Authority Collected Waste (LACW): Waste collected from households and some business premises by local authorities, including waste from household waste recycling centres, public parks and public bins.

Local Development Scheme: Describes the Local Development Documents which the authority intends to prepare and the timetable for their preparation.

Local Plan: The plan for the future development of the local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). Current core strategies or other planning policies, which under the regulations would be considered to be development plan documents, form part of the Local Plan. The term includes old policies which have been saved under the 2004 Act.

Local Planning Authority: An organisation with statutory planning powers, ie the relevant County, District, Borough or Unitary Council.

Local Transport Plan: A document produced by Local Highway Authorities that describes its transport policies and its broad implementation programme.

Materials Recycling Facility: A specialised building for separating, processing and storing recyclable materials from waste collected either separately or mixed.

Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT): A form of waste processing facility that combines a sorting facility (the 'mechanical' element) with a form of biological treatment such as composting or anaerobic digestion.

Methane: A colourless, odourless, flammable gas, formed during the decomposition of biodegradable waste.

Mineral Consultation Area: An area identified in order to ensure consultation between the relevant LPA and the Mineral Planning Authority before certain non-mineral planning applications made within the area are determined.

Mineral Safeguarding Area: An area defined by the Mineral Planning Authority to identify a mineral resource which would be subject to safeguarding to prevent unnecessary sterilisation by non-mineral developments; used in conjunction with Mineral Consultation Area.

Mineral Planning Authority: An organisation with statutory planning powers relating to minerals development, in most areas the County or Unitary Council.

Mitigation: Measures used to reduce, avoid or remedy any adverse impacts caused by development.

Mixed waste processing: Operations, primarily of a mechanical and/or biological nature, to process residual municipal waste (household or similar commercial and industrial waste). Residual waste is what is left following the separation of recyclables / food waste / green garden waste either at source or centrally. The nature of mixed waste processing operations depends on the needs of downstream waste management practices. For example, refuse derived fuel (RDF) can be produced from mixed waste and the RDF can then be used to produce heat and power. Alternatively, organic waste can be separated for biological treatment. Various physical separation and waste reduction techniques can be used, sometimes in combination. Such processes include: trommel screen (typically a tilted rotating drum used to screen waste according to size and density), shredders, RDF plant and pelletisers; hand picking stations; biological stabilisation; ball mills; other mechanical reduction techniques (crushing, pulverising etc.) The term 'mechanical biological treatment' (MBT) describes a hybrid process combining mechanical and biological techniques to sort and separate mixed municipal waste. Mixed waste processing can also be undertaken within an integrated facility which may also include composting and thermal treatment.

Monitoring Report: Records progress in implementing the Local Development Scheme and the performance of policies against targets in the Local Plan. Indicates what action an authority needs to take if it is not on track or policies need to be revised/ replaced.

Municipal Waste: Waste arising from households as well as other waste (such as commercial and industrial waste) which because of its nature or composition is similar to waste from households.

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF): This document sets out the Government's planning policies for England. The NPPF must be taken into account in the preparation of Local and neighbourhood Plans and is a material consideration in planning decisions. It states that in order to be considered sound a Local Plan should be consistent with national planning policy.

National Planning Practice Guidance (PPG): A web-based resource published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on 6 March 2014 and updated as needed.

Non-hazardous waste: All non-hazardous waste as defined by The List of Wastes Regulations 2005. Included are for example municipal (household), commercial and industrial wastes.

Permitted reserves: Saleable minerals in the ground with planning permission for extraction. Usually expressed in million tonnes.

Planning Conditions: Conditions attached to a planning permission for the purpose of regulating and controlling the development.

Preferred Areas: If it is not possible to designate Specific Sites, the next way to plan for a steady and adequate supply of minerals is to designate preferred areas, which are areas of known resources where planning permission might reasonably be anticipated. Such areas may also include essential operations associated with mineral extraction.

Primary aggregates: Naturally occurring sand, gravel and crushed rock used for construction purposes.

Principal Aquifers: These are layers of rock or drift deposits that have high intergranular and/or fracture permeability - meaning they usually provide a high level of water storage. They may support water supply and/or river base flow on a strategic scale. In most cases, principal aquifers are aquifers previously designated as major aquifer.

Processing of Recyclables: Processing of recyclables will include all those operations that are designed to accept source-separated recyclate for processing and bulking-up prior to transport to downstream specialist re-processors. The recyclate is likely to originate from kerbside collection of materials that have been separated by individual householders and businesses, and also material from centralised recycling facilities (bottle banks, CA sites etc).

Pyrolysis: During pyrolysis organic waste is heated in the absence of air to produce a mixture of gaseous and liquid fuels and a solid inert residue (mainly carbon). Pyrolysis generally requires a consistent waste stream to produce a usable fuel product.

Radioactive waste: Radioactive wastes contain radioactive elements. Radioactive waste is categorised into nuclear and non-nuclear wastes. Nuclear wastes are from the nuclear power industry, while 'non-nuclear' wastes are generally from medical facilities and educational establishments. The majority of radioactive waste is 'low level waste' meaning that it has low levels of radioactivity.

Ramsar Site: A Site of Special Scientific Interest of international importance as waterfowl habitat designated under the Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands (1971).

Recovery: Includes recycling and composting operations as well as anaerobic digestion, thermal treatment operations which produce energy from waste (including fuel, heat and power) and some backfilling operations.

Recycled aggregates: Aggregates produced from recycled construction waste such as crushed concrete, planings from road surfacing etc.

Recycling: The process by which materials are collected and used as 'raw' materials for new products.

Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF): consists ofresidual waste that complies with the specifications in a written contract between the producer of the RDF and a permitted end-user for the thermal treatment of the waste in an energy from waste facility or a facility undertaking co-incineration such as cement and lime kilns. The written contract must include the end-user's technical specifications relating as a minimum to the calorific value, the moisture content, the form and quantity of the RDF.

Registered Parks and Gardens: Sites included in the Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England, compiled by Historic England via the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953. The main purpose of this register is to help ensure that the features and qualities which make the landscapes registered to be of national importance are safeguarded during ongoing management or if any change is being considered which could affect them.

Renewable energy: Renewable energy is energy derived from resources that are regenerative (e.g. biomass) or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted (e.g. solar or wind power).

Residual waste: The elements of the waste stream that are left over after the segregation of recyclables and organic waste for biological treatment (such as composting or anaerobic digestion).

Restoration: Operations designed to return an area to an acceptable environmental state, whether for the resumption of the former land use or for a new use following mineral working or waste disposal. Involves the reinstatement of land by contouring, the spreading of soils or soil making materials etc.

Route hierarchy: Norfolk County Council's route hierarchy categorises roads by use, or desired use, influencing signage, improvement programmes, and maintenance priorities. At the top of the hierarchy are the:

• Principal Roads (generally A roads); followed by
• Distributor Roads (generally B roads); followed by
• Local Access
• HGV (heavy goods vehicle) access
• Tourist accesses (generally class C roads)
• Other roads (normally unclassified or C roads)

Safeguarding: Protecting existing, permitted and allocated sites that have potential for relevant development (waste and minerals) from other incompatible development.

Scheduled Monuments: Nationally important monuments and archaeological areas protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act

Screening: Screening may take a number of forms, which may include bunds, or planting, or a combination of these and may in some circumstances incorporate a standoff to ensure that the screening is not itself intrusive. Where screening is included in a site allocations policy or map it is 'indicative' and is intended only to illustrate where assessment at this stage has indicated that there may be impacts (for example on amenity or landscape) which, in principle, could require some form of screening to mitigate them. The form of screening which would be appropriate, if required, along with the distances and coverage of any screening would be determined following assessment of the detail of potential impacts, as part of any future planning application

Secondary aggregates: aggregates obtained as a by-product of other quarrying and mining operations, or aggregates obtained as a by-product of other industrial processes, such as coal fired power station ash, incinerator ash and spent foundry sand.

Secondary Aquifers: These include a wide range of rock layers or drift deposits with an equally wide range of water permeability and storage. Secondary aquifers are subdivided into two types:

Secondary A - permeable layers capable of supporting water supplies at a local rather than strategic scale, and in some cases forming an important source of base flow to rivers. These are generally aquifers formerly classified as minor aquifers;

Secondary B - predominantly lower permeability layers which may store and yield limited amounts of groundwater due to localised features such as fissures, thin permeable horizons and weathering. These are generally the water-bearing parts of the former non-aquifers.

Secondary Undifferentiated - has been assigned in cases where it has not been possible to attribute either category A or B to a rock type. In most cases, this means that the layer in question has previously been designated as both minor and non-aquifer in different locations due to the variable characteristics of the rock type.

Setting of a heritage asset: The surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral.

Specific Sites (for mineral extraction): where viable resources are known to exist, landowners are supportive of minerals development and the proposal is likely to be acceptable in planning terms. Such sites may also include essential operations associated with mineral extraction. This is the preferred way to plan for the steady and adequate supply of minerals as it provides the necessary certainty on when and where development may take place.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs): Sites notified and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on account of their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features.

Special Area of Conservation: An SSSI of international importance designated under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Special Protection Area: An SSSI of international importance designated under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

Statement of Community Involvement: A document that sets out a Local Planning Authority's intended consultation strategy for different elements of the planning process. This is a requirement brought in by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Strategic Environmental Assessment: A procedure (set out in the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004) which requires the formal environmental assessment of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment.

Surface water: All lakes, rivers, streams, springs, ponds, impounding reservoirs, wetlands, marshes, water sources, drainage systems on the Earth's surface.

Sustainability Appraisal: An evaluation process for assessing the environmental, social, economic and other sustainability effects of plans and programmes. This is a statutory requirement.

Sustainable development: Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Thermal treatment: Can include incineration, gasification and pyrolysis. Techniques used include various moving grate systems and fluidised bed processes.

Transport assessment: This is a process which considers total travel demand; patterns of public transport in the area; how development impacts upon them; and if required how infrastructure or services could be improved to address the impacts (of a development).

Transport statement: Where transport issues are such that a full Transport Assessment is not required, a Transport Statement may be acceptable

Treatment: Involves the physical, chemical or biological processing of waste to reduce their volume, for segregation to reduce the harmfulness of the waste.

Waste arisings: The amount of waste generated in any given locality over a given period of time.

Waste Collection Authority: A local authority with a statutory responsibility to provide a waste collection service to each household in its area, and on request, to local businesses; in Norfolk the relevant district, borough or city council is the WCA.

Waste Disposal Authority: A local authority that is legally responsible for the safe disposal of municipal waste collected by the WCAs and the provision of Household Waste and Recycling Sites; in Norfolk the County Council is the WDA.

Waste management: The means of dealing with waste, including waste disposal, transfer, processing, recovery/recycling operations, incineration and other technologies.

Waste Planning Authority: An organisation with statutory planning powers relating to waste management development, in most areas the County or Unitary Council.

Waste transfer: Waste transfer is the process by which waste is taken from waste producers for treatment, recycling and/or disposal. Then, to minimise the cost of transport and to reduce environmental impacts, transfer stations are used to sort waste and to transfer it to larger vehicles for onward transport. The waste is usually sorted into wastes that can be recycled (such as metal, wood, soil and rubble) and the remaining waste that will be landfilled.

Wastewater (sewage): Comprises liquid and solid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry and agricultural activities, which is then carried to Water Recycling Centre via a network of foul sewers.

Windrow Composting: The aerobic decomposition of shredded and mixed organic waste using open linear heaps known as 'windrows', which are approximately three metres high and four to six metres across. The process involves mechanical turning of the waste until the desired temperature and residence times are achieved to enable effective degradation. This results in a bulk-reduced, stabilised residue known as compost. Windrow composting can take place outdoors or within a large building and the process takes around three months.