Policy MW5: Agricultural soils
Comment
Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Pre-Submission Publication
Representation ID: 99128
Received: 11/11/2022
Respondent: Broads Authority
We have some queries and questions. These are not saying the Plan is unsound by asking these queries, but we would welcome thoughts on these and they may result in improvements to the Plan.
Could the situation arise whereby peat is excavated, not as a produce to sell, but to access a minerals site or to develop a waste site? Peat has many qualities. We have a policy that seeks the reduction of peat excavated as part of a scheme and its appropriate assessment/’disposal’ to address these qualities and prevent it from becoming a carbon source. Should the Minerals and Waste plan have something similar? (See DM10, page 49 Local-Plan-for-the-Broads.pdf (broads-authority.gov.uk)).
Comment
Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Pre-Submission Publication
Representation ID: 99294
Received: 14/12/2022
Respondent: Mineral Products Association
It is felt that the last bullet point is unnecessary and could dilute the policy in terms of the importance of agricultural restoration. With climate change the ability to have land to grow food will become even more important. The proposed changes make the policy effective.
The wording of the policy needs adjusting as follows:
Proposed Changes
Where development is proposed on agricultural land, the County Council has a clear preference for locating new mineral extraction and associated activities, and composting facilities, on land of agricultural grades 3b, 4 and 5.
Development proposals affecting Grade 1 agricultural land will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances, where it is demonstrated that there are no alternative locations for the development.
In addition to the above, when minerals development, particularly extraction, is proposed on agricultural land of grades 1, 2 or 3a it will [delete: only] be permitted where:
• Provision is made for high standards of soil management that would enable restoration to a condition at least as good as its previous agricultural quality. To demonstrate this, soil and land quality surveys, and soil handling and replacement strategies (based upon Defra’s ‘Good Practice Guide for Handling Soils’) must be submitted to the County Planning Authority; or
[delete: • The benefit of restoring the land to another after-use can be shown to outweigh the loss of the agricultural use of the land.]