Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Pre-Submission Publication

Support

Representation ID: 99467

Received: 19/12/2022

Respondent: Ministry Of Defence (Defence Infrastructure Organisation)

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Safeguarding Team represents the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a statutory consultee in the UK planning system to ensure designated zones around key operational defence sites such as aerodromes, explosives storage sites, air weapon ranges, and technical sites are not adversely affected by development outside the MOD estate. For clarity, this response relates to MOD Safeguarding concerns only and should be read in conjunction with any other submissions that might be provided by other MOD sites or departments.
DIO Safeguarding may be involved in the planning system both as a statutory and/or non-statutory consultee. Statutory consultation occurs as a result of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Safeguarded aerodromes, technical sites and military explosives storage areas) Direction 2002 (DfT/ODPM Circular 01/2003) and the location data and criteria set out on safeguarding maps published by the Secretary of State for Defence and issued by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in accordance with the provisions of that Direction.
The area covered by the NM&WLP will both contain and be washed over by safeguarding zones that are designated to preserve the operation and capability of defence assets and sites including RAF Marham, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Honington. RAF Trimingham, RAF Weyborne, RAF Neatishead and the East 2 WAM Network
Copies of these plans, in both GIS shapefile and .pdf format, can be provided on request through the email address above.
The MODs primary concern with respect to minerals and waste development is the potential for detriment to aviation safety, specifically related to birdstrike. The working or subsequent restoration of either mineral or waste sites have the capacity to form environments that might attract those large and/or flocking bird species that form a hazard to aviation safety. Amongst the statutory safeguarding zones issued to Local Planning Authorities through the DLUHC are those specifically designed to identify a 12.87km (8 mile) radius around military aerodromes within which birdstrike risk is most critical.
In addition to birdstrike issues, MOD may have concerns that mineral and waste development might incorporate or require structures that might fall within safeguarding zones drawn to preserve the operation and capability of technical assets such as communication systems, navigational equipment, or radar; or that might project into the airspace above and surrounding an aerodrome.
The MOD welcome the provisions of Policy MW1: Development Management Criteria and the supporting information set out in paragraphs 6.45 to 6.49 which provide an overview of the issues above and make a potential requirement for mitigation clear. It is noted that paragraph 6.49 identifies that mitigation should be provided at the planning application stage, in order to provide additional guidance to a prospective developer it would be beneficial to make clear within this section that it may be necessary that mitigation is secured through planning condition and/or planning obligation.

Comment

Representation ID: 99469

Received: 19/12/2022

Respondent: Ministry Of Defence (Defence Infrastructure Organisation)

The MOD welcome the provisions of Policy MW1: Development Management Criteria and the supporting information set out in paragraphs 6.45 to 6.49 which provide an overview of the issues above and make a potential requirement for mitigation clear. It is noted that paragraph 6.49 identifies that mitigation should be provided at the planning application stage, in order to provide additional guidance to a prospective developer it would be beneficial to make clear within this section that it may be necessary that mitigation is secured through planning condition and/or planning obligation.