Preferred Areas have been identified in the JMLP for aggregate sand and gravel extraction.  Insufficient information is currently available to identify such areas for aggregate crushed rock.  For Preferred Areas the identification process has involved two main sources of information; planning and environmental constraints identified from a range of sources; and information received from operators.  The latter has been derived from responses to preliminary consultations on the JMLP and in the main is based on site specific and detailed mineral appraisals.

The list of environmental constraints which were considered in this the identification process included the following statutory designations:

• Designated and proposed Special Protection Areas
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• Designated and proposed Ramsar Sites National Nature Reserves
• A range of broader considerations were also considered, including:

Proximity to, and relationship with, residential development; proximity to the primary road network; the landscape and visual characteristics of the area in question; best and most versatile agricultural land (grades 1, 2 and 3a); District Local Plan policies.

Finally, a range of other designations were also considered where these might be affected by allocated areas and these included Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens and Archaeological sites.  It should be noted, however, that these, and the other constraints have been addressed, and given protection through the Development Control policies set out in Chapter 3 of the Plan.

Finally, consideration of site specific constraints such as public footpaths has been made.  The boundaries of the Preferred Areas have been drawn more precisely than for Areas of Search (discussed below), but in the same way, should not be taken as necessarily representative of the boundaries for any planning applications which may be received, or consents which might be issued.

Within the JMLP, Areas of Search have been proposed as those areas where there is a reasonable expectation of minerals being present in viable quantities, and where the MPAs expect any new proposals for sand and gravel and crushed rock to be made in the medium to longer term.  Beyond the First Review, some Areas of Search may be amended to be Preferred Areas, depending on the demand scenario and permitted reserves at that time.  As is the case for Preferred Areas, Areas of Search only apply to aggregate minerals.

The identification of Areas of Search has involved the same sieve analysis as applied to Preferred Areas, using a wide range of information on environmental constraints and the occurrence of minerals.

The Areas of Search have drawn from the information supplied by operators, since there is relatively little publicly available data on the occurrence of minerals in the JMLP area.  Where appropriate, however, the Areas have been drawn so as to encompass a range of sites put forward by operators.  As such it should be recognised that the boundaries of Areas of Search do not necessarily coincide with possible planning application areas which may be submitted.

Potential conflicts with designated sites and areas have been avoided where possible through their exclusion from Areas of Search, and the definition of boundaries has had regard to the broad constraints identified.