Introduction

12.1

This chapter deals with policies on minerals (including aggregates), waste and energy, all of which are central to the overall goal of sustainable development. National Government policy encourages local authorities to ensure through their Development Plans that sufficient minerals are extracted to meet national and regional needs, and that targets for the sustainable production and efficient use of energy and management of waste are met. However, these forms of development can have significant environmental implications and the policies of this Plan aim to ensure that these are balanced against the potential benefits of proposed developments. In many cases, proposals for these forms of development will need to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Mineral and fossil fuel resources and extraction in Knowsley

12.2

Knowsley has a history of coal mining and clay extraction (e.g. for brick manufacture). There are still reserves of coal and brick clay, together with the potential for oil and gas exploration, and for extraction of methane from former coal workings. A small part of the Borough contains silica sand deposits which are suitable for special industrial uses. Currently, the only “active” mineral extraction site in Knowsley is the Ibstocks brick clay quarry, Tarbock and it is likely that this will continue for the Plan period.

 12.3

Merseyside and Knowsley are both (as is typical of metropolitan areas) net importers of minerals and aggregates. For example, aggregates are mostly imported from Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and North Wales. The Council is keen to promote more sustainable ways of supplying minerals and aggregates (e.g. through the greater use of recycled aggregates). However, it will ensure that all individual proposals (whether for extraction of minerals or for their storage, processing, re-use or recycling) are environmentally acceptable. 

Waste management in Knowsley

12.4

A fundamental aim of Government policy (set out in Waste Strategy 2000 - see footnote ¹³) is to reduce the amount of waste that is produced and in particular to reduce the amount that is sent to landfill. The Government has set a target that 25% of household waste should be recycled or composted by 2005. 

 12.5

This Plan is being produced at a time when there is great change and uncertainty over regional and sub-regional waste planning policy and strategy. The North West Regional Assembly has produced a draft regional waste strategy, the land use elements of which are also now incorporated into the current draft review of the Regional Spatial Strategy.  The interim draft of the proposed new Regional Spatial Strategy (published in October 2005) sets out, in Policy EM9, a set of detailed short and long term targets for the minimisation, recycling, composting and recycling and/or recovery of value from waste.

12.6

At present, local authorities within Merseyside as a whole do not comply with the targets which have been set either at the national or regional levels. However, the Merseyside local authorities are currently considering whether to prepare a new waste sub-regional plan (to be known as the Integrated Merseyside Waste Management Strategy). The land use elements of this strategy will, it is anticipated, be incorporated into a new joint Local Development Document covering waste management issues in Merseyside - see glossary.  Discussions are currently under way between Merseyside authorities to determine the timing and scope of such a document but it could (if adopted) establish common policies, locational principles and criteria for considering commercial and municipal waste management facilities across Merseyside.

12.7

Any joint Local Development Document covering waste issues at the Merseyside level could replace (if the document is produced as a Development Plan Document under the terms of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004) or supplement the waste management policies of this Plan. In the transitional period between drafting and agreement of the Regional Waste Strategy and any future Joint Waste Local Development Document for Merseyside, policies MW4, MW5 and MW6 should be used to guide planning decisions on waste management facilities in Knowsley.

Renewable Energy in Knowsley

12.8

Althoughthere are currently no significant facilities for the harnessing of renewable energy (e.g. wind power) in Knowsley, the Borough does offer opportunities for some forms of renewable energy generation. The Council is keen to encourage the generation of renewable energy. This chapter therefore identifies those forms of renewable energy which are most likely to be developed in Knowsley and sets down criteria against which any proposals would be assessed. 

12.9

Consideration will also need to be given to the potential contribution that energy from waste generation may have on Knowsley and Merseyside – this issue is one which is likely to have implications across the whole Merseyside conurbation. It is anticipated that the proposed joint Local Development Document on waste (described above) will assess the scope for energy production from this source and provide guidance on the location and design of any facilities that are required on a Merseyside wide basis.   

Efficient use of materials and energy in new development

12.10

One important way in which the UDP can help to minimise the generation of waste and the use of energy is by requiring that proposals for new development (e.g. for new housing, industry or commercial use, or engineering schemes such as new roads) should incorporate sustainable forms of construction method. This can mean for example:

-  Ensuring that the design and layout of new development will minimise energy use;

-  Requiring the use of renewable sources of materials and energy wherever practicable;

-  Ensuring the re-use and recycling of construction materials in development projects.

12.11

These issues are covered in chapter 11 “Development Quality and the Built Environment”. Policy MW7 below also encourages new development to incorporate renewable energy production infrastructure where practicable to contribute towards the energy requirements of the development.

¹³ “Waste Strategy 2000” Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000