Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Policy MW2: Proposals for Mineral Developments

1. The exploration, appraisal, winning and working, processing and handling of minerals, including provision of aggregate depots, will only be permitted if the following criteria are met:

(i) Proposals are accompanied by an operations statement which sets out how the impacts of the development on the matters detailed in table 11.1 below will be minimised and which is acceptable to the Council;

(ii) Proposals are accompanied by a restoration and aftercare plan covering the matters set down in table 11.2 below which is acceptable to the Council.

Procedures

2. Planning conditions or legal agreements will be used to ensure that mineral development does not have an unacceptable impact on the environment. They will also be used to ensure that restoration and aftercare plans are complied with so that the site can be returned to appropriate beneficial use.

Explanation MW2

12.17

Policy MW2 sets general criteria which will be applied to all proposals for minerals and related forms of development. All planning applications involving mineral operations will need to be accompanied by an operational statement, restoration and site aftercare plans clearly identifying the standards to be achieved, as set out in Minerals Planning Guidance note 7 "The Reclamation of Mineral Workings". Provision for the aftercare of minerals sites should normally be for up to five years, although the Council may seek to extend the period of aftercare beyond this period where this is necessary to achieve reclamation objectives.

Table 12.1

Mineral Developments – Matters to be included in Operations Statements
Applicants will need to show (in no particular order in minerals applications) how the likely impacts of the development on the following matters will be mitigated: - The effect of the development on existing or proposed residential or other environmentally sensitive uses in terms of: visual amenity; dust, smells, air, land or water pollution; noise and vibration; and floodlighting. - The likely effect on areas of: recreational use; landscape; ecological importance; and archaeological interest. - The impact of operations on the structural integrity or setting of a Listed Building or Conservation Area and Scheduled Ancient Monuments. - The impact on groundwater and surface water resources; including pollution, flows of floodwater or the capacity of flood storage areas. - The impact on the structure or viability of agricultural holdings and loss or reduction in agricultural land quality including best and most versatile agricultural land. - The impact on the stability and drainage of the site and adjacent land. - The impact of traffic generated by the development on properties on adjoining routes used by the operations or on safety anywhere between the site and the strategic transport network (see Policy link). Where possible, sustainable alternatives to road transport should be employed. Details on the following should also be included within the statement: - Access to the site; - The duration of operations; - The phasing of operations; - The hours or working; - Blasting and gas flaring requirements; - The estimated number of vehicle movements each week; - Details of maintenance regimes for plant and equipment; - Assessment of the likelihood of borrow pits being required off-site; - Facilities for sheeting and washing vehicles leaving the site; - How soil that is removed as part of operations will be protected and retained; - The height of stock piles; - How mineral waste will be disposed of and processed; and - The measures that will be taken to identify, safeguard and, where appropriate, enhance features of landscape, ecological, archaeological or earth science interest existing on site or created by workings.

Table 12.2

Mineral Developments – matters to be included in Restoration and Aftercare Plans.
All minerals developments must leave the site and adjacent land in a condition which is safe, stable, adequately drained and restored to the required landform, to a standard suitable for the agreed after use. The restoration and aftercare statement should cover the following: - Stripping of soils and soil making materials, storage and/or direct replacement; - Storage and replacement of overburden; - Achieving the landscape and landform objectives for the site, including filling operations if required following minerals extraction; - Restoration including soil placement, relief of compaction and provision of surface features; - How the site will be made stable, adequately drained and restored to the required landform, to a standard suitable for the agreed after use; - Availability of suitable filling materials for restoration and the feasibility of achieving the proposed restoration within an acceptable timescale using imported material; - Phasing of restoration; means of incorporating new wildlife habitats; agreed after use.

12.18

The Council may adopt a Supplementary Planning Document which will indicate in greater detail the matters to be included in planning applications.

Policy Links
Policy G1	“Development within the Green Belt”
Policy G2	“Landscape Character and Amenities of the Green Belt”
Policy G3	“Agricultural Land”
Policy G4	“Rural Diversification”
Policy DQ5	“Development in Conservation Areas”
Policy DQ7	“Listed Buildings”
Policy DQ9	“Sites and Areas of Archaeological Importance”
Policy ENV1	“Control of Pollution in New Development”
Policy ENV2	“Noise and Vibration”
Policy ENV3	“Light Pollution”
Policy ENV9	“Protection of Habitats and Designated Sites”
Policy ENV10	“Protection of Species”
Policy T8	"Transport Assessments"
Policy T12	“Aerodrome Safeguarding”

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