The Decision last month by a planning inspector to allow New Milton Sand and Ballast to proceed to extract minerals so close to Milford on Sea may be very damaging for the village. Below is my submission to the current consultation on the Hampshire Core Minerals and Waste Stategy.
Changes to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy
Question 10. We need to update our current planning policy which informs decisions on sand and gravel proposals. Do you have any views on how we should do this?
Does the County still really embrace the principle of the apportionment of mineral extraction sites locally so as to satisfy local needs?
This principle of apportionment to local need rightly remains a key feature of the stated strategy. The decision, however, of an inspector to permit the extraction of minerals at Downton Manor Farm, Milford-on-Sea, clearly undermines this.
The Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy (2008) section S8 (p. 37) states that the specification of local apportionment is made in accordance with "local needs from indigenous materials". In addition guidance from the Secretary of State on 20/09/07, (section 17) stated:
"land banks should normally be calculated by reference to the apportionment for the relevant area".
[This provision is not absolute and the Core Strategy does make provision in Section 21.15 (page 38) that
"If...after detailed evaluation, the local apportionment detailed in Policy S8 cannot be met, then the Policy will be reviewed and the shortfall in one area will need to be found from elsewhere in Hampshire."
but the inspector's decision regarding Downton Manor Farm did not follow any such detailed evaluation and there is no question either of local shortage, or the availability of other preferred sites to meet the local apportionment.].
What confidence can now be placed in the principle of apportionment to local need given that it has now been so thoroughly undermined by the recent decision at Downton Manor Farm?
The failure to challenge the decision in the High Court on the ground of flawed process only serves to raise doubts about the County's attachment to this important principle.
DS |
