The next Minerals Plan and the Gunthorpe allocation

 

Clarification has been received about the status of the current Minerals Plan and the Gunthorpe allocation in this Plan (which includes the Bulcote Farm site).  Many thanks for the information to Paddy Tipping MP who obtained the information from the Environment Department, Notts County Council.

The current Minerals Local Plan, which was adopted by the County Council in December 2005, will remain in force until at least December 2008 or until it is replaced by new minerals development plan documents.  Part or all of the Minerals Local Plan may be extended beyond December 2008 subject to approval by Government.  Notts CC has decided to extend site specific policies, including the Gunthorpe allocation, until May 2009.

The timetable for the preparation of the new set of documents under the County Council’s Minerals and Waste Development Scheme is:
1.  Statement of Community Involvement – commenced February 2005, estimated adoption January 2007
2.  Minerals Core Strategy – timetabled to commence January 2006 but has not yet started, estimated adoption May 2008
3.  Minerals Development Control Policies – timetabled to commence January 2006 but has not yet started, estimated adoption May 2008
4.  Minerals Site Specific Policies – timetabled to commence November 2007, but likely to be delayed long after this date in view of delays in commencement of the Core Strategy and Development Control documents, estimated adoption November 2009.

What are the implications for the Gunthorpe allocation in the current Minerals Plan?

The preparation of the new Site Specific Policy Document will be the time to reassess any existing allocations that have not been taken up along with all available alternatives that could help meet demand for the next plan period.  If the Gunthorpe allocation has not been taken up, it could be excluded from the new plan if it compared unfavourably against other options and/or it was evident that it was no longer a viable proposition.  This is the only time when existing adopted policies can be changed.

Under the new planning system it is ultimately up to the planning inspector to decide what goes into the plan.  His decisions are now mandatory.

You can see full details of the County Council’s new Minerals and Waste Development Scheme on their website – www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk.  Follow the links for Environment, then Planning.