What is the Waste and Minerals Core Strategy?
The Waste and Minerals Core Strategy is a document that has two main functions:
- it sets out the councils' joint approach to deciding where waste could be disposed of in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove up to 2026
- it explains where minerals, such as clay, sand, gravel and gypsum, for industries such as construction, could be extracted.
The Core Strategy is part of a group of documents called the Waste and Minerals Development Framework. It replaces most of the current Waste and Minerals Local Plans. The document will be used to help the councils decide whether to grant planning permission for new waste and minerals developments.
Why do we need this strategy?
We are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling waste in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. We also need to make sure there are enough new and recycled minerals to build infrastructure such as new homes and roads.
Most of our waste used to go to landfill sites, but this cannot continue in the future. The only site left in East Sussex, at Pebsham near Bexhill, only has permission for a small extension of operations. The Beddingham landfill site, near Lewes, closed in May 2009.
Why do we need to replace the Waste Local Plan when it only came into effect in 2006?
In 2004, new Government legislation was introduced to improve the planning system. Local authorities had to prepare new style planning documents, covering the period to 2026.
Eventually, all local plans, including waste local plans, will be replaced by local development frameworks or waste and minerals development frameworks. Until then, the policies in our Waste Local Plan and Minerals Local Plan have been ‘saved' and are still valid.
Why do we need more waste sites when we've already got the Energy Recovery Facility being built at Newhaven?
The facilities at Newhaven and Hollingdean will make an important contribution to managing our household waste, but studies show that they would not be enough to cope with increasing rates of recycling and recovery as well as waste from business and industry.
How will you identify new waste sites?
The Core Strategy sets out how waste sites are selected. Locations would be close to major roads and the towns that produce most waste, and away from more environmentally sensitive areas. Specific sites will be decided when we prepare the separate ‘Site Allocations' documents.
What can I do if I don't want a facility near me?
If you know of specific reasons why an area should not be considered then let us know . You can also suggest areas where you think sites could be located.
How meaningful is the consultation?
We welcome the opinions of people who live and work in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. We want to make the right decisions about managing waste and producing minerals and your comments help us shape our final policies. We take into account Government legislation such as Acts of Parliament and Planning Policy Statements. We also need to consider the most sensitive areas of East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, such as the proposed South Downs National Park.
Your responses to our Issues and Options consultation in February 2008 were taken into account when we developed the ‘Waste and Minerals Core Strategy: Preferred Strategy' document.
What about the safety of people that live, work or go to school near a proposed site?
Our planning policies aim to ensure any proposed development does not have an unacceptable impact on the people who live and work close to facilities. We work with the Environment Agency to monitor the impact of any development.
Are we are getting London's rubbish?
Our research shows it is very unlikely that waste would be brought to our area from London. We do not have the space to deal with it and the transport links between the capital and the coast are poor. Neither East Sussex County Council nor Brighton & Hove City Council intends to deal with waste from London.
Go back to the Waste and Minerals Development Framework consultation – Preferred Strategy stage.
East Sussex County Council