Introduction and timetable ...................................................................................... 1

More about the current programme ........................................................................ 2

Background Information .......................................................................................... 4

What is a Mineral and Waste Development Scheme? ............................................ 4

What is a development plan document? ................................................................. 4

What are the key stages to preparing a development document? .......................... 4

How can I comment on the preparation of the Plan? .............................................. 5

How is the Plan tested during its preparation? ....................................................... 5

How is progress of preparing a development plan document monitored? .............. 6

What is a supplementary planning document? ....................................................... 6

Staffordshire County Council

Minerals and Waste Development Scheme - January 2016

Introduction and timetable

1.1 The work programme to prepare our new Minerals and Waste Local Plans is formally known as the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS).

Progress on the review of our programme or scheme is reported in our Annual Monitoring Reports and published on our ‘Local Plan programmes’ web page.

Our new Waste Local Plan was adopted in March 2013 and since then we have been preparing a new Minerals Local Plan for Staffordshire.

1.2 Our latest programme is set out and explained below.

Background information about the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme and the process of preparing development plan documents is also provided.

The timetable for the new Minerals Local Plan for Staffordshire (2015 – 2030)

Consulted on Revised Scoping Report for Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment

August - October 2013

Consulted on first Draft Plan May - July 2014

Consulted on additional site options October - December 2014

Published final Draft Plan and invited representations 10 June - 31 July 2015

Submit Plan for examination to the Secretary of State January 2016

Receive Inspector’s report Autumn 2016

Adopt the Plan Winter 2016

1.3 The above programme updates our earlier programme included in the MWDS which was approved in January 2014.

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Staffordshire County Council

Minerals and Waste Development Scheme - January 2016

More about the current programme

Table 1: Profile for Staffordshire Minerals Local Plan (January 2016)

Title The Minerals Local Plan for Staffordshire (2015 to 2030)

Content Contains the vision, strategic objectives, policies and proposals for minerals development and for safeguarding mineral resources in Staffordshire.

Status Development Plan Document (DPD)

Chain of Conformity Consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework

Geographic coverage Staffordshire but not including those parts of Staffordshire within the administrative area of Stoke-on-Trent and within the Peak District National Park – refer to figure 1 below.

Timetable for next steps January 2016 – Submit new Minerals Local Plan to Secretary of State

Autumn 2016 – Receive Inspector’s report

Winter 2016 – Adopt Minerals Local Plan

Progress to date Work on the preparation of a Minerals Local Plan (formerly referred to as the Minerals Core Strategy) was deferred in 2009 to make progress with the Waste Local Plan. The Waste Local Plan was adopted in March 2013 and work re-commenced on preparing a new Minerals Local Plan. In May 2014 a first draft was subject to public consultation and a Final Draft was published in June 2015.

Use the following link to find out more information about the background to the emerging Minerals Local Plan.

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Staffordshire County Council

Minerals and Waste Development Scheme - January 2016

Figure 1: Area for Minerals Local Plan

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Staffordshire County Council

Minerals and Waste Development Scheme - January 2016

Background Information

What is a Mineral and Waste Development Scheme?

1.4 It is our public statement on the production of mineral and waste development plan documents that will contain the policies and proposals for future quarrying, mining and waste management development in Staffordshire. The Scheme is a project plan and when preparation of a development plan document is to commence within the next three years, the timetable for the preparation of that document is indicated as well as a description of its content and the area to which the document relates.

What is a development plan document?

1.5 The term 'development plan document' covers any document that is part of the Development Plan. A development plan document has to be independently examined by a Government Inspector and the policies of an adopted development plan document will be used in determining planning applications. Development plan documents will include a local planning strategy, and a policies/ proposals map as well as site allocations and area action plans if necessary. Guidance as to the implementation of policies can be provided in supplementary planning documents.

What are the key stages to preparing a development document?

1.6 The following table sets out the key stages and the steps to be taken by the local planning authority at each stage:

Table 2: Key Stages of preparing a planning document Stage What we do

Plan preparation Gather evidence and decide what to look at in the Plan. Commence the Sustainability Appraisal.

Draft Plan Produce and consult on draft Plan. Continue with Sustainability Appraisal.

Publication of the Final Draft

Produce version of the Plan that we want the Inspector to examine. Update the Sustainability Appraisal. Consult on “soundness” of the draft Plan.

Submission Send our final draft of the Plan to the Planning Inspectorate together with supporting documents, Sustainability Appraisal and all formal

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Staffordshire County Council

Minerals and Waste Development Scheme - January 2016

Stage What we do

representations.

Independent examination An independent Inspector will be appointed to examine the Plan and we may need to recommend modifications to the Plan to make it sound. Modifications may require additional consultation.

Adoption Council resolve to adopt the Plan and publish an adoption notice. There is then a 6 week period for legal challenges if anyone feels the process has not been carried out properly.

How can I comment on the preparation of the Plan?

1.7 The County Council’s Statement of Community Involvement sets out how we will consult local communities, developers and landowners and other interested parties in preparing a Plan. The Statement is found on our ‘How we consult you’ webpage.

How is the Plan tested during its preparation?

1.8 Each development plan document will be examined by an independent Government Inspector whose role is to assess whether the plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements, and it is “sound” as defined in the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraph 182). We will not submit a development plan document for examination until the Council considers it is “sound” – that is positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

1.9 During the preparation of a Plan, a Sustainability Appraisal will be carried out which assesses the likely significant effects on economic, environmental and social factors. Other supporting assessments that may be necessary include:

• A Habitats Regulations Assessment where there is a likely significantimpact on an internationally designated wildlife site.

• A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to appraise and avoidinappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to directdevelopment away from areas at highest risk.

1.10 The Sustainability Appraisal should be started as soon as a new development plan document is first considered and should provide input at each stage when decisions are taken. For example, a sustainability appraisal report will

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Staffordshire County Council

Minerals and Waste Development Scheme - January 2016

be provided when issues and options for the Plan are being considered at the early stage of development plan document preparation and a final sustainability appraisal report is required when submitting a development plan document to the Secretary of State. These reports will be used for consultation purposes and will play an important part in demonstrating if a development plan document is ‘sound’ by ensuring that it reflects sustainable development objectives.

How is progress of preparing a development plan document monitored?

1.11 We are required to produce an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) and one of the functions of the report is to assess whether the targets and timescales for the preparation of minerals and waste development documents have been met. If targets are not met, the MWDS will need to be reviewed. We will be working hard to ensure that the targets are met but if they are not, then we will provide reasons why we are behind schedule. There is also a requirement to monitor the implementation of policy and this will influence the need to review policies within development plan documents.

What is a supplementary planning document?

1.12 This is a document that will provide further guidance to the implementation of a policy and should be used where they can help applicants make successful applications. For example, guidance could be provided for the design or operation of quarries. Supplementary planning documents are capable of being a material consideration in planning decisions but are not part of the development plan and should not be used to explain new policy or revise an existing policy.

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