14. SITE ALLOCATIONS
14.1 As part of the preliminary work for the Minerals Development Documents, the minerals industry and related disciplines were asked in July 2005 for potential new mineral extraction and transhipment sites in Essex (a 'Call for Sites'). Thirty-five sites were put forward and consulted upon in the MDD: Site Allocations - Issues and Options paper (Dec 2005). As a result of this consultation four additional sites came forward, which were duly consulted upon in the MDD: Additional Site Allocations - Issues and Options paper (March 2006). This was followed by a further three potential sites and one alternative proposal being put forward by the minerals industry for sand and gravel extraction.
14.2 This Chapter sets out all the sites currently identified and details any changes to sites since the previous consultations and any suggested new sites. It should be read in the context of the preceding chapters, which set out the overall strategy, spatial options, thematic issues and development management issues.
14.3 Please note that the sites in this chapter are Suggested Sites only and do not have any policy status. We are seeking evidence and comments on the sites to inform the selection of the Preferred Sites for further consultation at the next plan stage.
14.4 Finally we seek any further suggestions for sites to be considered in the plan. This is our final 'Call for Sites' and details are given at the end of this Chapter of how you can submit a new site. Any further sites that are identified will, in turn, be subject to a targeted consultation.
Sites Already Submitted for Consideration
14.5 Table 12 "Suggested Sites", provides a profile of all the suggested primary extraction sites submitted to date for consideration. Revisions to suggested sites since the last consultation are indicated under the Site Reference, with the suffix 'Rev'; and new sites are suffixed 'New'. The table also sets out summary information concerning the size of the site, where it is proposed as an extension or a new site. Table 12 specifically includes an outline of the proposed method of restoration, which was not previously given, again no judgement has been made on these suggested sites.
14.6 Table 12 is followed by the list of sites from the previous consultation, namely schedules D & F, for suggested transhipment sites and safeguarded existing transhipment sites, respectively. There is one new alternative transhipment site proposed (D5), and there are no amendments to schedule F. In respect of the previous schedule E this concerned the Brickearth Mineral Consultation Area, this is set out in Appendix E and is referred to in chapter 8 "Protecting Our Mineral Resources".
14.7 Since the previous consultation the following sites have been removed from the list:
- C1 - Little Bullocks Farm, Canfield - Site for London Clay (see chapter 5)
- D1 - Rivenhall End - Proposed new rail depot
14.8 Site B2 - Slough Farm, Ardleigh Area 2 has since received planning permission (ESS/18/07/TEN) and has been removed from the list of potential sites. This permission has been taken into account in quantifying the amount of additional resources required for silica sand, as set out in Table 7 in chapter 5 "Overarching Strategy and Spatial Options".
14.9 In the following table the District names have been abbreviated as follows:
- BTE - Braintree
- CHL - Chelmsford
- COL - Colchester
- MAL - Maldon
- TEN - Tendring
- UTT - Uttlesford
| Site Ref | Site Name | District | Extension / New site | Large / Medium / Small site | Site Area (ha) | Estimated Yield of sand and gravel (million tonnes) | Est Life (years) | Method of Exportation | Proposed After-use(s) | Proposed method of Restoration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Rev | Appleford and Colemans Farm | BTE | N | L | 61 | 4.200 | 14-17 | Road |
Country park and Recreational lakes |
Low level back to country park and lakes |
| A2 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | E | M | 24 | 1.000 | 1 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A3 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | E | M | 9 | 1.000 | 1 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A4 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | E | M | 25.5 | 3.000 | 3 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A5 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | E | M | 35 | 3.000 | 3 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A6 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | E | M | 37.5 | 2.500 | 2.5 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A7 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | N | L | 95 | 6.500 | 6.5 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A8 | Bradwell Quarry, Rivenhall Airfield | BTE | N | L | 55 | 4.000 | 4 | Road |
Agriculture & possible A120 extension |
Replacement of overburden, sub soils and top soils to provide a low level restoration strategy |
| A9 | Broadfield Farm, Rayne | BTE | N | L | 90 | 4.280 | 14 | Road |
Agriculture or amenity use |
No importation - to use overburden for low level restoration to agriculture or amenity use. |
| A10 Rev | Covenbrook Hall Farm, Stisted | BTE | N | M | 21.5 | 1.500 | 7-10 | Road |
Agriculture and reservoir |
Low level |
| A11 | Tile Kiln, Valley Farm, Sible Hedingham | BTE | E | S | 2.4 | 0.160 | 5 | Road |
Agriculture |
Low level to grade into valley contours using overburden; or inert infill to existing levels |
| A12 | Colchester Quarry - Bellhouse Farm South, Stanway | COL | E | M | 12 | 1.000 | 3 | Road |
Amenity and nature conservation |
Not proposed to landfill but propose that restoration and afteruse would link in with proposals for amenity use with open access for the western part of the Bellhouse site |
| A13 | Colchester Quarry – Five Ways Fruit Farm, Stanway | COL | E | M | 15.5 | 2.950 | 6 | Road |
Agriculture. Based on using residual materials from adjacent Waste Management facility |
Restoration to a mixture of agriculture and nature conservation using on site materials to link into restoration of adjoining Stanway Quarry based on residual material following resolution to grant permission for a strategic waste management facility and landfill (ESS/63/06/COL) |
| A14 | Fingringhoe Quarry, Ballast Quay, Fingringhoe | COL | E | S | 6.6 | 0.600 | 5-9 | Use existing wharf |
Agriculture |
To work as an extension to existing quarry (low level) continuous progressive restoration |
| A28 | Tower Field, Ballast Quay, Fingringhoe | COL | E | S | 0.5 | 0.100 | 1-3 | Use existing wharf |
Agriculture |
To work as an extension to existing quarry with sympathetic continuous progressive restoration |
| A29 | Ballast Quay, Fingringhoe | COL | E | M | 10 | 1.800 | 12-15 | Use existing wharf |
Agriculture |
To work as an extension to existing quarry with sympathetic continuous progressive restoration |
| A30 | Ballast Quay, Fingringhoe | COL | E | S | 3 | 0.500 | 4-7 | Use existing wharf |
Agriculture |
To work as an extension to existing quarry with sympathetic continuous progressive restoration |
| A15 Rev | Admirals Farm, Great Bentley | TEN | N | L | 46 | 3.600 | 14-18 | Linked to Gurnhams (A18) for processing and onward distribution |
Agriculture, reservoir and woodland |
To work as extension to Gurnhams site - remove material to (A18) for processing , progressive restoration to low level agriculture and reservoirs and woodland |
| A16 Rev | Church Farm, Alresford | TEN | E | M | 20 | 2.000 | 20 | Road |
Agriculture, wetland and woodland and possible Golf Course |
No landfill, low level restoration to agriculture, with wet woodlands with ponds, woodland perimeter |
| A17 Rev | Frating Hall Farm, Frating | TEN | N | L | 47 | 4.000 | 16-20 | Road |
Agriculture, reservoir and nature conservation |
No Landfill, low level agriculture restoration and agricultural reservoir |
| A18 Rev | Gurnhams, Little Bentley | TEN | N | M | 50 | 2.400 | 10-12 | Road (will also process and output from Admirals (A15)) |
Agriculture |
No Landfill, low level agriculture. Perimeter woodlands areas and additional hedgerow. (propose to import aggregate for processing from A15 - Little Bentley) |
| A19 | Lodge Farm, Alresford | TEN | E | S | 9 | 0.800 | 8 | Road |
Agriculture and woodland |
No Landfill, low level agriculture. Perimeter woodlands areas and additional hedgerow. |
| A20 | Sunnymead, Elmstead and Heath Farm, Alresford | TEN | N | L | 65 | 4.670 | 25 | Conveyor to existing quarry, then road |
Inert landfill back to agriculture |
Inert infill back to levels (similar to Keelars Lane Wivenhoe)Internal road / conveyor to Wivenhoe Quarry. |
| A21 Rev | Thorrington Hall Farm, Thorrington | TEN | N | L | 95 | 6.800 | 20 | Road or conveyor and transport by river |
Agriculture and wet grassland |
Agriculture at lower level with low lying wet grassland. Retain perimeter woodland and additional planting (Note - doesn't specifically exclude landfill unlike their other proposals *NB Both the land owner and Brett Aggregates Ltd have asked us to make it clear that Landfill is to be excluded from this proposal. - restoration solutions for this site can be achieve without the need for importation.) |
| A34 New | Thorrington Hall Farm, Thorrington | TEN | N | M | 30 | 1.250 | 5 | Road and/or Water |
Agriculture and wet grassland |
Agriculture at lower level with low lying wet grassland. Retain perimeter woodland and additional planting (Note - doesn't specifically exclude landfill unlike their other proposals*NB Both the land owner and Brett Aggregates Ltd have asked us to make it clear that Landfill is to be excluded from this proposal. - restoration solutions for this site can be achieve without the need for importation.) |
| A22 Rev | Little Bullocks Farm, Little Canfield - Area A | UTT | E | S | 6.9 | 0.650 | 12 | Road |
Agriculture, amenity, nature conservation (not confirmed). No commitment on prior landfill |
Agriculture at lower level. Restoration would be progressive. |
| A23 Rev | Little Bullocks Farm, Little Canfield - Area B (NB. Site C1 also includes this area) | UTT | E | S | 5.5 | 0.060 | 2 | Road |
Agriculture, amenity, nature conservation (not confirmed). No commitment on prior landfill |
Progressive restoration to low level agriculture |
| A24 | Easton Park, Great Dunmow | UTT | N | L | 40 | 4.000 | 15 | Road |
Agriculture & conservation |
Infill with existing overburden and inert waste |
| A25 | Elsenham Quarry, Elsenham | UTT | E | L | 42 | 4.200 | 17-21 | Road |
Agriculture either to existing levels with landfill or to low level |
Landfill, progressive restoration to agriculture at original levels or to a lower level without landfill. |
| A26 | Frogs Hall Farm, Takeley | UTT | N | M | 22 | 1.500 | 10-15 | Road |
Agriculture & Woodland |
Not stated |
| A27 | Land at Ugley, Ugley | UTT | N | M | 12 | 1.800 | 10 | Road |
Agriculture |
Inert infill to agriculture and biodiversity |
| A31 | Maldon Road, Birch | COL | E | L | 30 | 4.000 | 13 | Road |
Agriculture and lake |
Not Stated |
| A32 New | Wick Farm, Ardleigh | TEN | N | L | 67 | 4.000 | 15 - 18 | Road |
Public Water reservoir and public access to surrounds |
Public Water Reservoir |
| A33 New | Armigers Farm, Thaxted | UTT | E | S | 3 | 0.300 | 6 to 10 | Road |
Agriculture and nature conservation |
Infill with inert waste and existing overburden. Inert waste to be residue from aggregate recycling operations and / or direct inert infill |
| A35 New | Tyndales Farm, Danbury | CHL & MAL | N | L | 47.5 | 3.000 | 15 | Road |
Agriculture |
Inert infill to agriculture |
| Silica Sand Sites | ||||||||||
| B1 | Slough Farm, Ardleigh Area 1 (total yield includes silica sand at a ratio of 54%SS,46%SG) | TEN | E | M | 11.66 | 1.070 | 10 | Road |
Agriculture |
Landfill - solid inert and Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste |
| B3 | Park Farm, Ardleigh Area 3 (total yield includes silica sand at a ratio of 35%SS,64%SG) | TEN | E | S | 6.07 | 0.863 | 6 | Road |
Agriculture |
Landfill - solid inert and Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste |
| Total Yield of all materials | 89.053 | |||||||||
| Total Yield Sand & Gravel | 88.172 | |||||||||
| Total Yield Silica Sand | 0.881 | |||||||||
Transhipment Sites
Sites D2, D3 and D4 were identified in the previous consultation. Site D5 is a new proposal relating to Brightlingsea Quarry Wharf.
D2 - Ballast Quay, Fingringhoe
D3 - Sadds Wharf, Maldon
D4 - Brightlingsea Quarry Wharf
D5 (New) - Brightlingsea Quarry Wharf
Safeguarded Transhipment sites
F1 - Harlow Mill Station
F2 - Chelmsford Rail Sidings
F3 - Marks Tey Rail Sidings
F4 - Port of Harwich