The draft strategy forms part of the regional planning guidance, and sets out a framework for the region's use of minerals in construction and manufacturing in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey, until 2016.
The strategy is closely aligned the Assembly's waste management strategy in its promotion of minimisation of the use of materials and the recycling and re-use of waste. It sets out guidance on how construction materials can be used more efficiently to prolong the region's resources.
Commenting on the strategy, chairman of the Regional Planning Committee, councillor Keith Mitchell wrote: “The draft strategy adopts the same overall stance as our earlier reviews and, in particular, relates closely to the Regional Waste Management Strategy.
It focusses, firstly, on measures to reduce demand, secondly on the recovery and recycling of used materials and then on a mixture of sources to supply residual regional need.”
The eight week consultation ends on November 3, 2003 and after a review of the responses the strategy will be presented to the government in 2004.
Targets
The strategy also sets targets for the recycling of aggregates in the region as well as targets to reduce the rate of mineral extraction. It said: “The use of secondary aggregates and recycled materials in the South East should increase from 5.3 million tonnes per annum (23%) to at least 7.4 million tonnes per annum (33%) by 2016, so as to reduce the need for primary aggregates extraction. Planning authorities should make positive provision for an adequate number of suitably located minerals recycling facilities to enable this target to be met.”
To view a copy of the draft minerals strategy, visit the South East Assembly's website .
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