Kent County Council has been preparing the Minerals
Development Framework since 2004. In November 2006 the council
submitted three Development Plan Documents (DPDs) to the Government
for Examination in line with its Minerals and Waste Development
Scheme. These were the:
- Minerals Core Strategy
- Primary Minerals Development Control Policies
- Construction Aggregates
Withdrawal of the Minerals DPDs
In the light of the submitted documents and the
representations received, the Inspector appointed to consider the
DPDs held an Exploratory meeting on 12 September 2007 with the
County Council and key stakeholders to consider his concerns about
the soundness of the DPDs.
Following the exploratory meeting, the Inspector
circulated a note of the meeting to attendees and subsequently
wrote to the County Council setting out his recommendations (for
the details of Inspector's notes and recommendations letter see the
Exploratory meeting page). The County Council gave careful
consideration to the Inspector's comments, and following discussion
with the Government Office for the South East, requested that the
Government agree to formally withdrawn the submitted Kent Minerals
DPDs. On 24 January 2008 a Direction from the Secretary of State
for Communities and Local Government withdrew the three submitted
DPDs from the Examination process.
The County Council then sent a letter to all
consultees involved in the preparation of the DPDs to date. It
indicated that the County Council will no longer treat the DPDs as
material considerations in determining planning applications. The
letter also explained that withdrawal does not imply any change in
the council's support for specific proposals within the DPDs, or
that individual sites identified as plan proposals are now regarded
unsuitable or unacceptable for development.
For all documents on the withdrawal of the Minerals
Development Plan Documents (DPDs) visit our
publications page.
Following withdrawal of Minerals DPDs
In the light of the withdrawal of the Minerals
DPDs, the County Council is undertaking a thorough review of its
Minerals
and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) reassessing both the
number, sequence and programme for future DPDs. A revised
Development Scheme will be made available on the MWDS section of
this website in the near future.
Further information on the Minerals Development
Framework can be obtained on the website at www.kent.gov.uk/mwdf,
by e-mail at mwdf@kent.gov.uk, or by telephone on 01622
696815. |