Residents, businesses, public organisations, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders are being asked to comment on an updated Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan – the proposed submission plan.

In having a Minerals and Waste Plan in place, the five minerals and waste planning authorities are fulfilling their collective duty to ensure that the whole area can continue to provide a steady and adequate supply of minerals for building homes, schools, hospitals and roads.

Hampshire County Council, New Forest National Park Authority, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and South Downs National Park Authority have opened an eight-week consultation. 

The sites proposed are: Andover Sidings, Ashley Manor Farm, Hamble Airfield, Midgham Farm, Purple Haze - Ringwood Forest, Bordon Garrison and Prince Philip Barracks.

The proposed submission plan has been updated to ensure that it is in line with current legislation and has been informed by the feedback from the draft plan consultation last year where views were sought on proposed updates to policies. 

Additional local knowledge was also requested about the sites that have been identified for supplying and transporting sand and gravel, as well as for providing waste processing, recycling and disposal facilities - so that the millions of tonnes of household and commercial waste generated across the area can be dealt with as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

The Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan is evidence-based and is in line with national planning policy. The local policies contained within the plan guide the decisions that each of the five minerals and waste planning authorities make when determining planning applications for minerals extraction or waste infrastructure and operations.

Views can be submitted via the online consultation response form until the deadline of 11.59pm on March 5. More information can be found on the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan webpages.

Subject to Hampshire County Council approval, the responses gathered through the consultation will be submitted to the Government Planning Inspectorate for scrutiny, alongside examination of the proposed submission version of the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan. 

Having considered the consultation responses, the Planning Inspectorate will determine whether further changes need to be made to the plan before it is approved by the Government, it complies with national policy and legal requirements, and can be adopted by the five authorities.

The examination is expected to take place in 2025, with the Hampshire authorities anticipating being in a position to adopt the plan in 2026.