Public invited to comment on our preferred approach to the future planning of waste and minerals in Lincolnshire.
Many of the things we see around us and use in daily life are made from minerals found in Lincolnshire, including items like cosmetics, clothing and even toothpaste.
Our famous landmarks – including Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Castle and Boston Stump – are largely made from locally sourced limestone. Limestone is also used extensively across the town of Stamford and surrounding villages. Other building stones – like marlstone and sandstone – are found in north and south Lincolnshire.
In Lincolnshire, such materials are often reused, recycled and recovered to make new things, like clean energy from waste and construction products.
Lincolnshire is an important producer of minerals and is currently the largest producer of sand and gravel in the East Midlands.
Over 2 million tonnes of waste are collected every year from households, businesses and other organisations across the county, which needs to be recycled or treated to avoid landfill disposal as far as possible.
We need to develop a new long-term plan to ensure Lincolnshire can continue to produce the minerals we need sustainably, and we can manage waste appropriately over the next 15 years. This is called the Minerals and Waste Local Plan.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive member for economic development, environment and planning, said:
“The new plan sets out a framework to guide the location, scale, design and size of new minerals and waste development in a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, minimises any adverse impacts on local communities, maximises renewable energy opportunities and improves the quality of Lincolnshire’s environment.
“In updating the Minerals and Waste Local Plan, we’re following a well-established engagement process that ensures that local communities, landowners and other businesses and organisations can have their say and make suggestions. I would encourage everyone to take a look at our draft plan and complete the consultation now.”
We are inviting comments on our preferred approach. Please read the consultation document which takes account of feedback from the previous stage and new evidence.
Alongside this consultation, we are inviting mineral site nominations (sand and gravel aggregate and limestone aggregate) from landowners, developers and other interested parties to be considered in this plan.
Further details on this consultation (including a plain English summary of the draft plan) can be found at www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk.
All responses and site nominations must be received no later than 5pm on 24 September 2024.
Following consultation, we will update the draft plan and once adopted, it will replace the current plan from 2026.