Paragraph 210 (e) of the NPPF requires planning policies to safeguard facilities for transporting, handling and processing minerals. We seek to ensure that the operation of the roadstone coating plant, and all other minerals infrastructure sites within the borough, are appropriately safeguarded thorough the emerging Local Plan period. Therefore, we would request that exemption (e) is removed from proposed policy ENV3. This is to ensure that the proposed strategic policy meets the ?soundness? tests as set out in paragraph 35 (d) of the NPPF.

Use Class E(g) employment uses are considered to be more sensitive employment uses which could be affected by the existing operations at the plant. This letter seeks to ensure that the existing operations are safeguarded and will not be affected by any incompatible future development which may be sensitive to the plant?s current operations. Therefore, we recommend that proposed policy DEV4 part 7 makes reference to the ?agent of change? principle. This is to ensure that the proposed strategic policy meets the ?soundness? tests as set out in paragraph 35 (d) of the NPPF.