[The Ditchingham quarry site lies 300m from the Broads National Park and adjacent to the grade two listed historical landscape of Ditchingham Park].

4.2.3 The [Norfolk County] Structure Plan contains strong policies to protect areas of landscape importance which may be damaged by inappropriate development. The aim of this policy is to protect both attractive areas of countryside, and areas of the built environment and open space which are of visual and historic importance and which are identified in the development plans. … Areas of landscape protection include those designated in District Local Plans as being if high landscape value. Where woodland areas (deciduous and coniferous) are considered to be important landscape features in the intensively farmed countryside by means of their scale, prominence, ability to screen and scenic beauty, they will need a similar level of protection. The special character of these areas needs to be preserved and proposals which will have a detrimental impact will be refused.

4.2.4 Outside the protected areas referred to MIN 2 are extensive tracts of attractive landscape in Norfolk which require protection. Mineral operations, even on a limited scale may in terms of local circumstances give rise to unacceptable visual impacts. The extraction process and the associated fixed and mobile plant and haul routes may be visually intrusive. Although screening by earth bunding can be used to mitigate the effect, this can sometimes itself be an alien and intrusive feature.

MIN4B

i)      there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest

ii)    appropriate compensatory measures can be agreed. And

iii)    there is no alternative solution

Applications for mineral extraction…which would involve a significant risk of a material adverse effect, whether directly or indirectly, upon designated national nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest will not be permitted unless the benefits can be shown to clearly outweigh the harm to these nationally designated areas.

4.2.5 These areas are generally defined in District Local Plans. … Mineral workings can cause irreparable damage, either directly by extraction and destruction of habitats or indirectly through, for example, lowering water tables, altering drainage, patterns or by dust falling on sensitive vegetation growing nearby. This could affect not only adjacent or nearby nature conservation sites but those further afield, particularly where there are especially sensitive and fragile. Special scrutiny will therefore by given to applications for minerals developments which would be with, or likely to affect, any of the areas covered by Policies MIN4A and 4B. The impact on ground water movements is an issue which can be difficult to assess or predict accurately and a precautionary approach should be adopted where sensitive sites might be at risk.

Applications for mineral extraction and associated developments will only be permitted where there would be no unacceptable harm to the amenities enjoyed by nearby residents and other land users.

4.2.7 Residents and visitors to Norfolk should not be subjected to unacceptable levels of disturbance by visual intrusion, noise, dust, fumes, vibration, smell and other nuisances which may be generated by mineral operations and associated heavy lorry traffic. This includes the protection of the recreational enjoyment of the countryside; and of residential amenities of local people, whether living in isolated dwellings, or in villages and communities close to the proposed mineral operations and haul routes designated to serve them. … Depending upon the situation and local circumstances, mineral operations, even on a limited scale, may have significant impacts on local amenities. Where it is not possible or practicable to reduce these impacts through appropriate controls to acceptable levels, permission will be refused.

4.2.14 Minerals are located in particular areas which can lead to a concentration of several operations and operators in one relatively small area. This may lead to over intensive activity, resulting in unacceptable highway, amenity and visual impacts. It is the County Council’s intention to prevent such situations developing to an unacceptable level to the detriment of the local environment.

MIN35

The County Council will consider the following factors where necessary and appropriate in considering mineral related planning applications:-

1. Environmental impacts on:-

   A)  The users and occupiers of land in the area, particularly residents, and visitors, due to noise, dust, vibration, fumes, smell, air pollution and other forms of disturbance and nuisance, including those caused by lorry movements;

   B)  The landscape and visual character of the area particularly in the AONB, Broads Authority area, rural conservation areas, … river valleys and areas designated in local plans;

   C)  Woodland, hedges and other topographical features;

   D)  Areas of nature conservation, geological and scientific interest, particularly the Broads, … SSSIs, Special Protection Areas…

   E)  Sites of…historical interest and importance;

   F)  The quality and quantity of agricultural land and the structure and viability of farming;

   G)  The highway network and its capacity, and road safety;

   H)  Public rights or way and other sites of public access;

    I)  Water resources, flood prevention, water courses and drainage.

2. The feasibility of restoration.

3. The appropriateness and benefit of the after-use.

4. The need for the mineral at a strategic level, its quality, quantity and the availability of other potential resources.

5. National and Regional Guidance, Structure Plan and Local Plan policies and other planning policies as appropriate.

4.12.1 These are the main factors which the County Council will take into account, together with the views of both statutory and non-statutory consultees, when assessing planning applications. A balance has to be struck between the need for the mineral and the environmental and other impacts which may result. … In particularly sensitive situations, the “precautionary approach” may be appropriate, i.e. where is the potential for significant environmental damage the applicant will need to demonstrate that there will not be any adverse effects.

MIN36

4.13.2 …The applicant must demonstrate…that restoration is viable at a low level.

MIN38

4.13.3 Norfolk is predominately agricultural, and 30% of mineral workings are returned to farming with well over half being put to some amenity use.

4.13.6 … It may be appropriate to include public access in some form in order to widen the benefit to the community.