(Minerals and Waste) Inclusion of this policy is supported, however it is suggested that the Circular Economy is given priority over Reducing Waste in the title, as it has a much wider scope. It is also suggested that the Councils may wish to consider explicitly linking this policy with Policy CC/NZ: Net zero carbon new buildings; as these two policies interact with each other.
The waste hierarchy proposed by the Draft Plan reads “Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle”. It is appreciated that this is based on the “5 r’s”, but to avoid confusion the Councils may wish to either clarify in the policy or supporting text that ‘refuse’ is seeking to minimise avoidable resource use and not the refusal of planning permissions or development outright. The waste hierarchy as set out in Appendix A of the National Planning Policy for Waste (October 2014) is: Prevention, Preparing for Re-use, Recycling, Other recovery, Disposal.
Reference to the requirement for the RECAP guide is welcomed and accords with Policy 14 of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP).
The mineral and waste planning authority (MWPA) has noted that Policy CC/6: Construction Methods which embedded consideration of waste management within the South Cambridgeshire Plan appears, by being embedded in that Plan to have been particularly effective, and inclusion of this policy is welcomed.
When referring to resources to be considered, the MWPA wishes that aggregate and other minerals are included and highlighted for consideration by applicants.
The MWPA would welcome further discussion on this topic, potentially as part of a SoCG.