Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Strategic Sites and Policies (MWLP: SSP)
The Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Strategic Sites and Policies (MWLP: SSP) was adopted by the Full Council of all three councils in January 2014:
- Bedford Borough Council (15 January 2014)
- Luton Borough Council (21 January 2014)
- Central Bedfordshire Council (30 January 2014)
The MWLP:SS sets out our strategic vision and objectives for future development and management of minerals and waste within the plan area, identifies strategic site-specific land allocations for minerals and waste development, and includes a suite of core policies which are used to determine planning applications for mineral extraction and waste management development.
Some of the policies supersede those set out in the Bedfordshire and Luton Minerals and Waste Local Plan adopted in 2005.
There is a list set out in Chapter 8 of the MWLP: SSP of the policies superseded by the new strategic policies.
Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Strategic Sites and Policies (MWLP:SSP) (PDF 5.7MB) 
Adoption Statement (PDF 23.4KB)
Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement (PDF 119.7KB)
Inspector’s report and accompanying letter dated 4 October 2013 (PDF 101KB)
Inspector's report (PDF 314.6KB)
Policies map
This identifies:
- strategic site allocations for future mineral extraction and safeguarded rail head facilities
- strategic site allocations for future waste management development, including one non-hazardous landfill site
- mineral safeguarding areas
Policies Map Location Plan (PDF 6.3MB)
Policies Map: Location Plan Key (PDF 18.6KB)
Policies Map Inset Maps Key (PDF 1.5MB)
General and Environmental Policies
The General and Environmental policies are set out in the Bedfordshire and Luton Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2005 and will be used for development management purposes.
Over time, it is anticipated that these policies will be updated and incorporated in the mainstream Development Plan documents being produced by each of the Councils.
At that time, there will be an appendix in the new plan setting out which policies of the MWLP have been replaced and by which policies.
These plans will also include any matters relevant to minerals that have been included within the NPPF and are not currently covered by the policies within the Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2005 (MWLP 2005).
Mineral Safeguarding
Minerals Safeguarding Areas (MSAs) are identified on the Policies Map in the MWLP: SSP for the following minerals:
- river valley / glacial sand and gravel
- Woburn sands
- chalk
- Oxford clay
- Cornbrash limestone
- Gault clay
Policies MSP11 and MSP12 in this Plan set out the type of development that can take place within MSAs and the potential need for a Mineral Resource Assessment prior to development taking place within these areas.