Minerals and Waste Local Plan

A Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) has been prepared to guide mineral extraction and the management of waste in Herefordshire up to 2041 and beyond. This replaces the saved minerals and waste policies of the Unitary Development Plan.

The MWLP explains the vision, objectives and strategy for minerals and waste planning. It contains detailed policies and locations for future minerals extraction (such as sand and gravel pits or crushed rock quarries) and for the development of waste management facilities (such as recycling centres).

The MWLP was adopted in March 2024.

Legal challenge to the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, by the National Farmers' Union (NFU)

Herefordshire Council is facing a judicial review of the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan. The High Court Hearing will be held on 11 and 12 December 2024.

The purpose of the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan is to explain the vision, objectives and strategy for minerals and waste planning and management in the county, and contains detailed policies on a number of areas.

The Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan was prepared in accordance with regulatory requirements, including several rounds of public consultation and an independent examination. It was subsequently adopted in March 2024.

In developing the document, consideration was given to measures to help address the poor state of water quality in the county's rivers. The council needs to ensure that industry waste does not negatively impact the local environment. Included is a new agricultural waste policy which aims to strengthen controls on agricultural waste-related development. It is a legal challenge to this that the judicial review is considering. Herefordshire Council sees this as an opportunity for the High Court to provide clarity on this significant and complex matter.

The council continues to work in partnership with the farming community to support local farming and our rural economy.