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Preferred Areas
Minerals Preferred Areas
‘Preferred Areas' are defined within the Minerals Local Plan as:
"Areas of land with reasonable evidence for the existence of commercially extractable minerals, which are largely unaffected by substantial planning constraints and which are adequate, collectively, to meet the anticipated need for mineral."
Learn how the sites have been allocated
The plan identifies six Preferred Areas in the eastern section of the upper Thames valley from which the county's sharp sand and gravel needs will be met. Specifically these are:
- Land east of Latton
- Eysey Manor Farm
- Alex Farm
- Land north west of Water Eaton House.
- Round House Farm
- Land north west of Latton
It also identifies an area for future chalk extraction in Westbury. The Preferred Area identified is adjacent to the existing chalk quarry. However, as both chalk and clay are required in combination to produce cement, any new chalk reserves permitted would need to be accompanied by a complimentary allocation for clay. That said, the increased use of Pulverised Fuel Ash (P.F.A.) in recent times as a clay substitute has potentially reduced requirements for this mineral in the future. This is not to say however that there will be no requirement for clay, which could be used, should P.F.A. prove to be an unsuccessful or non-viable alternative at some stage in the future. Accordingly, the Preferred Area for Clay is identified north of Capps Lane in Westbury.
In addition, it is possible that some land outside the Preferred Area boundaries may have to be included in any proposals for the development of Preferred Areas. This may have to be done in order, for example, to provide access to the site from the public highway, to allow for the storage of soil for restoration purposes, or to ensure that additional landscaping can be undertaken. The details of any such proposals can only be established at the planning application stage. However, actual mineral extraction beyond the boundaries of the Preferred Areas will not normally be permitted without good justification.
Upper Thames Valley
Preferred Area 1 - Land East of Latton
Mineral: Sharp sand and gravel
Area: 59 hectares
Location: East of Latton
Yield: 1.4 - 1.5 million tonnes of sharp sand and gravel
Proposal: Phased extraction of sharp sand and gravel with restoration to agriculture, nature conservation and a lake for passive recreation
Site Description
- The site comprises about 59 hectares of arable land in two parcels east and south east of the village of Latton. The site contains similar amounts of Grades 2, 3a, 3b and 4 agricultural land. The southern part of the site is bordered to the northeast by the Ampney Brook, which forms the County boundary, while its western boundary skirts both a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the village of Latton which is separated from the Preferred Area by a Settlement Protection Zone. North Meadow (SSSI, National Nature Reserve and candidate Special Area of Conservation) lies to the southwest of the Preferred Area beyond the A419(T).
- The Preferred Area is open to views from the from the A419(T), the Down Ampney Road to the north and the C124, (proposed Eastern Spine Road) to the south, and from some dwellings in the village of Latton. Preferred Area B lies nearby to the south on the opposite side of the C124. A number of public footpaths and bridleways also cross the site.
- The Preferred Area lies within an Area of Special Archaeological Significance defined in the North Wiltshire District Local Plan and there is an area believed to be of archaeological importance within the site. The southern part of the Preferred Area has been subject to flooding. The site includes a number of mature trees on its boundary with the vegetation alongside the Ampney Brook providing adequate protection to views in from the northeast. A mature tree belt running parallel to the Ampney Brook provides a natural screen to part of the site from Latton village.
Preferred Area 2 - Eysey Manor Farm
Mineral: Sharp sand and gravel
Area: 156 hectares
Location: Eysey Manor Farm
Yield: 2.7 million tonnes of sharp sand and gravel
Proposal: Phased extraction of sharp sand and gravel with restoration to agriculture and nature conservation
Site Description
- The Preferred Area lies between the A419(T) to the west, the C124 (proposed Eastern Spine Road) to the north and the River Thames and disused Thames and Severn Canal (which crosses part of the site and also forms part of the boundary) to the south. Preferred Area 3 "Alex Farm" adjoins the site to the east and Preferred Area 1 lies to the north of the C124. A small collection of buildings around Eysey Manor Farm are accessed via the minor road (UC2021) which joins the proposed Eastern Spine Road close to two occupied cottages which are located at the north of the Preferred Area. The Thames Path National Trail lies nearby on the south side of the River Thames.
- The site is some 400m east of Cricklade, beyond the sewage works and A419(T), which is elevated on an embankment along much of its boundary with the site, minimising potential impacts on the town.
- Land in the southern part of the Preferred Area close to the River Thames consists of flat open "improved" agricultural fields divided by ditches with mostly low hedges. Although the site has no landscape designation several of the ditches and hedges have been found to be species rich. The northern boundary of the site contains a watercourse, though the Ampney Brook, which crosses the site in a northsouth direction and the line of the drained canal, passing westeast across the site, which contains numerous mature trees providing a significant landscape feature and screen, are of greater importance.
- The whole site lies within the floodplain of the Thames. North Meadow (SSSI, National Nature Reserve and cSAC) is approximately 200m to the west, beyond the A419(T).
- Almost half of the site is high quality agricultural land (grade 3a), although the area closer to the Thames largely comprises Grade 4 land. The Preferred Area is within an Area of Special Archaeological Significance as defined in the North Wiltshire Local Plan, and is acknowledged to have a high archaeological potential with a number of features scattered across the site, including two areas believed to be of archaeological importance.
Preferred 3 - Alex Farm
Mineral: Sharp sand and gravel
Area: 56 hectares
Location: Alex Farm
Yield: 1.1 - 1.4 million tonnes of sharp sand and gravel
Proposal:Phased extraction of sharp sand and gravel with restoration to agriculture and nature conservation
Site Description
- The Preferred Area consists of a triangular shaped area of relatively flat farmland centred around Alex Farm, Latton with its Grade II listed barn. The site is bordered to the southeast by the line of disused Thames and Severn Canal, and is delineated to the northwest by the County boundary with Gloucestershire. An existing field boundary separates the site from the adjacent Eysey Manor Preferred Area 2 to the west. The site is remote from points of public access and well screened by mature trees along much of the length of its boundaries particularly along the disused canal to the south. There are few dwellings in close proximity; the cottages at the entrance to the Alex Farm access road some 200m to the north west are the closest. Marston Meysey lies about 800m to the north east and is the nearest village. 32% of the Preferred Area is considered to be high grade (3a) agricultural land.
- A Scheduled Ancient Monument lies directly to the east of the site and there are archaeological features on the site itself, including an area believed to contain features of potential archaeological importance. The whole site falls within an Area of Special Archaeological Significance designated in the North Wiltshire Local Plan.
- There are no rights of way on the Preferred Area and the nearest public road is the C124 between the A419(T) and Marston Meysey (proposed Eastern Spine road) which lies about 250m to the north in Gloucestershire. The whole site is within the floodplain of the Thames.
Preferred Area 4 - North West of Water Eaton House
Mineral: Sharp sand and gravel
Area: 65 hectares
Name: Land northwest of Water Eaton House
Yield: 0.7 million tonnes of sharp sand and gravel
Proposal: Phased extraction of sharp sand and gravel with restoration to small lakes and wetland for nature conservation
Site Description
- The Preferred Area comprises a linear block of flat agricultural land alongside the River Thames, which forms its eastern boundary. Existing field boundaries delineate the Preferred Area to the north, west and south. Due in part to its remote location and surrounding topography the site is well screened from external views, although there are relatively few trees either within or on the boundary of the site.
- There is no road access to the Preferred Area, the nearest roads being the C114 to Castle Eaton some 400m to the east and the C124 (proposed Eastern Spine Road) to Marston Meysey 800m to the north. There are no public rights of way on the Preferred Area although the Thames Path National Trail will run parallel to the site on the eastern side of the Thames. The site falls within an Area of Special Archaeological Significance as defined in the North Wiltshire Local Plan and abuts a Scheduled Ancient Monument to the north.
- Much of the site comprises lowgrade (4) agricultural land, and lies within the floodplain of the Thames. Three water bodies are in/adjacent to the northern part of the site consisting of two ponds and a small oxbow lake. These are rich in invertebrates and form an important wildlife habitat.
Preferred Area 5 - Round House Farm
Mineral: Sharp sand and gravel
Area: 56 hectares
Name: Round House Farm
Yield: 1.2 million tonnes of sharp sand and gravel
Proposal: Extraction of sharp sand and gravel and restoration to small lakes and wetland for nature conservatio
Site Description
- The Preferred Area consists of flat agricultural land lying between the C116 (proposed Eastern Spine Road) on its northern boundary, and the River Thames on its southern boundary. The Marston Meysey Brook forms its western boundary whilst the eastern boundary consists of the Class 3 road to Castle Eaton and the access road to the Second Chance Caravan Park which adjoins the Preferred Area and the River Thames.
- The Preferred Area is bisected by an infilled section of the disused Thames and Severn Canal and there are some mature trees along its field boundaries and bordering the River Thames. There are residential properties adjacent to the northwestern corner of the Preferred Area (Wetstone Cottages), on the northern boundary, at the Second Chance Caravan Park to the east, and in the centre of the site at the Round House. There are views into the Preferred Area from all of these properties and at numerous points along the roads adjoining the Preferred Area
- A water main and an oil pipeline cross the Preferred Area as do a number of footpaths. The Round House and Marston Meysey Bridge in the centre of the site are both Grade II Listed structures and land adjacent to the Preferred Area beyond the Marston Meysey Brook is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The Preferred Area falls within an Area of Special Archaeological Significance as defined in the North Wiltshire Local Plan and is known to contain archaeological features which were identified by a previous archaeological evaluation. None of the Preferred Area is considered to contain high quality agricultural land, lying for the most part in the floodplain of the Thames.
Preferred Area 6 - North West of Latton
Mineral: Sharp sand and gravel
Area: 29 hectares
Name: Land northwest of Latton
Yield: 0.6 million tonnes of sharp sand and gravel
Proposal: Extraction of sharp sand and gravel and restoration to agriculture
Site Description
- The Preferred Area comprises flat agricultural land to the immediate east of the "old" A419. It is bounded to the north by the C69 Down Ampney Road, to the south by a road linking Latton to the "old" A419 and to the east by a farm track and hedgerow. Latton village itself lies 200m or so to the south, beyond a Settlement Protection Zone.
- North Meadow (SSSI, National Nature Reserve and cSAC) lies approximately 1.2km to the south of the Preferred Area on the opposite side of the A419. Much of the area is high quality Grade 2 agricultural land. The Preferred Area falls within an Area of Special Archaeological Significance, defined in the North Wiltshire Local Plan.
- There are a number of dwellings on or close to the boundary of the Preferred Area which have open views across it including the cottages on the Down Ampney road to the north and to the properties on the northern side of Latton village.
- There are relatively few mature trees on the perimeter of the site, which itself is not covered by any hedgerows or public rights of way. The existing Latton Lands Quarry is sited on the opposite side of the "old" A419. The Environment Agency advises that the site is not within the floodplain of the Thames.
Westbury: Preferred Area for Chalk - Adjacent to Existing Chalk Pit
Mineral: Chalk
Area: 36.6 hectares
Name: Land adjacent to Westbury Chalk Pit
Yield: 23.8 million tonnes of chalk
Proposal: Phased extraction of chalk with restoration to nature conservation.
Site Description
- The Preferred Area surrounds the existing chalk quarry the west, south and north east and is bordered by public open space to the northeast with Westbury White Horse and Bratton Fort Scheduled Ancient Monuments being some 250m to the northeast.
- As a consequence of the topography of the area, the site is not visible from long distance, with views from the northwest being beyond the sight line of the ridge which forms the northern boundary of Salisbury Plain. A small part of the Preferred Area, northeast of the existing chalk quarry is visible from long distance views from the south and west, although it is considered that appropriate landscaping and phasing would mitigate this impact.
- The agricultural land quality of much of the site is unknown due to a lack of survey information, however the area northeast of the existing chalk pit contains the "best and most versatile land". Part of the site, south-east of the existing chalk pit is designated as a SSSI/SPA/cSAC, the most valuable part of which is adjacent to the site and covers the whole of Salisbury Plain. Much of this area is covered by the Salisbury Plain military training area and part of the existing quarry is already leased from the M.O.D.
- The site is accessed via the unclassified road from Westbury. However, as the Preferred Area effectively constitutes an extension to the existing chalk quarry, chalk would continue to be pumped to the cement works through an underground pipeline, in accordance with current arrangements. Traffic generation would therefore be negligible.
Westbury: Preferred Area for Clay - North of Capps Lane
Mineral: Clay
Area: 25 hectares
Name: North of Capps Lane
Yield: 4.33 million tonnes of clay
Proposal: Progressive extraction of clay with restoration to agriculture
Site Description
- The Preferred Area lies on agricultural land north of Capps Lane, Westbury extending to Picker Palmer Farm to the west and to the hedgerow alongside the stream running southnorth towards Redlands Farm to the east. These farms are the closest occupied dwellings to the Preferred Area. The northern boundary of the site is delineated by an existing hedgeline.
- The site is close to Westbury Cement Works with existing permitted clay extraction areas lying to the south of Capps Lane.
- The surrounding area is predominantly flat and any mineral extraction would be unlikely to cause a major visual impact on the immediate vicinity. The main views into the site are obtained from the public open space at Westbury White Horse and Bratton Castle Hill Fort, an elevated location about 1km to the south from where the cement works and existing clay extraction are clearly visible. However, some of the current clay extraction areas are subject to progressive restoration to agriculture by infilling and it is unlikely that mineral voids in the Preferred Area would be exposed to these views for long periods of time.
For further information, please contact us.
Contact Details
By Post
Local Plans and Development Control
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD
By Email
mineralsandwastepolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
01225 713213
By Fax
01225 713437
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