SAND and gravel are essential for the building of new homes, schools and roads.With more than 60,000 new homes needed across Suffolk by 2021, sufficient deposits of these minerals need to be identified for extraction at new or extended quarries in the county over the next 15 years.

by David Botwright, policy officer for minerals and waste at Suffolk County Council

SAND and gravel are essential for the building of new homes, schools and roads.

With more than 60,000 new homes needed across Suffolk by 2021, sufficient deposits of these minerals need to be identified for extraction at new or extended quarries in the county over the next 15 years.

Minerals can only be worked where they occur and ensuring that future quarrying is appropriately located and controlled is a key element to make Suffolk the “greenest county” - in line with the aspirations of a current project.

Suffolk County Council is currently consulting with the county's residents on the strategy for mineral working.

This includes the policies to be used to guide minerals development, working arrangements and site restoration in the county until 2021.

The final document will be submitted to the Secretary of State in September this year for adoption in 2008.

The next stage in the process is to identify how many new and extended sites are required and where these should be located.

Tweny-five sites are under consideration (as shown on the accompanying map) and all have been submitted by mineral operators and landowners.

Initial public consultation on these sites took place during August and September 2006.

The county council has undertaken an appraisal of each site, to include ecological, landscape, highways, noise and social impacts.

A review of the criteria to be used to assist in selecting sites for inclusion in the plan has also been undertaken. Comments are invited on these prior to the selection of the “preferred sites” in September.

Both documents can be viewed and commented on through the county council's website or at Endeavour House, the council's headquarters in Ipswich, the main offices of the seven district and borough councils in Suffolk, and at libraries throughout the county.

This is your chance to contribute to the minerals plans and we look forward to your comments - needed by May 28.

Locations of potential sites for mineral extraction

Site no Location Proposer Area EstimatedQuantity tonnes

1 Waldringfield Brett Aggregates Ltd 4.6 ha 600,000

2 Waldringfield Brett Aggregates Ltd 11.2 ha 500,000

3 Coddenham Brett Aggregates Ltd 10.4 ha 500,000

4 Layham Brett Aggregates Ltd 22.1 ha 829,000

5A,5B Barham Brett Aggregates Ltd 7.1 ha combined 600,000 combined

6 Chilton Brett Aggregates Ltd 39 ha 1,000,000

7 Kirton Brett Aggregates Ltd 27.6 ha 1,200,000

8 Acton Brett Aggregates Ltd 4.2ha 350,000

9 Leavenheath The Boxford Group 10.3 ha 150,000

10 East Bergholt East Bergholt Estate Company 33.8 ha 1,000,000

11 Barking Lafarge Aggregates Ltd 8.7 ha 1,100,000

12 12A Timworth Ampton Hall Estates Area 12 77.4 ha Area 12A 21.7 ha Estimated to be 3,500,000

13 Creeting St Peter/Mary Poundfield Products Ltd 9.6 ha 500,000

14 Culford Lafarge Aggregates Ltd 35.2 ha 2.750,000

16 Homersfield / Flixton Cemex Ltd 9.3 ha 856,000

17 Homersfield / Flixton Cemex Ltd 5.0 ha 315,000

18 Worlington Quarry Red Lodge Dickerson Ltd 4.5 ha 180,000

19 Worlington Quarry Red Lodge Dickerson Ltd 3.0 ha 90,000

20 Worlington Quarry Red Lodge Dickerson Ltd 6.6 ha 180,000

21 Mills Hill Farm Wenhaston Quarry Bardo Midlands Ltd 11.1 ha Quantity not known

22 Henham Henham Estates 88.9 ha Extensive deposits identified

23 Land west of Cavenham Quarry Allen Newport Ltd 10.9 ha 883,000

24 Land east of Cavenham Quarry Allen Newport Ltd 8.9 ha 847,000

25 Lawn Farm Wetherden Messrs Finch and Ollett 15.2 ha 2,000,000