A new minerals and waste plan for Suffolk

The Suffolk Minerals and Waste Local will set out how Suffolk will meet its future needs for minerals supply, minerals infrastructure, and waste management facilities over the plan period (until at least 2044). It identifies the sites, policies and spatial strategy needed to ensure a steady and adequate supply of minerals and a modern, sustainable waste network. 

The call for sites allows the county council, as the minerals and waste planning authority, to understand what land may be available and potentially suitable for minerals extraction, minerals processing, and waste management uses. This information forms part of the evidence base for preparing the new Suffolk Minerals and Waste Plan. 

We are inviting submissions for land that may be suitable for:

1. Minerals extraction (e.g., sand and gravel, clay, chalk)
2. Minerals infrastructure (e.g., processing, concrete batching, aggregate recycling)
3. Waste management facilities (e.g., transfer, treatment, recycling, composting, energy recovery, inert waste facilities)

We are not seeking sites for housing, employment, retail or other non‑minerals/waste uses.

All submitted sites will be assessed against a range of planning considerations, including:

1. Minerals resource quality and availability
2. Proximity to markets and transport networks
3. Environmental constraints (e.g., landscape, heritage, biodiversity)
4. Flood risk and water environment
5. Amenity impacts
6. Infrastructure capacity
7. Deliverability and availability

The assessments will inform the evidence base and the development of the draft spatial strategy.

Decisions on which sites progress into the draft Suffolk Minerals and Waste Plan will be made following:

1. Completion of site assessments
2. Preparation of the draft spatial strategy
3. Sustainability Appraisals
4. Public consultation
5. Consideration of all other evidence given and representations made.

The timetable for this work will be published on the county council’s website when the “notice of commencement; is published, which formally starts the local plan process. The plan timetable will be regularly reviewed and updated.

Anyone may submit a site. You do not need to own the land, but you must indicate your relationship to the site (e.g. landowner, operator, agent, promoter). If you are not the landowner, we strongly encourage you to notify them before submitting.

You must submit:

1. A completed site submission form
2. A map clearly showing the site boundary (red line) and any other land within the applicant’s control that is adjacent to, or functionally linked to, the site (blue line)

Yes. After the call for sites survey closes (27 July 2026), Suffolk County Council will publish a map of all submitted sites. This will be for information only and does not indicate that any site is supported, preferred or allocated. 

You will not be able to comment on the initial publication of the call for sites. That stage is solely to identify land that may be available for minerals or waste uses. It is not a consultation on the merits of any site.

However, public comments on sites will be invited during later stages of the Suffolk Minerals and Waste Plan, once the county council has assessed the submissions and published the site assessment information.

A call for sites guidance note is available.

If you require further assistance, please contact the Suffolk County Council planning policy team planning@suffolk.gov.uk The team can provide guidance on completing the form and submitting site information.