A new framework setting out the Government's key policies and principles for minerals planning in England has been published. It aims to balance the needs of the UK's minerals industry against the need to safeguard environment and society.
Minerals Policy Statement 1 (MPS1), Planning and Minerals, is the overarching planning policy document for all minerals in England. It provides advice and guidance to planning authorities and the minerals industry and it will ensure that the need by society and the economy for minerals is managed in an integrated way against its impact on the environment and communities.
Also published with MPS1 is a Practice Guide, which sets out how the policies in the statement might best be implemented.
MPS1 includes annexes on four specific types of minerals:
- aggregates;
- brick clay;
- natural building and roofing stone; and
- onshore oil and gas.
Baroness Andrews comments
Baroness Andrews, Lords Minister, in welcoming MPS1 said:
"The extraction of minerals can be a highly emotive issue for communities so it is important that planning authorities are given clear and straight forward guidance. MPS1 emphasises the protection of national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty - to help us safeguard the spots many of us hold dear".
"I hope that the Practice Guidance will offer valuable advice to planners across England on how MPS1 might best be implemented".
Minerals Policy Statement 1 (MPS1) is the overarching planning policy document for all minerals in England. It provides advice and guidance to planning authorities and the minerals industry and it will ensure that the need by society and the economy for minerals is managed in an integrated way against its impact on the environment and communities.
This replaces Minerals Planning Guidance (MPG1) Note 1: General considerations and the development plan system (published in 1996) and, together with the annex on aggregates, completes the replacement of Minerals Planning Guidance (MPG6) Note 6: Guidelines for aggregates provision in England (published in 1994), which are hereby cancelled.
Earlier work
MPS1 replaces Minerals Policy Guidance 1, which was published in June 1996.
Communities and Local Government (then ODPM) issued a document for consultation comprising draft Minerals Policy Statement 1 "Planning and Minerals", its draft Practice Guide and a partial Regulatory Impact Assessment on 24 November 2004. This document can be viewed on the website at www.communities.gov.uk under the Planning, Consultation papers section. The consultation ran for 13 weeks, ending on 28 February 2005.
On 21 July 2005, ODPM issued for consultation four proposed annexes to MPS1 dealing with aggregates, brick clay, building and roofing stone and onshore oil and gas. This consultation ran for 15 weeks, ending on 31 October 2005.