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 aims to 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.
Minerals are essential to the nation’s prosperity and quality of life and need to be managed in such a way as to help create and develop sustainable communities. It is essential that there is an adequate and steady supply of material to provide the infrastructure, buildings and goods that society, industry and the economy needs.
Hierarchical approach
However it is essential that this provision is made in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In order to secure the long-term conservation of minerals it is necessary to make the best use of them.
This can be achieved by adopting a hierarchical approach to minerals supply, which aims firstly to reduce as far as practicable the quantity of material used and waste generated, then to use as much recycled and secondary material as possible, before finally securing the remainder of material needed through new primary extraction.
The MPS has four annexes which focus on matters specific to four sectors of the minerals industry, namely, aggregates; brick clay; natural building and roofing stone; and onshore oil and gas.
National Waste Strategy
For matters which relate to recycling, mineral planning authorities (MPAs) are advised to read MPS1 within the context of the National Waste Strategy and Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management.
One of the objectives is to prevent or minimise production of mineral waste; and to secure closer integration of minerals planning policy with national policy on sustainable construction and waste management and other applicable environmental protection legislation
Mineral Planners are advise to assess the range, volumes and availability of waste material which may exist within reasonable proximity and which could provide suitable alternatives to primary minerals.
They should endeavour to see that proposals for mineral extraction and the storage and tipping of mineral wastes are designed, and appropriate monitoring procedures set up, to ensure that the operation and restoration of the site does not create land instability and help prevent pollution of soil, air, surface water and groundwater.
Efficient use of resources
To enable the efficient use of resources planning strategies should help to minimise the amount of minerals waste produced in extraction, handling, processing and stockpiling. Also they should bring about the maximisation of the potential for minerals waste to be used for recycling or in-site restoration, but if not required for these purposes and where practicable, identify a market for its potential use.
Advice is also given on the restoration of quarries and to maximise the potential for minerals waste to be used for recycling or in-site restoration, but if not required for these purposes and where practicable, a market should be identified for its potential use.
Regional Aggregates Working Parties ( RAWPs) are to undertake annual monitoring of aggregates reserves and supply and prepare commentaries on results, especially supply and demand. Where necessary, RAWPs should liaise with the Regional Technical Advisory Bodies on planning for the management of wastes.