Planning

Before any development can take place including quarry extensions or a new quarry, planning permission must be obtained from the Mineral Planning Authority which in England is normally the County Council. A planning application for such types of development is normally a complex set of documents, comprising an environmental statement a planning statement and a non technical summary. The process is invariable complex and obtaining a new permission can be a lengthy process taking several years to complete.

The environmental statement contains an assessment of the potential environmental effects of the proposed development. It assesses the impact on matters such as ecology, landscape, traffic generation and amenity issues such as noise and dust generation. Where a potential impact is identified the assessment will propose ways of mitigating it.

The planning statement will normally give details of the proposed operations, the reasons why the site is needed and the policy framework that governs the release of new sites. In deciding if there is a need for a new site, a mineral planning authority will consider the applicant’s requirement to continue to supply the mineral to its customers and the implications for the local and national economy if they unable to do so because their permitted reserves have been depleted. In particular, issues such as maintaining local employment and the need to supply down stream industries (for example glass manufacturing) will be important.

General government policy in England for the supply of minerals is set out in Minerals Policy Statement 1(MPS1) (http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1164259 )Specific Government policy for silica sand is contained in Mineral Planning Guidance Note 15 This emphasises that silica sand is an essential raw material for many industrial processes. (http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1144252)

National Policy for Scotland is contained in Scottish Planning Policy 4 (SPP 4). SPP4 provides the policy framework mineral working in Scotland. The policy document can be viewed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/146319/0038293.pdf

Policy for the release of sites at a local level is contained within Mineral Local Plans which are now being replaced by Mineral Development Frameworks in England. These plans contain detailed policies for the release of new sites and identify areas for future extraction.