This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Planning policy on opencast coal
02/09/2004
Proposed changes to planning rules state that new
opencast coal mines should not be located near existing
mines, quarries and landfill sites if the impact on local
communities cannot be properly addressed by operators and
planning authorities.
Scottish
Planning Policy 16: Opencast Coal has been revised by
the Executive and is now out for consultation.
It sets out proposed new policies which include:
- a presumption against any development that is not
environmentally acceptable or does not offer
appropriate local benefits
- a minimum distance of 500 metres between
communities and site boundaries, unless significant
land improvements such as the clearance of dereliction
is involved
- greater certainties for communities by the removal
of possible areas from local authority development
plans if it is clear that the sites will not be
worked
Deputy Communities Minister Mary Mulligan said:
"Everyone deserves a decent quality of life and the
planning system must ensure that minerals are extracted
without unacceptable consequences for communities and in a
way that is environmentally sustainable.
"The new proposals make it clear that operators and
local authorities will be expected to work closely with
communities at all stages of the planning process. This is
especially crucial in those areas which are already subject
to similar developments.
"The draft policy also states that a full assessment of
the likely impact of a new site on communities will be
required. Operators must show how increased road traffic
and disturbance to local communities will be addressed. If
this cannot be done satisfactorily, planning permissions
should be refused.
"We believe these new policies will help to strike the
balance between the rights of communities, the need to
maintain our environment and the ability of operators to
bring forward acceptable proposals for opencast coal
extraction."
SPP16 is open to public consultation until December
3.