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National Planning Policy Guideline NPPG
4: LAND FOR MINERAL WORKING
policy context
1. Minerals
1 are an important national resource. The construction
of roads, housing, schools, commercial and industrial
buildings all depend to varying degrees on the supply of
aggregates. Coal remains a significant energy mineral and
other minerals are of importance to particular industries
such as the chemical industry and the extraction of North
Sea oil. They therefore make an essential contribution to
the nation's prosperity by meeting industry's need for raw
materials, creating employment opportunities, often in
remote rural areas, and assisting the balance of payments
through exports and import substitution.
2. The economic importance of minerals was recognised in
the Government's Environment White Paper, "This Common
Inheritance" (Cm 1200, September 1990). The White Paper
also acknowledged that the extraction process can often be
disruptive and have a significant environmental impact.
Even when operations have ceased, without care and adequate
controls, there may be a legacy of derelict or contaminated
land.
3. In the recent publication "Sustainable Development:
The UK Strategy" (Cm 2426, HMSO January 1994), the
Government has indicated that it wishes to see indigenous
mineral resources developed within its broad objectives of
promoting economic growth, assisting the creation and
maintenance of employment and protecting the environment.
For the economic well being of the country, it is essential
that there is an adequate and steady supply of minerals to
meet the needs of the community and that economic growth is
not hindered. At the same time, the Government recognises
that mineral extraction can have a significant
environmental impact, and often takes place in areas of
attractive countryside.
4. However, minerals can only be worked where they are
found and in some locations strong conflicts of interest
and controversy may arise. The Government recognises that
the need to work the resource must be reconciled with care
for the environment in order to attain sustainable
development, particularly in relation to the natural
2 and built heritage
3 and existing communities.
5. The planning system has an important role in
providing a framework within which sound decisions on
mineral development proposals can be taken. This National
Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) indicates the
considerations which planning authorities should take into
account when preparing development plan policies and when
determining planning applications. It also defines the
factors which the Secretary of State will have in mind when
considering mineral policies in development plans, and when
considering applications for planning permission which come
before him on call-in or appeal. These factors are also
relevant to developers, who must play their part by
adopting best practice techniques and aiming to be good
neighbours.
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