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POLICY CONTEXT
Minerals and the economy
2. The availability of minerals is essential to support economic development and prosperity. The minerals industry provides raw materials for construction, manufacturing, agriculture and other specialist sectors. The Executive recognises the strategic importance of the construction industry to the economy and the need for minerals to serve it. The construction of new buildings and supporting infrastructure all depend to varying degrees on a continuing and steady supply of construction aggregates. The industry is a significant employer in Scotland, providing important direct employment opportunities for 3000 people, many in rural areas.
3. Scotland has rich and varied resources including material suitable for construction aggregates (sand and gravel and crushed rock), silica sand and brick clay. Other mineral resources, such as limestone, dimension stone, slate, peat, industrial and more specialised minerals are also important but less plentiful.
4. Continuity of supply for demand by the minerals industry depends on the availability of land with workable deposits having planning permission for extraction. Planning authorities should determine the acceptability of individual development proposals in accordance with development plans and other material considerations, including the policies in this SPP. A landbank 1 policy is applied to the provision of aggregates because of their importance to the construction industry. Forecast demand for aggregates in Scotland between 2006 and 2016 is expected to be 33 million tonnes per annum 2. Current annual monitoring at GB level suggests those levels may be maintained to 2026. At least 18% of demand is expected to be from recycled and secondary sources.
Mineral extraction and the environment
5. The process of extraction can be disruptive and if not managed and regulated satisfactorily can lead to adverse environmental and community impacts. The location of mineral workings will reflect underlying geology as mineral resources can only be worked where they are found. Operations should be carried out in accordance with the terms of planning permission. With due care and adequate restoration provisions, the potential for dereliction after operations have ceased can be avoided.
6. Mineral extraction should accord with the principles of sustainable development and environmental justice. These principles are reflected in the Executive's support for the use of recycled and secondary aggregates and salvaged material which can reduce waste and ease the pressure on primary resources. While the position varies across Scotland, the overall contribution from recycled and secondary aggregates has reached 18% with the potential for this to increase over time. Scottish Ministers support an increase in the amount of construction and demolition wastes that are recycled through the Waste and Resources Action Programme ( WRAP) and in association with SEPA to meet the emerging objectives of the National Waste Plan.
Environmental Justice
7. A key element of environmental justice is to ensure that accessible information and opportunities to participate in decision making are provided in order to shape the environments in which communities are situated. Communities should be afforded protection from the adverse effects of developments within close proximity, that may have a significant impact on them or their environment. The planning policy implications are set out in paragraphs 15-20.
Objectives for mineral working
8. A sustainable approach to mineral extraction should reconcile the need for minerals with concern for the natural and built environment and communities in a manner that:
- safeguards minerals as far as possible for future use;
- ensures a steady and adequate supply is maintained to meet the needs of society and the economy;
- encourages sensitive working practices during mineral extraction that minimise the environmental and transport impacts and once extraction has ceased, ensure sites are reclaimed to a high standard or enhance the value of the wider environment;
- promotes the use and recycling of secondary materials in development plan policies in addition to those for the release of sites for extraction of primary materials;
- protects international, national and locally designated areas of acknowledged natural or built heritage importance from adverse impacts; and
- minimises the potential adverse impact of minerals extraction on communities.
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