Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring substances that are mined or quarried from the earth. The minerals most commonly used in Scotland are crushed rock, sand and gravel which provides essential construction material for new homes, buildings and transport infrastructure and coal which provides electricity to our homes and industries. Minerals are finite resources and the Scottish Government use planning policies to ensure that extraction takes place in a sustainable and environmentally acceptable manner.
Policy Summary
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 4: Planning for Minerals sets out policies for all minerals other than opencast coal. It explains that:
- Sufficient supplies of minerals should be provided to meet the needs of Society
- The planning system should be used to steer development to sites where impacts on communities and the environment are acceptable
- Mineral resources should be safeguarded as far as possible
- Mineral consents are reviewed every 15 years to ensure that extraction is subjected to modern working standards
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 16: Opencast Coal contains separate policies that apply to opencast coal. This sets out similar considerations to other minerals although more explicit guidance is given on the issues that should be taken into account when determining whether a proposal is acceptable.
SPP Update
As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning polices, the Scottish Government is rationalising the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG) series into a single, shorter statement of national planning policy. The initial sections of the consolidated SPP were published in October 2008 as Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) covering the core principles, aspirations and expectations of the planning system. The remaining sections of the consolidated SPP, covering community engagement, sustainable development, outcomes and the subject policies, were published for consultation in April 2009. The consultation closed in June 2009. A further consultation on changes to the sustainable development, climate change, flooding and coastal planning sections and to policy on onshore oil and gas operations and high amenity business locations is running from September 30, 2009 until November 12, 2009. The final consolidated SPP will at published by the end of 2009. More information on the consolidation is available on the SPP home page.