Mineral planning

Mineral planning

Minerals can only be extracted where they are found and restoration is an important element of any such development. These factors result in special considerations applying to planning for, and approving development relating to, the extraction of minerals. See Practice Note: Minerals planning.

Definition and types of minerals

Mineral resources are defined in Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) as natural concentrations of minerals or, in the case of aggregates, bodies of rock that are, or may become, of potential economic interest due to their inherent properties.

The types of minerals include: aggregate minerals; industrial minerals; hydrocarbons; and energy minerals.

Minerals policy for England

The main sources of policy and guidance in England are:

•
the National Planning Policy Framework (NNPF)—this highlights the essential role of minerals to support sustainable economic growth and the UK’s quality of life
•
PPG—this provides detailed advice on the application of the policies in the NPPF
•
the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which introduced measures to enable the sustainable management and use of marine resources, including the requirement for a Marine Policy Statement (MPS). The UK MPS contains minerals policy relating to

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