Minerals safeguarding guidance note

The Council has produced an advice note to assist applicants in addressing the mineral safeguarding requirements set out in the Local Plan (Part One and Part Two). It explains why mineral supply and safeguarding is important and how non-mineral developments should take mineral safeguarding into account.

Mineral safeguarding areas have been identified within the Local Plan to prevent unnecessary sterilisation of areas of sand, gravel, salt, brine and shallow coal. The mineral safeguarding policies also ensure that permitted mineral extraction, processing and transport can continue without additional restrictions resulting from new development.

If a proposed development is within a mineral safeguarding area (for sand and gravel, salt, brine or shallow coal), or could impact on minerals processing or transport facilities, the applicant will need to provide evidence to show that the development meets the requirements set out in the relevant mineral safeguarding policy. There are different policies relating to different types of mineral safeguarding and a development may fall within one or more safeguarding areas.

Certain developments are exempt from safeguarding requirements. This includes the following types of development:

  • applications for householder development;
  • applications for alterations and extensions to existing buildings and for change of use of existing development, unless intensifying activity on site;
  • applications for advertisements, listed buildings or conservation area consent;
  • applications for reserved matters including subsequent applications after outline consent has been granted;
  • prior notifications (telecoms, forestry, agriculture, demolition);
  • Certificates of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) and Certificates of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development (CLOPUD); or
  • applications for works to trees.

Where a proposal is located within a mineral safeguarding area and is not for an exempt form of development, additional information relating to minerals may need to be submitted as part of the application to help us assess whether it meets the requirements of the relevant policies. Depending upon the location and scale of the proposal, this may include a requirement for a Mineral Resource Assessment. 

A Mineral Resource Assessment must automatically be submitted in support of any major application (excluding change of use and agricultural buildings) in a sand and gravel Mineral Safeguarding Area. For all other applications that are not exempt from safeguarding, a full Mineral Resource Assessment may not be necessary, but information and evidence must be provided to show how the requirements of the policy  have been met.

Further information about relevant policies, exemptions and requirements is available in the Minerals safeguarding guidance note.