Spotlight on: Mineral Resource Assessment / Sterilisation Appraisal
Minerals are a non-renewable resource, and include aggregates, dimension (building) stone and industrial minerals, which underpin society through their use in infrastructure (such as roads), homes, and nearly all aspects of our daily lives.
Minerals can only be worked where they are found and, therefore, Mineral Planning Authorities have designated Mineral Safeguarding Areas, which are areas of land acknowledged as potentially containing mineral which can be of local and / or national importance, or preferred areas and areas of search[1]. This is to ensure non-mineral development does not ‘sterilise’ the mineral by preventing it from being extracted now or in the future[2].
Where land is identified for non-mineral development (such as housing), it is important developers first check if the land is in a Mineral Safeguarding Area, a preferred area, or has a specific mineral allocation. If it is, then Authorities are required, under paragraph 210(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), to “set out policies to encourage the prior extraction of minerals, where practical and environmentally feasible, if it is necessary for non-mineral development to take place”. By submitting a Mineral Resource Assessment (also known as a Mineral Sterilisation Appraisal) along with the planning application, a developer is able to demonstrate whether prior extraction is feasible.
A Mineral Resource Assessment consists of three key elements:
It is typically a desk-based study using existing data[3] to ascertain if a mineral resource exists beneath an area of land and the characterisation of that mineral.
If a mineral resource does exist, the assessment will determine whether extraction is viable in terms of amenity, environmental impact, flood risk, and more.
Finally, it will establish if prior extraction can, and should, occur and offer advice on next steps and any further studies or ground investigations which may be required.
If it is concluded that the site does sit upon an important and extractable mineral resource, this does not necessarily mean non-mineral development cannot occur. Depending on the scope, the assessment can provide guidance on how the mineral could be extracted before the non-mineral development proceeds. It is important to bear in mind that mineral extraction is a temporary use of land and a mineral resource located beneath the land is not just a problem to overcome but can be commercially beneficial. It is therefore worthwhile finding out if there is extractable mineral prior to any permanent development taking place.
Are you aware of the significance of the mineral beneath your land or the land you plan to propose development on? If not, get in touch with MPG and we can provide a Mineral Resource Assessment for you. Contact us via our online form, or by calling 01274 884599, or emailing headoffice@mpgyorks.co.uk.
[1] NPPF paragraph 210(c) and paragraph 213(c).
[2] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/minerals
[3] There may be a requirement for an intrusive investigation in some instances.