2 Policy Context.

2.1 The Minerals Local Plan has not been prepared in isolation.  It derives from and relates to policies at all levels, including:

  • international context
  • national and regional policy
  • structure plan policy
  • waste local plan
  • district local plans.

International Context.

2.2 The Minerals Local Plan needs to recognise that planning issues are no longer confined to national boundaries.  Concern for the environment is now a global issue, especially in relation to matters such as climate change, depletion of non-renewable resources and loss of the ozone layer.  These concerns are embodied in the concept of 'sustainability', the interpretation of which in terms of the Plan is outlined as part of its overall strategy (Section 3). Some of the mineral resources within the County, for example high grade dolomite (Policy M 18), are of potential national and international importance in terms of their relative scarcity. It is of particular importance that the Minerals Local Plan protects such resources successfully for high-grade uses, and does not allow their extraction for uses for which lower grade material would suffice.

2.3 The greater inter-relationship of world markets could also have implications for the future of mineral extraction in County Durham.  The viability of parts of the local minerals industry will increasingly depend upon their being able to compete fairly in international markets, at the same time as maintaining the high environmental standards required of minerals operations within the County.

National and Regional Policy.

2.4 The national context for planning for minerals is summarised in the white paper 'This Common Inheritance', published in 1990:   "Minerals are an important national resource.  However, extracting them can be environmentally disruptive; they can only be worked where they are found, and strong conflicts of interest and controversy often arise.  The environmental costs of transporting minerals must also be fully considered.  Decisions about proposals to work minerals need to strike a careful balance between the interests of amenity and the need to exploit resources.  Operators must take account of best environmental practice and aim to be good neighbours.  The scope for recycling building materials may also be relevant."

2.5 Specific national minerals planning policy is set out in Minerals Planning Guidance Notes (MPGs), issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and is guided by the goal of sustainable development (paragraph 3.3). Policies and proposals throughout the Plan have had regard, as appropriate, to national policy guidance.

2.6 The government also issues regional planning guidance to provide a framework for the updating of Structure Plans.  Regional Planning Guidance for the Northern Region (RPG7) was issued in September 1993 and emphasises a number of issues in relation to minerals planning:

  • the importance of sustainable development
  • the need to make adequate provision for mineral working
  • the need to avoid sterilising significant mineral reserves
  • the need for an assessment of the environmental impact of proposed working
  • the importance of high standards of operation and reclamation
  • the need to minimise the impact from the transport of minerals
  • the need to encourage recycling of material and the development of alternative aggregate sources.

2.7 A review of Regional Planning Guidance is currently being undertaken.

Structure Plan Policy.

2.8 The statutory strategic land use policy context for the Minerals Local Plan is provided by the Structure Plan.  The Structure Plan for County Durham was adopted on 25 March 1999, and it is upon the policies of that Plan that the  Minerals Local Plan is based.

2.9 The focus of the Structure Plan is the need to sustain and improve the County's economy and environment through three main aims:

  1. to generate and provide for development to meet the social and economic needs of the County's residents in ways which do not compromise the quality of the environment and the quality of life of future generations, in accordance with the principles of sustainability;
  2. to create for the people of County Durham the best possible opportunities for work, housing, shopping, education and leisure and for meeting social and community needs, including assisting those within the community with particular disadvantages to improve their quality of life; and
  3. to improve and protect the built and natural environment of the County.

2.10 The minerals policies of the Structure Plan are based on the following principles:

  • protecting the environment and local communities from the adverse impacts of mineral working;
  • guiding future mineral working to the most appropriate areas where  impacts on local communities and the environment can be minimised;
  • meeting established and recognised needs for minerals where appropriate;
  • conserving and making the best use of minerals within the wider    context of a sustainable approach to natural resources.

2.11 The adopted Structure Plan policies for minerals are reproduced in Appendix. A ‘Structure Plan Policies.’

Waste Local Plan.

2.12 The County Council is also responsible for land use planning in relation to waste disposal within County Durham.  Policies covering such activities are currently set out in the County Durham Waste Disposal Local Plan, adopted in 1984, although it is envisaged that this will be replaced by a new Waste Local Plan within the period of this Plan.

2.13 Links between minerals and waste issues exist in that minerals sites may sometimes be used for waste disposal as part of an overall reclamation scheme.  Any proposal for the deposit of waste in former mineral workings will need to take account of the provision of both plans:  the Minerals Local Plan will establish  the general criteria under which waste disposal as part of restoration of mineral sites may be appropriate (see Policy M 48 and Policy M 49) while the Waste Local Plan provides detailed guidance on the conditions that will need to be satisfied for waste disposal to be acceptable.

District Local Plans.

2.14 The district councils have prepared, or are in the process of preparing, local plans to cover their areas.  These local plans deal with issues other than minerals and waste but will often contain policies and proposals relevant to proposals for mineral extraction, particularly in relation to proposed after uses and general environmental issues (for example, nature conservation designations and updated landscape areas).

2.15 The different parts of the Development Plan should normally be consistent with each other but, in the unlikely event of any conflict, legislation requires that the provisions of the most recently adopted plan will prevail.