Planning and regional policy

Planning and regional policy
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Mineral extraction sites

Gravel washing plant at Needingworth
Once extraction of aggregates is complete at Needingworth, Cambs, 40% of the UK BAP target for reedbeds will be re-created here

The environmental implications of minerals planning are potentially significant. The implementation of the new planning system provides an important opportunity to ensure that minerals planning policy enables Government and other key players to meet their commitments to sustainable development.

Without appropriate safeguards, minerals exploitation can cause adverse environmental impacts, for example irreversible damage to valuable habitats. 

Sites supporting rare or vulnerable species and habitats should be afforded the highest degree of protection from minerals development. However, careful management of post-extraction minerals workings has the potential to enhance wildlife and we promote the benefits of positive restoration projects.  

In particular, minerals restoration projects can contribute to targets set out in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. For example, the extraction of aggregates at Needingworth, Cambridgeshire, will deliver 40% of the UK biodiversity target for reedbed creation after restoration on a 700 ha wetland site.

Minerals Restoration Potential project

With over 1,300 active mineral sites in England, the potential contribution to UK BAP targets was thought to be considerable. The RSPB1 began investigating this in 2005 through the Minerals Restoration Potential project. The project used a Geographical Information System (GIS) to analyse environmental datasets and predict which habitat(s) could be created on each of the sites. 

Careful management of post-extraction minerals workings has the potential to enhance wildlife

The results show that huge areas of priority UK BAP habitats of all kinds could be created on mineral sites. In fact, the potential for creating many habitats is sufficient to exceed UK BAP targets. Statistics from this analysis have been published in the new report Nature After Minerals, together with recommendations to help mineral planning improve delivery of UK BAP targets.

A new website, After Minerals, was launched in February 2007, which provides mineral operators and planners with the resources needed to plan appropriate habitat restoration as an end-use. After Minerals includes an interactive mapping tool, capable of displaying information and advice for specific sites. Why not visit the site today at www.afterminerals.com and take a look?

For more details about the Minerals Restoration Potential project please download the report, Nature After Minerals from this page, visit the website at www.afterminerals.com, or contact Alice Davies (details below).

1 Funding for the work was provided by Defra through the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) Sustainable Land-won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme, which is managed by the Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO).

Contact

Kareen Holliday

Nature After Minerals Programme Manager

Tel: 01767 680551

E-mail: kareen.holliday@rspb.org.uk

Last modified: 28 February 2007

Downloads

Minerals Restoration Potential project (442Kb)
Understanding the potential contribution of the minerals industry to biodiversity in England.