In this chapter

• Introduction to development management policy
• Housing
• Climate change
• Nature and ecosystem services
• Green Belt
• Jobs and economy
• Healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities
• Heritage and design
• Sustainable transport
• Pollution, contamination and safety
• Minerals and waste
  • Policy MIN/M: Strategic approach to minerals
  • Policy MIN/MSA: Mineral safeguarding areas
  • Policy MIN/MA: Mineral allocations
  • Policy MIN/RF: Aggregate recycling facilities
  • Policy MIN/WW: Winning and working of minerals
  • Policy MIN/MD: Minerals development: environmental enhancement through restoration
  • Policy MIN/HC: Conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons
• Waste
• Infrastructure

Policy MIN/M: Strategic approach to minerals

About this page

How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works

These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:

Policy background

• Relevant national policy or regulations
• National or regional trends
• Local situation and needs/li>
• How we have dealt with this issue in the past
• The thinking behind the policy

Policy options for the new Local Plan

We may suggest a variety of approaches:

• Keeping existing policy as it is
• Making small changes
• Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
• Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future

Policy option analysis

• A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.

More on this topic

View the Minerals and Waste Topic Paper and Minerals Planning Policy Advice Evidence Base for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.

Explore the policy

Select a section below to read more.

Policy background

9.466 The NPPF places importance on facilitating the sustainable use of minerals and asks local authorities to include policies relating to the extraction, prior extraction of minerals and for reclamation and restoration, to set out environmental criteria, and to define Minerals Safeguarding Areas.

9.467 Limestone is the principal commercial mineral worked in the District. There are currently two active sites – one surface working and one underground mine. Upper Lawn Quarry at Combe Down in Bath and Stoke Hill mine near Limpley Stoke both produce high quality Bath Stone building for renovation projects.

9.468 Bath & North East Somerset also has a legacy of coal mining and there are still coal resources within the area. Although no longer worked, there are potential public safety and land stability issues associated with these areas. These areas are currently safeguarded and the current Local Plan shows the general extent of the surface coal Mineral Safeguarding Area within the District. The Coal Authority has since advised in its guidance to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) – Jan 2023 that it no longer requires the safeguarding of surface coal resource.

9.469 Historically Bath & North East Somerset has never made any significant contribution to regional aggregates supply and because of the scale and nature of the mineral operations in the District and the geology of the area it is considered that this situation will continue. Bristol is also in no position to make a contribution to regional aggregates supply, other than the provision of wharf facilities. However, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have extensive permitted reserves of aggregates and have historically always met the sub regional apportionment for the West of England.

9.470 Current Local Plan Policy CP8a sets out the strategic approach to minerals for Bath & North East Somerset and seeks to ensure that mineral resources continue to be safeguarded. It also requires that potential ground instability issues, including those associated with the historical mining legacy, and the need for related remedial measures should be addressed as part of any proposal. The policy covers the strategic approach to extraction of minerals, environmental impact, and restoration.

9.471 A review of the policies and Mineral allocations and Safeguarding Areas has been undertaken by Atkins for the Council.

Policy options for the new Local Plan

9.472 Minor changes are proposed to the policy as follows:

Option A

Retain policy CP8A with amendments

Add reference to note that secondary and recycled aggregate facilities will be supported, subject to satisfying relevant policy requirements.

Add reference to requiring progressive and effective restoration of mineral sites and have regard to recognition of cumulative environmental impacts, in relation to reclamation and restoration.

Advantages of Option A

• The research highlights that development proposals which increase the supply of secondary and/or recycled aggregates will be supported, and that secondary and recycled facilities should be prioritised.
• Progressive restoration is favourable to limit environmental impacts and re-create priority habitats at the earliest opportunity at the same time as addressing the impacts of climate change.
• The cumulative impacts of minerals development should be addressed as part of the reclamation and restoration process.

Disadvantages of Option A

None identified.