The ten Greater Manchester Authorities; Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan are working together to prepare a Joint Minerals Development Plan Document (Minerals Plan). The Minerals Plan will provide a sound, sub-regional, planning policy framework that provides a clear guide to minerals operators and the public about:
·The locations where mineral extraction may take place;
·The safeguarding of sensitive environmental features and of mineral resources with potential for future extraction; and
·All aspects of environmental and resource protection including the sustainable transportation of minerals.
The Plan will form an integral part of each Authority’s Local Development Framework.
A planning team located within the Greater Manchester Geological Unit (GMGU) is responsible for all aspects of Plan production and consultation, with assistance from the Greater Manchester authorities as necessary.
Preparation of the Minerals Plan commenced in November 2009. The first stage of consultation focused on evidence base information and the Scoping Report for Sustainability Appraisal. The outcomes from this initial stage are available from www.gmmineralsplan.co.uk.
A third consultation as part of the preparation of the Minerals Plan for Greater Manchester is now underway. The report outlines the information available on mineral resources in Greater Manchester and how it is proposed to use this information in developing Mineral Safeguarding Areas. The report can be found here.
Consultation on the Report seeks:
Views on the options for defining Mineral Safeguarding Areas for the following resources:
Glaciofluvial sand and gravel;
Carboniferous Millstone Grit (sandstone)
Brickclay;
Peat; and
Surface mined coal (shallow coal) and fireclay
Any further information on mineral resources that stakeholders may have.
The Report is available between Friday 6th August and Friday 27th August 2010. Your comments are welcomed within this period to assist the development of the methology for defining Mineral Safeguarding Areas in Greater Manchester.
Whilst this report concentrates on safeguarding primary minerals, the Minerals Plan will ultimately cover a much broader range of issues, including the use of recycled aggregate, sustainable tranport of minerals and locations of depot, wharfs and other mineral related infrastructure.
Who to Contact
To find out more about the Minerals Plan and how to get involved in future consultations, please visit the Joint Mineral Plan Development website or contact the GMGU Planning Team:
Planning Team,
GMGU, Emerson House,
Albert Street,
Eccles, M30 0TE
Telephone: 0161 779 6182