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The CBI Minerals Group - implementing the UK Minerals Strategy DAVID PAYNE, CBI MINERALS GROUP SECRETARIAT & MPA SENIOR PLANNING ADVISOR
It is 4 years since The UK Minerals Strategy was published by the CBI Minerals Group and the MPA ‘by the industry, for the industry’ to fill a gap in national policy and address the lack of government action and awareness of the issues facing the sector. be sourced primarily from indigenous resources over the next 25 years – which will need to be planned for and delivered by industry. Planning permission is the primary ‘license to operate’, and in the plan-led system supportive and enabling national and local planning policy is key.
It sets out high-level actions development for the industry itself, government and regulators. Rather than being a detailed action plan, the Strategy is intended to be a ‘touchstone’ that provides a reference point and sets the long-term agenda for the priorities for the minerals sector.
The Strategy actions all remain relevant – no surprise given it seeks to address issues that have been a challenge for the sector for many years. Indeed, a review of the reports produced under the Sustainable Aggregates programme, funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (before it was axed) recently uploaded onto the IoM3 website, reveals that most topics examined 10 years or so ago remain current and pressing.
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While national planning policies recognise the importance of a steady and adequate supply of minerals for the economy and society, the lack of national forecasting of demand, especially in England, means that there is no ‘statement of need’ as such. David Payne.
The Strategy identifies a need for at least 5 billion tonnes of mainly
construction and industrial minerals to
This reinforces the assumption by many that supply can be assumed. Such complacency is risky, and while there has not been a profound crisis in supply, recently there have been short lived and specific shortages of
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