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.

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.

David Payne.

The Strategy identifies a need for at least 5 billion tonnes of mainly construction and industrial minerals to 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. 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.

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

some materials highlighting the fragility of supply chains. Worryingly sales of aggregates are outstripping new reserves being permitted, and so are gradually being run down. Combined with strengthening environmental and planning constraints, local opposition, and a looming end-date for a large amount of reserves in 2042, there is considerable urgency for up-todate development plans to be adopted and provide for adequate new reserves, and for clear national forecasts and ‘statements of need’. That said, the vast majority of applications that are submitted are approved, and so the onus is also on industry to ensure sufficient applications re submitted in time. Reform of planning – to speed & simplify it - is a perennial issue. Recent proposals in England ignored minerals entirely, reflecting the lack of awareness of the importance of materials to deliver built development. Thankfully, the recent Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill specifically recognises minerals plans and includes a number of measures that the industry supports including a national suite of development management policies so these are not repeated in every local plan. As national policies are reviewed, ensuring that national policies recognise the ‘essentiality’ and the national need for minerals of all types, is a priority. To its credit, the government has recently devoted resources to preparation of ‘critical’ minerals strategy (including metals required for electronics and batteries), but should have done the same for ‘essential’ high volume minerals years ago. Of course, for the system to work it needs adequate resourcing and people with the right skills and motivation. Many planning authorities are struggling recruit and retain qualified and experienced staff, and the environmental permitting system is a mess. Ring-fencing of fees to help fund improved services would help

The Strategy

The aim of the Strategy is to ensure that UK demand for minerals and mineral products is supplied sustainably for the next 25 years. This will require identifying and permitting at least 5 billion tonnes of mainly construction and industrial minerals to be sourced primarily from indigenous resources.

To achieve this, Government and relevant stakeholders should: ・ recognise that minerals and mineral products, and the industry that supplies them, are essential to the economy and our quality of life; ・ recognise that supply cannot be assumed; it needs to be planned, monitored and managed; ・ ensure steady and adequate provision is made, primarily through the land use planning system; and ・ establish supportive policy, operating and trading conditions to enable UK industry to thrive and invest in future supply.

Of overriding importance is the requirement for a strong national minerals and mineral products policy and statement of need. These would inform and underpin national regional and local planning to enable sufficient minerals and mineral products to be supplied to key sectors of the economy.

Biodiversity net gain and ecosystem services - Sand & gravel quarry restoration

Biodiversity net gain and ecosystem services - Rock quarry restoration.

(but not likely), but the lack of minerals planners appears to be getting worse. Nature recovery is a key theme of the Environment Act 2021 for England. One of the biggest changes coming the way of developers of all types is the introduction of a mandatory requirement (in 2023) for development to deliver of biodiversity [net] gain (improvement) of at least 10% compared to the biodiversity of the land before development, which may be on- or off-site, or through purchase of credits. Designed primarily for housing, this will also apply to mineral extraction which is very different being temporary with the development phase over long periods, and the mineral planning system has strong track record of delivering biodiversity gain through management and restoration over many years. In fact evidence shows that it is not uncommon for quarry restoration to deliver gains well over 100%. The MPA & CBI Minerals Group have developed guiding principles for pragmatic application of biodiversity net gain to mineral extraction, which we hope government will take on board in secondary legislation and guidance in due course. Many local authorities have declared ‘climate emergencies’ which in combination with the transition to ‘net zero’ is likely to result in the need for evidence to be provided in planning applications demonstrating that measures have been taken to both mitigate (reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and adapt (to the impacts) have been taken and incorporated into project design & operation. While non-energy mineral extraction is responsible for a tiny percentage of UK emissions (and the UK responsible for less than 1% of global emissions, improving energy efficiency and switching fuel sources when feasible will be necessary. Restoration and management of sites in particular offers large opportunities to contribute to adaptation, particularly through water storage and flood management, and carbon sequestration. So the Strategy continues to set the agenda. We encourage all of the minerals sector to use the Strategy as a reference to steer its priorities and agenda. We intend to review the Strategy next year (5 years since publication) to make sure it remains useful, vital and relevant.

1 The CBI Minerals Group brings together a range of CBI members drawn from minerals companies operating in aggregates, coal and industrial minerals, as well as representative trade associations (it is chaired by the MPA) and associated service providers such as legal advisers and environmental consultants. It also convenes the wider stakeholder UK Minerals Forum. 2 https://www.iom3.org/resource/alsf-research-reports-overview.html 3 For example, see the MPA’s Quarries & Nature – a 50 year success story https://mineralproducts.org/Publications/NaturalEnvironment/Quarries_and_Nature_50_Year_Success_Story.aspx and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3j54TrOvVs 4 https://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/map-of-local-council-declarations/