Wrexham County Borough Council Local Development Plan 2013 - 2028

Topic Paper: 5 Minerals Edition 2, March 2014

Department of Community Wellbeing and Development Planning Policy 16 Lord Street LL11 1LG 1 Introduction

Purpose of this document

1.1 This is one of a series of 10 topic papers which have been put together to inform the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for the Wrexham Local Development Plan (LDP). The 10 topic papers are;

1. Natural Environment 2. Built and Historic Environment 3. Health, Recreation and Wellbeing 4. Waste 5. Minerals 6. Economy, Retail & Employment 7. Population (and housing) 8. Infrastructure 9. Climate Change & Energy 10. Transport

1.2 Each topic paper provides a summary of the evidence base reviewed for the Sustainability Appraisal and Local Development Plan. They establish a baseline position and identify the key issues facing the County Borough which the LDP will need to address.

1.3 By combining the evidence gathering stages for both the Sustainability Appraisal and Local Development Plan, we aim to streamline the documentation produced and avoid duplication. It will also help to ensure that sustainable development is embedded in the planning process and that sustainability appraisal is one of the main drivers informing the preparation of the Local Development Plan.

1.4 Each topic paper has been designed to cover broad individual topic areas to make the presentation of data accessible to readers, but, inevitably it is difficult to separate and group individual topics as there is a degree of overlap. Consequently, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the County Borough, reference should be made to all of the Topic Papers. To aid this, the reader is signposted to other papers where necessary throughout this paper.

Page 1 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 2 Key Plans, Policies & Strategies Reviewed

2.1 This section ensures that the relationship between the Local Development Plan and other relevant plans and programmes is taken into account. This involves research and analysis of policy context to reveal any relevant environmental protection measures and obligations; it will also reveal any objectives relating to sustainability issues.

2.2 This paper and the SA process will help demonstrate that policy integration has been achieved, that the relevant obligations and objectives of other strategies are embedded in the LDP. Taking account of these objectives in formulating and delivering the LDP is at the heart of spatial planning.

2.3 The focus is on the most relevant published plans and strategies, to draw out their key messages for the Sustainability Appraisal and Local Development Plan process. To avoid repetition, where the requirements of international plans programmes, policies, strategies and initiatives are translated into national, regional and local policies they have not been duplicated.

2.4 The full list of documents reviewed is contained in the Scoping Report Appendix 2 tables 2-5. The following is a summary of the key documents and key issues arising from them in relation to minerals.

Cross cutting evidence

2.5 There are a number of plans, programmes, policies, strategies and initiatives which are of relevance to a number of different land uses, including minerals. Whilst of relevance, these are not discussed below in detail because they are discussed elsewhere in other topic papers.

Minerals Planning Policy (2001)

2.6 Minerals Planning Policy Wales introduces the requirement for the LDP to contribute towards meeting the local, regional and UK needs for minerals, to safeguard mineral deposits which society may need for future working, address inactive sites, and ensure the impact of mineral extraction on the environment and alternative land uses is minimised. Local authorities are required to “provide positively for the working of mineral resources to meet society’s needs through as far as practicable, the identification of areas for future working where this can be undertaken in a sustainable way; and to safeguard deposits of minerals from permanent development that would prevent or hinder their subsequent extraction for future generations” Paragraph 17 of MPPW recognises that in most areas there is likely to be a need to adopt a regional approach to base a land bank policy. This regional approach is taken forward in the Regional Technical Statement produced by the Regional Aggregates Working Group.

2.7 In relation to coal, MPPW states that “the objective of the Government’s central energy policy is to ensure a secure, diverse and sustainable supply of

Page 2 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 energy at competitive prices”. Although national energy policy has been revised since the publication of MPPW, the aim to ensure a secure and affordable supply of energy remains1. The ability to ensure security of supply through the recovery of remaining UK coal reserves is recognised as a way of helping the UK achieve this aim2 .

Minerals Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates (2004)

2.8 Minerals Technical Advice Note (MTAN) 1: Aggregates sets out detailed advice on aggregates, such as limestone, sand and gravel. Paragraph 49 requires a minimum 10 year land bank of crushed rock and minimum 7 year for sand and gravel to be maintained throughout the LDP period. Where a land bank can provide for over 20 years of extraction, new allocations will not be necessary and proposals for further extraction should not be permitted apart from in exceptional circumstances.

2.9 In order to reduce the impact of aggregate production, local authorities are required to identify buffer zones around permitted and allocated mineral extraction sites (in line with Minerals Planning Policy Wales). MTAN 1 identifies the minimum distance that should be maintained for sand and gravel (100m) and hard rock quarries (200m).

Minerals Technical Advice Note 2: Coal (2009)

2.10 Minerals Technical Advice Note (MTAN) 2: Coal, requires local authorities to direct coal working away from sensitive locations and indicate those areas where coal should not be worked. Buffer zones around existing and proposed coal working sites and areas to be safeguarded should be shown. The MTAN sets out that where coal working would destroy or degrade mature landscapes, ancient woodlands, important hedgerows or vulnerable trees it should only be permitted if reclamation benefits outweigh the demonstrable harm of working a site. There is no forecast of need or landbank of permitted reserves for coal, as there is for aggregates.

North Wales Regional Technical Statement (2009)

2.11 The North Wales Regional Technical Statement (RTS) was produced in line with the requirements of Minerals Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates, which requires local authorities to jointly produce and agree a Regional Technical Statement. Local authorities are required to include in their Development Plans the elements of the agreed Regional Technical Statement which are relevant to its area.

2.12 The North Wales Regional Technical Statement (RTS), which was published in 2009, advises that no sand and gravel allocation is required in Wrexham due to the current land bank. The Regional Technical Statement advised that there appears to be a case to investigate the possibility of

1 Energy White Paper 2007: Meeting the energy challenge; the Electricity Market Reform White Paper 2011 and Energy Wales: A Low Carbon Transition (March 2012) 2 Energy White Paper 2007: Meeting the energy

Page 3 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 making a small allocation for rock in Wrexham, and, in the event that no environmentally acceptable areas can be identified, to consider jointly with and , whether provision to meet the requirements on North East Wales can be met from outside Wrexham. The North Wales RTS is currently being reviewed.

Key Messages from the Review of Plans, Policies & Strategies

2.13 A number of key messages and issues were drawn from the evidence review. The table below illustrates the messages and issues deemed most relevant and source document.

Message/Issue Source Document Ensure a sustainable supply of minerals is maintained over the life of the LDP (Minerals Planning Policy Wales, Minerals Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates, Minerals Technical Advice Note 2: Coal, Regional Technical Statement) Maintain a 10 year landbank of crushed rock and 7 years for sand and gravel. (Minerals Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates North Wales Regional Technical Statement) A need to ensure a secure, diverse and sustainable supply of energy at competitive prices. UK coal can contribute towards this aim, though there is no forecast of need. (Energy White Paper 2007: Meeting the energy challenge (2007) Department of Trade and Industry, Electricity Market Reform White Paper (2011) Department of Energy and Climate Change, Minerals Planning Policy Wales Minerals Technical Advice Note 2: Coal) Local Planning Authorities should identify areas where coal working is not acceptable (MTAN 2: Coal) There are significant parts of the County Borough which may be affected by coal mining legacy issues (The Coal Authority Planning Policy Objectives (2012) and accompanying maps) Safeguard resources from sterilisation (Minerals Planning Policy Wales Minerals Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates, Minerals Technical Advice Note 2: Coal, Regional Technical Statement) Make clear where mineral extraction should, or is most likely, to take place. (Minerals Planning Policy Wales) Protect areas of importance to the natural and built heritage from inappropriate mineral development (Minerals Planning Policy Wales) Reduce the impact of mineral extraction and related operations. Buffer zones should be identified around permitted and proposed mineral workings. (Minerals Planning Policy Wales) Ensure high standard restoration and beneficial after-use (Minerals Planning Policy Wales) Promote the appropriate use of high quality materials and maximise the potential for re-use and recycling (Minerals Planning Policy Wales) Identify inactive sites and include a suitable strategy to explain future proposals for the land (Minerals Planning Policy Wales)

Page 4 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 3 Overview and Baseline Position

3.1.1 To meet the requirements of the SEA Directive and the SA Guidance we need to identify the key environmental and sustainability issues for the plan. We need to know ‘the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan3’ and know ‘the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected4’.

3.1.2 Collating relevant evidence will allow us to meet these two requirements, the evidence from this and other topic papers will be collated into the final Environment Report accompanying the deposit LDP.

3.1.3 Evidence will also help us generate and appraise strategic options and inform policy development. The effects of the options, proposed policies and allocations will be appraised in relation to the baseline information.

3.1.4 This section builds on the key messages and issues identified in Section 2 and provide a snapshot of the Borough. It outlines key characteristics, trends, issues and opportunities.

Evidence 3.2.1 Wrexham has a wealth of minerals which have been exploited in the past, including coal, limestone, peat, sand and gravel, slate, quartzitic sandstone and clay. Extraction is currently limited to sand and gravel, with Wrexham currently the largest producer of sand and gravel in the region.

3.2.2 A key information source regarding mineral resources in the County are obtained from the British Geological Society (BGS) Mineral Resource Map of Wales. The maps, which cover the whole of Wales, are published at a scale of 1:100,000 and include material of intrinsic economic interest. The information shown on the maps includes mineral resources which are inferred from available geological information, where levels of confidence regarding the quality, extent and accessibility of the resource are low.

3.2.3 Another key resource is the BGS Aggregates Safeguarding Maps of Wales. Access to mineral resources can be prevented or restricted (sterilised) by non-mineral development and the process of ‘mineral safeguarding’ ensures that this does not occur unnecessarily when development plan allocations are made. An effective safeguarding system requires the adoption of ‘mineral safeguarding areas’ and the adoption of suitable policies to manage development in these areas. In order to indicate the relative importance that can be attributed to particular mineral resources there are tiers of safeguarding, category 1 resources are of national importance, category 2 are of more local importance and category 3 may be of importance to supply locally but not in other areas.

3 SEA Directive Annex 1b 4 SEA Directive Annex 1c

Page 5 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 3.2.4 Information regarding mineral production and sales is collected nationally, via the Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry (AMRI) Survey (excludes coal) and regionally for aggregates via the Regional Aggregates Working Party Annual Survey.

3.2.5 Minerals can only be worked where they occur, whereas for other forms of development, such as housing, alternative locations may be available. The purpose of safeguarding minerals is therefore to ensure that important resources are not sterilised by development which can be suitably located elsewhere. Historically, the presence of minerals has not always been given adequate consideration during the planning determination process, resulting in the unnecessary loss of mineral reserves.

Peat 3.2.6 The County Borough has limited deposits of peat around its south western border with Powys, western border with Denbighshire and Fens Moss, which borders with England. The peat is located in environmentally sensitive areas which are subject to a number of designations, including Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Minerals Planning Policy Wales, paragraph 84 states “Future peat extraction should be limited therefore to exceptional circumstances in areas which have already been damaged significantly by recent human activity where restoration towards wetland habitats could improve the nature conservation importance of a worked out bog”.

Clay 3.2.7 Clay extraction is a traditional local industry which, until recently, used to supply clay for tile making. Ruabon was a major centre for brick making, exploiting the carboniferous age Ruabon Marl (or Etruria Marl) which is known for its quality. Hafod Claypit is the only remaining permitted clay pit in Wrexham, though material is not currently exported from the site. There is a planning application currently being considered for the extraction and exportation of clay at the site. As with coal, there is no forecast of need and no landbank of permitted reserves.

3.2.8 Production of clay from Wales has declined significantly over the last few years, with no pressure for additional extraction in the County Borough. Furthermore, no clay from Wales is currently used in the making of bricks, pipes and tiles (Source: Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry 2010).

Limestone 3.2.9 The limestone outcrop runs along the border with Wrexham and Denbighshire. In Wrexham, the outcrop falls along the Ruabon and Eglwsyseg Mountain ranges, which fall within the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Within Wrexham, the area is a statutory protected site for nature conservation. Other smaller deposits of limestone occur on the southern border of the County and fall within a designated Special Landscape Area.

Page 6 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 3.2.10 The land-bank of limestone within the North Wales region is extensive. The North Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party produce an annual survey which identifies levels of land-bank based upon previous 3 year sales. The 2010 survey indicated that there is a 36 year land bank. Mineral Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates, paragraph 49 states that “where land banks already provide for more than 20 years of aggregates extraction, new allocations in development plans will not be necessary”.

3.2.11 The North Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party Regional Technical Statement advises: “The need to make provision for rock reserves is less clear. On a per capita basis and taking into account sand and gravel reserves, there would appear to be a case to investigate the possibility of making a small allocation for rock in Wrexham and, in the event that no environmentally acceptable areas can be identified, to consider jointly with Flintshire and Denbighshire, whether provision to meet the requirements on North East Wales can be met from outside Wrexham.”

Sand and Gravel 3.2.12 There are significant sand and gravel deposits in Wrexham, including sub-alluvial and river terrace deposits along the eastern border with England and glaciofluvial deposits dispersed from the border with Flintshire down to . There are glacigenic deposits which are generally poorly sorted and locally clayey in the south west of the County, around the border with Shropshire.

3.2.13 Wrexham is the location of a major sand and gravel quarry, Borras quarry. Planning permission for an extension to the quarry was granted in 2007 and is considered sufficient to enable Wrexham County Borough Council to meet its obligations under Minerals Planning Policy Wales and Minerals Technical Advice Note 1: Aggregates, which require a land-bank of at least 7 years throughout the Plan period. The North Wales Regional Technical Statement (2009) supports this conclusion; however, due to commercial sensitivity it is not possible to publish information regarding the land bank at Borras.

3.2.14 The North Wales Regional Aggregates Working Party 2010 survey indicates that there is a 26 year land bank in North East Wales, a 6 year land bank in North West Wales and a 23 year land bank across the region.

Coal 3.2.15 Much of the local authority is underlain by the Denbighshire coalfield, which is separated from the Flintshire coalfield by a narrow outcrop of Dinantian and Namurian strata. Much of the North Wales coal field is located at depth, though there are resources of primary and secondary coal located in Wrexham and Flintshire.

3.2.16 Coal is not currently worked in Wrexham, however, historically coal has been worked at a number of sites which has left potential issues of land stability and other safety risks associated with former coal mining activities.

Page 7 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 Proposals for new development in areas where coal working is known to have occurred are likely to need a Coal Mining Risk Assessment. Remedial work may be required in order to ensure any risks are mitigated. Such remediation may involve extraction of surface coal.

3.2.17 Appendix A of MTAN 2: Coal contains detailed information regarding the North Wales Coalfield, and indicates that there are opportunities for opencast coal mining in the coalfield, particularly in the Denbighshire coalfield as the area is more rural. The Denbighshire coalfield extends from in the north to Chirk in the south and has a mixture of primary and secondary shallow coal resources. There is no forecast of need and no landbank of permitted coal reserves, such as for aggregate minerals.

Coal bed methane 3.2.18 Coal bed methane is a form of natural gas that is extracted from deep coal seams. Whilst it is a relatively new technology to the UK, the presence of coal within the authority means there may be demand for coal bed methane extraction over the life of the LDP. It is not possible to determine where resources of coal bed methane may be viable to extract given the nature of the resource and therefore where such resources may require safeguarding.

Quartzitic sandstone with potential for silica sand and silica rock 3.2.19 There are extensive deposits of quartzitic sandstone (locally known as millstone grit) with potential for silica sand and silica rock around the Esclusham Mountain/Ruabon Mountain area. This is localised degraded Millstone grit of high silica purity. It is not unique, but is still worked near Eryrys, in Denbighshire. There is little information on where the "degraded" silica rock occurs, however, its use is currently limited to the extraction of degraded silica rock at a site in Denbighshire. Minerals Planning Policy Wales states that there is no need to identify sites for future working of silica sand.

3.2.20 Historically, quartzitic sandstone has been exploited locally for building stone in Wrexham.

Slate 3.2.21 Slate deposits occur in the south west of the County Borough and extend into Denbighshire, where the material is still worked. There are a number of historic slate quarries in Wrexham.

Igneous rocks 3.2.22 There are limited surface deposits of igneous rocks in the south west of the County Borough. There are significant deposits of igneous rocks outside of Wrexham, in North West Wales, including significant permitted reserves.

Dolerite intrusions with potential for high PSV 3.2.23 There are limited surface deposits of dolerite intrusions with potential for high PSV in the south west of the County Borough.

Page 8 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 Inactive Mineral Sites 3.2.24 Local authorities are required to identify those mineral extraction sites which are inactive and considered unlikely to be reactivated for the foreseeable future and identify a suitable strategy for the land, which may include an intention to make prohibition orders to ensure that no further extraction takes place without a further planning consent so as to provide certainty about future workings.

3.2.25 There are 3 sites which have been identified as inactive and are considered to require prohibition orders to ensure that no further extraction takes place without a further planning consent. These include Quarry (north), Bwlchgwyn Quarry (south) and Minera Quarry.

3.3 Data, Monitoring, Gaps and Limitations

3.3.1 Sustainability appraisal requires arrangements to be set up for monitoring the significant effects5 of implementing the adopted development plan. Details of these must be included in the sustainability appraisal report, and confirmed when the plan is adopted. Monitoring is intended to provide important feedback on the success of the plan and progress towards its objectives. It can be used to compile baseline information for future revisions of the plan. The SEA Directive specifically requires monitoring to identify the significant environmental effects of the LDP and unforeseen adverse effects arising from the plan to enable remedial action to be taken.

3.3.2 SEA Guidance recognises that data gaps will exist, but suggests that where baseline information is unavailable or unsatisfactory, authorities should consider how it will affect their assessments and determine how to improve it for use in the assessment of future plans. The collection and analysis of baseline information should be regarded as a continual and evolving process, as information could change or be updated on a regular basis. Baseline information will therefore be revised throughout the SA process and is likely to be able to support the SA of any future LDP as well.

3.3.3 Monitoring measures will be confirmed as the SA emerges; the following detail proposed monitoring measures and identify data limitations;

3.3.4 The Local Development Plan Manual (June 2006) identifies a number of Output indicators for LDPs. The following indicator is identified for minerals: “The extent of primary land-won aggregates permitted in accordance with the Regional Technical Statement for Aggregates expressed as a percentage of the total capacity required as identified in the Regional Technical Statement (MTAN)”

3.3.5 In addition to the above indicator, it is recommended that the following data is collected and monitored:  Landbanks for crushed rock and sand and gravel;

5 SEA Directive 2001/42/EC

Page 9 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 3.3.6 Because of commercial confidentiality information is not given at the local authority level. Landbanks are given at a sub-regional level, but this does not take account of the distribution of sites. Capacity is not evenly distributed across the sub-region and whilst landbanks may appear healthy there may remain localised needs.

3.3.7 Information regarding the distribution of minerals in the authority is available from the BGS at the regional level. The maps identify mineral resources which are inferred and where the level of confidence regarding the information is low.

Page 10 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 4 Main Sustainability Issues Identified

4.1 From Section 2 & 3, we have identified key sustainability issues focused on what is most important and relevant for Wrexham County Borough. These will help to inform the sustainability appraisal framework (choice of objectives and sub-objectives/indicators) and will also help build an awareness of the spatial issues relevant to the County to inform the LDP. The sustainability issues for Minerals are:

1. There is a need to provide positively for the working of mineral resources to meet society’s needs through, as far as practicable, the identification of areas for future working where this can be undertaken in a sustainable way; and to safeguard deposits of minerals from permanent development that would prevent or hinder their subsequent extraction for future generations. The following sustainability issues have been identified:  Minerals are a finite resource;  Mineral extraction can only take place where the mineral occurs;  Mineral extraction is a temporary use of land, although operations can occur over relatively long periods of time;  Mineral extraction sites can have detrimental impacts on the environment if not carefully sited, taking into account issues such as groundwater, biodiversity and so on;  Mineral extraction can impact on air quality;  Mineral extraction can have a detrimental impact on the landscape if not carefully sited and restored;  Mineral extraction is a potential source of employment in rural areas.

5 Planning Considerations Identified

5.1 Issues have also been identified for spatial planning which complement those for sustainability. These will be used to inform the LDP vision, strategy and formation of the LDP’s policies and are as follows:

1. Ensure a sustainable supply of minerals is maintained over the life of the LDP.

2. Maintain a 10 year landbank of crushed rock and 7 years for sand and gravel.

3. Need to ensure a secure, diverse and sustainable supply of energy at competitive prices. UK coal can contribute towards this aim, though there is no forecast of need.

4. There are significant parts of the County Borough which may be affected by coal mining legacy issues.

5. Significant deposits have already been sterilised by alternative development in the County Borough.

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6. Environmental designations limit where mineral extraction can take place. For example, deposits of high purity limestone are located almost entirely within the AONB.

7. There is a potential conflict between Local Development Plan allocations for non-mineral development and mineral development and/or safeguarding. Minerals can only be worked where they occur, whereas for other forms of development, such as housing, alternative locations may be available. Safeguarding minerals is necessary to ensure that important resources are not sterilised by development which can be suitably located elsewhere. Historically, the presence of minerals has not always been given adequate consideration during the planning determination process, resulting in the unnecessary loss of mineral reserves. National government is trying to address this through the safeguarding requirement. A decision will then need to be taken as to whether the need to protect the resource outweighs the need for the development and vice versa. The Welsh Government has commissioned the British Geological Society (BGS) to produce a safeguarding map, which provide consistent guidance to Local Planning Authorities as to which minerals should be safeguarded.

8. There is conflict between the extraction of minerals and landscape and environmental protection designations e.g. AONB, SPA, SAC, SSSI, Ramsar, Special Landscape Area, Agricultural Land Classification, Historic Parks and Gardens and Listed Buildings. However minerals are a necessity and we have to plan positively for their extraction sensitive to the sites environmental values. Minerals development in these sensitive areas is not prohibited but proposals need to be carefully considered against national policy.

9. The development plan needs to reduce the impact of mineral extraction and related operations during the period of working by, for example, ensuring sensitive working practices and improved operating standards.

10. Buffer zones are required to provide areas of protection around mineral working where new development which would be sensitive to adverse impact, including residential areas, hospitals, schools, should be resisted.

11. The Development Plan needs to achieve a high standard of restoration and aftercare, and provide for beneficial after-uses when mineral working has ceased.

12. The Development Plan should encourage the efficient use of minerals by promoting the appropriate use of high quality materials and by minimising the production of waste by maximising the potential for re- use and recycling where environmentally acceptable. There are good quality deposits of brick clay, sand and gravel and coal outside

Page 12 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 designated areas. There are more limited deposits of slate, igneous rocks and dolerite intrusions with potential for high PSV in the south west of the County.

6 Sustainability Appraisal Framework

6.1 This section links the environmental and sustainability objectives, issues and evidence from chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 to the sustainability appraisal framework that will be used to assess the LDP. The following sustainability objectives, sub objectives and monitoring indicators reflect the key issues discussed in this paper and will be used for assessing the sustainability of the Local Development Plan. There are more objectives within the SA framework but only those arising from this paper are detailed here (for further details about the assessment process, complete SA framework, objectives and criteria please refer to the SA/SEA Scoping Report).

Sustainability Sub questions to help with Indicators Objective appraisal 10. Use natural Identify and safeguard sufficient 10.7 The extent of primary land- resources mineral resources for working won aggregates permitted in efficiently and accordance with the Regional safeguard their Protect mineral resources from Technical Statement for quality development that would preclude Aggregates expressed as a extraction percentage of the total capacity required as identified in the Does non-mineral land development Regional Technical Statement sterilise the future extraction of mineral resources 10.8 Land-banks for crushed rock and sand and gravel There is a conflict of interest in mineral workings that affect AONB, 10.11 Number of planning SPA, SAC, SSSI, Ramsar, Special applications approved resulting Landscape Area, Agricultural Land in the sterilisation of mineral Classification, Historic Parks and reserves Gardens and Listed Buildings, have the environmental site sensitivities related to these sites been properly considered against national policy

Are areas sensitive to minerals development protected by buffer zones

Is there provision to ensure suitable aftercare and restoration of minerals sites to beneficial after use

Is Wrexham County Borough using only its fair share of the earth’s resources

Page 13 of 14 Version 2: Feb 2014 7 Next steps in preparing the Local Development Plan

7.1 This topic paper summarises the evidence on 'Minerals' accrued to inform the Wrexham Local Development Plan. The topic papers (and the evidence behind them) will inform work on our Preferred Strategy, our Local Development Plan and the SA/SEA of the LDP.

7.2 We have sought to establish the evidence we need early on in the process, but as the plan will take at least three years before it is adopted, new evidence may emerge. A key stakeholder group will annually review the evidence base to identify key strategic changes to policy objectives and evidence and then recommend updates to the papers.

7.3 For full details on the various stages of document preparation and when and how you can get involved, please refer to the Local Development Plan 'pages' under 'Planning' on our website www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp or contact us at: Planning Policy, Wrexham County Borough Council, Lord Street, Wrexham LL11 1LG; Tel: 01978 292013: email [email protected].

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