An Evidence Based Approach to Predicting the Future Supply of Aggregate Resources in England
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An evidence based approach to predicting the future supply of aggregate resources in England Minerals and Waste Open Report OR/11/008 Green Balance BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS and Waste PROGRAMME OPEN REPORT OR/11/008 An evidence based approach to predicting the future supply of The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data are used aggregate resources in England with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Licence No: 100017897/2011. P A J Lusty (1), E J Bee (1), R Bate (2), A Thompson(3), T Bide(1), A (1) (3) Keywords Morigi , and K Harris Aggregate; Minerals; Supply; Resources; Planning; Future; Sustainable. (1) British Geological Survey (2) Green Balance Front cover (3) Capita Symonds Ltd Top image: Scrooby sand and gravel Quarry, Doncaster; Bottom image: Dry Rigg Quarry, Yorkshire Contributor/editor Bibliographical reference J M Mankelow and A J Bloodworth Lusty, P. A. J., Bee, E. J., Bate, R., Thompson, A., Bide, T., Morigi, A., Harris, K. 2011. An evidence based approach to predicting the future supply of aggregate resources in England. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/11/008. 205pp. Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and/or the authority that commissioned the work. You may not copy or adapt this publication without first obtaining permission. Contact the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Section, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, e-mail [email protected]. You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without prior permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the source of the extract. Maps and diagrams in this book use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. © NERC 2011. All rights reserved Keyworth, Nottingham British Geological Survey 2011 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The full range of our publications is available from BGS shops at British Geological Survey offices Nottingham, Edinburgh, London and Cardiff (Welsh publications only) see contact details below or shop online at www.geologyshop.com BGS Central Enquiries Desk Tel 0115 936 3143 Fax 0115 936 3276 The London Information Office also maintains a reference collection of BGS publications, including maps, for consultation. email [email protected] We publish an annual catalogue of our maps and other publications; this catalogue is available online or from any of the Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG BGS shops. 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Tel 020 7589 4090 Fax 020 7584 8270 Tel 020 7942 5344/45 email [email protected] Columbus House, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, Cardiff CF15 7NE Tel 029 2052 1962 Fax 029 2052 1963 Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB Tel 01491 838800 Fax 01491 692345 Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast BT9 5BF Tel 028 9038 8462 Fax 028 9038 8461 www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/ Parent Body Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1EU Tel 01793 411500 Fax 01793 411501 www.nerc.ac.uk Website www.bgs.ac.uk Shop online at www.geologyshop.com OR/11/0088 Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the assistance of the many individuals from the Minerals Planning Authorities, Aggregate Working Parties (AWPs), Minerals Products Association (mpa), British Aggregates Association (BAA) and the Planning Officers Society (POS) who have taken the time to provide the information necessary to compile this report. The authors are also grateful to Andrew Bloodworth and Joseph Mankelow (BGS) for reviewing this report and to Chloe Wrighton and Naomi Idoine for assisting with the consultation. Lester Hicks and other Members of the Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) Stakeholder Group, who commented on the report and its findings, are also thanked. The work undertaken in producing this report was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) through the Aggregates Strategic Research Programme (ASRP) of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) managed by MIRO. This report is based on a combination of two original project proposals submitted to MIRO in July 2010 in response to an open invitation to tender for ASRP Project 1 ‘Implications of 2042 and beyond of the continued application of MPS1 and related policies’ and Project 4 ‘Assessing the evidence in areas where there may be specific constraints on aggregates supply’. This publication and references within it to any methodology, process, service, manufacturer, or company do not constitute its endorsement or recommendation by the Mineral Industry Research Organisation or The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This publication is intended to inform land-use planning debate. It is not a statement of planning policy or guidance; nor does it imply Government approval. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material in this report, the authors British Geological Survey, Capita Symonds Ltd and Green Balance will not be liable for any loss or damages incurred through the use of this report. i OR/11/0088 Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... i Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... ix 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Objectives of the study ................................................................................................. 13 1.2 Outline of approach and evidence gathering ................................................................ 13 2 Assessing rundowns in aggregate supplies ......................................................................... 16 2.1 Policy background ........................................................................................................ 16 2.2 Continuity of supply ..................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Aggregate landbanks and their limitations ................................................................... 16 2.4 Rundown charts ............................................................................................................ 19 3 Uncertainty in planning ....................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Data availability and confidentiality ............................................................................. 31 3.2 The duration of plans .................................................................................................... 32 3.3 Reliance on outdated plans ........................................................................................... 33 3.4 Uncertainty about the future apportionment process .................................................... 33 3.5 Cross-boundary issues .................................................................................................. 37 3.6 Commercial considerations .......................................................................................... 39 3.7 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 42 4 The impact of environmental policies and protected areas .............................................. 44 4.1 Policy background ........................................................................................................ 44 4.2 Aggregates supply from protected areas ...................................................................... 44 4.3 Aggregates supply from outside protected areas .......................................................... 49 4.4 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 52 5 Adequacy of the geological database to support planning for minerals supply ............. 54 5.1 Resources and reserves ................................................................................................. 54 5.2 Levels of data required for specific minerals planning purposes ................................. 55 5.3 Data sources and limitations ......................................................................................... 56 5.4 Comprehension of geological data ............................................................................... 59 5.5 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 60 6 Maintaining a supply of