Mineral Resource Assessment Minerals Safeguarding DPD Evidence Report December 2018 Cornwall Minerals DPD Mineral Resource and Infrastructure Assessment 1 Adoption December 2018 Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................. 3 2 Mineral Safeguarding Policy and Guidance ........................................ 3 2.1 National Planning Policy Framework ........................................... 3 2.2 Planning Practice Guidance ....................................................... 3 2.3 Cornwall Local Plan Policy ......................................................... 3 2.4 British Geological Survey (BGS) Safeguarding Guidance ............... 4 3 Identification of Mineral Resources and Infrastructure for Safeguarding 5 3.1 Mineral Resource Information .................................................... 5 3.2 Methodology for Assessing Mineral Resources and Infrastructure ... 5 3.3 Mineral Resources in Cornwall ................................................... 7 4 Safeguarding Assessments ............................................................. 7 4.1 Aggregates ............................................................................. 7 4.2 Building and Heritage Stone ..................................................... 17 4.3 China Clay ............................................................................. 34 4.4 Metals ................................................................................... 42 4.5 Infrastructure......................................................................... 49 List of Tables Table 1 Mineral Resource Assessment Criteria ........................................ 5 Table 2 Mineral Infrastructure Assessment Criteria.................................. 6 Table 3 Aggregate Resources in Cornwall ............................................... 8 Table 4 Aggregate Mineral Resource Assessments .................................. 10 Table 5 Building Stone Resources in Cornwall ........................................ 18 Table 6 Building Stone Mineral Resource Assessments ............................ 20 Table 7 Heritage Mineral Resource Assessments .................................... 30 Table 8 China Clay Mineral Resource Assessments ................................. 35 Table 9 Metal Mineral Resource Assessments ........................................ 43 Table 10 Mineral Infrastructure Assessments ......................................... 50 Cornwall Minerals DPD Mineral Resource and Infrastructure Assessment 2 Adoption December 2018 1 Introduction 1. This evidence report supports the Minerals Safeguarding Development Plan Document (DPD). It sets out the assessment criteria used to consider the various mineral resources found within Cornwall and their potential for safeguarding. 2 Mineral Safeguarding Policy and Guidance 2.1 National Planning Policy Framework 2. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that mineral safeguarding areas be defined for local and nationally important mineral resources as well as existing, planned and potential transport and other mineral infrastructure. The NPPF defines mineral safeguarding areas (MSAs) as “ an area designated by mineral planning authorities which covers known deposits of minerals which are desired to be kept safeguarded from unnecessary sterilisation by non-mineral development”. The NPPF does make it clear that any designated MSA does not create a presumption in favour of mineral working in those areas. 2.2 Planning Practice Guidance 3. The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on ‘Minerals’ was published in October 2014 and provides further information and guidance on the NPPF; it will be updated in due course following the publication of the revised NPPF. The Guidance advocates a systematic approach to safeguarding of mineral resources; use the best available information on the location of mineral resources; consult the mineral industry, local communities and other relevant interests; set out Mineral Safeguarding Areas on the policies map; adopt clear development management policies which set out how proposals for non-minerals development in Mineral Safeguarding Areas will be managed. 2.3 Cornwall Local Plan Policy 2016 4. The Cornwall Local Plan provides the strategic policy framework for the Minerals Safeguarding DPD, setting out the principle of mineral safeguarding. The Local Plan was adopted in November 2016. 5. Policy 18 sets out the strategic principles for safeguarding mineral resources and infrastructure. Policy 18: Minerals safeguarding 1. Important mineral resources and reserves and existing, planned and potential bulk transport, storage, handling and processing facilities and sites shall be safeguarded from sterilisation by other forms of incompatible development. 2. Mineral Safeguarding Areas will be identified for the following minerals resources and reserves; aggregates (both primary and secondary), china clay, Cornwall Minerals DPD Mineral Resource and Infrastructure Assessment 3 Adoption December 2018 building and ornamental stone (including roofing and heritage materials) and metals (including relevant shafts and adits), 3. Mineral Safeguarding Areas will be identified for the following existing, planned and potential mineral infrastructure; key concrete batching and other products and roadstone coating, storage, handling, processing and distribution of minerals, the bulk transport of minerals by rail, sea (ports) or haul roads. The Cornwall Minerals Safeguarding Development Plan will develop detailed policy and identify sites for safeguarding minerals, mineral resources and associated facilities for transport, storage, handling and processing for onward transport by rail or sea. Key sites used for the batching / manufacture of concrete products and coated materials will also be identified for safeguarding as well as sites for processing and the distribution of substitute recycled and secondary aggregate materials. Policy will also be developed to encourage prior extraction where appropriate. 2.4 British Geological Survey (BGS) Safeguarding Guidance 6. In 2011 the British Geological Survey produced a guidance document on mineral safeguarding (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/planning/legislation/home.html under Mineral Safeguarding). This document set out a step-by-step guide to identifying and defining mineral resources which would be appropriate for safeguarding. Step 1 involves the identification of the best geological and mineral resource information. Step 2 decide which mineral resources are to be safeguarded and the physical extent of the safeguarding area. Step 3 consult on the scope of mineral safeguarding areas. Step 4 decide on the approach to safeguarding within planning policy. Step 5 include effective development management policies within DPDs. Step 6 is not relevant to Cornwall as it refers to two-tier authorities and step 7 relates to implementation of mineral safeguarding. Cornwall Minerals DPD Mineral Resource and Infrastructure Assessment 4 Adoption December 2018 3 Identification of Mineral Resources and Infrastructure for Safeguarding 7. To assess the main mineral resources in Cornwall, the step-by-step process from the BGS ‘Mineral Safeguarding in England: Good Practice Advice’ has been applied. 3.1 Mineral Resource Information 8. To aid the analysis of mineral resources in Cornwall there are various sources of information; these include BGS Mineral Factsheet, BGS ‘Mineral resource information for development plans’, industry knowledge and other publications such as H G Dines1 and J H Trounson2. In addition, regard has been paid to the NPPF and PPG. 3.2 Methodology for Assessing Mineral Resources and Infrastructure 9. The BGS guidance step 2 requires the identification of mineral resources that should be safeguarded. In order to assess the mineral resources of Cornwall, a criteria based approach has been developed. This approach is consistent with other authorities. The following criterion and ‘traffic light’ scoring system has been used to assess the mineral resources, as set out in Table 1 Mineral Resource Assessment Criteria. Table 1 Mineral Resource Assessment Criteria Criterion Code Judgement Ability for the Green The resource can be easily defined from map resource to be data defined in Amber There is some uncertainty with definition geological mapping Red The resource is difficult to define from map data Scarcity/ Green The extent of the resource is very limited Occurrence of resource Amber The extent of the resource is fairly limited Red The resource exists over large areas Availability of Green The quality/viability of the resource is clearly evidence of demonstrated quality/viability Amber There is some evidence of quality/viability of the resource Red There is no evidence of quality/viability Current and Green Significant level of current or future working future levels of extraction Amber Medium/low level of current or future working 1 The Metalliferous Mining Regions of South West England. H G Dines 2 Cornwall’s Future Mines: Areas of Cornwall of Mineral Potential. J H Trounson Cornwall Minerals DPD Mineral Resource and Infrastructure Assessment 5 Adoption December 2018 Red Little or no current or future working Quality of the Green High quality and/or wide range of uses resource and range of uses Amber Medium quality and/or medium potential for use Red Low quality and/or limited range of uses Potential Green Significant parts of the resource are likely to face conflict with pressure from other strategic