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Development plans and development control

The minerals industries can contribute to the UK BAP through the planning system. Indeed, they already have considerable familiarity with the planning system, so are well placed to use this skill for the benefit of biodiversity.

In terms of what is expected generally with regard to nature conservation, the Mineral Planning Guidance (MPG) note series and PPG 9 Nature Conservation set out Government policy, while MPG 7 The reclamation of mineral workings refers specifically to the implementation of the UK BAP.

Minerals Local Plans in particular provide an opportunity to shape the location, rate and nature of mineral working in ways which steer this industrial activity towards fulfilling biodiversity objectives. Similarly, companies can use environmental assessment procedures to feed biodiversity objectives into the design of proposed working and restoration schemes.

Environmental assessment procedures should ensure that:

• schemes potentially damaging to irreplaceable features of nature conservation value are not progressed through the planning system;
• the scope of wildlife interests that should be examined is considered and widely agreed at the outset;
• proper evaluation of the wildlife resource is carried out;
• biodiversity interests are maximised (consistent with other industrial and environmental objectives);
• monitoring procedures are set up to measure progress towards objectives.

The industry must bear in mind that planning policy recognises the value of nature everywhere, not only in designated areas, and in the restoration of all mineral sites: