Over 150 attendees from over 70 different organisations including the minerals industry, national agencies, local government, NGOs and specialist consultancies attended the annual joint Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) /
As city-regions across the country develop ambitious growth strategies, a reliable and secure supply of minerals is more important than ever. The annual conference brought together all the key stakeholders to explore how effective minerals planning underpins local and regional aspirations for housing, jobs and infrastructure.
Opening remarks at the event on Thursday 16th May were given by Royal Town Planning chief executive Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE. Commenting before the event, she said: "We're delighted to be organising the Minerals Planning Conference this year in partnership with the Mineral Products Association. The minerals industry generates £235 billion every year in value added to the UK economy - it underpins much of our national economic activity and is a vital part of a broader industrial strategy. We need to ensure that minerals planning is well-resourced in local planning departments to make the most of this potential."
Chief executive of the MPA Nigel Jackson provided the keynote address, describing some of the opportunities and challenges for minerals planning in the current ‘Climate of Change’, including the need for parliamentarians and policy makers to work with the industry on biodiversity and concerns about localism.
Experts Dai Larner, executive director, Regeneration, High Peak Borough Council/Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Rob Murfin MRTPI, director, Northumberland County Council, Paul Haggin, Development Control and Countryside Management, Cumbria County Council and Chris France, director of Planning, North York Moors National Park addressed a range of strategic mineral planning issues around demands for housing, infrastructure and regional growth.
A legal update was given by barristers Nina Pindham and Hugh Richards of No5 Chambers, who discussed recent decisions with reference to the green belt and landscape.
David Young, business development manager, Freight,
David Lowe, team leader, Ecology, Historic Environment and Landscape at Warwickshire County Council was joined by Victoria Fletcher from Oxford County Council and considered mineral extraction and the 25-year Environment Plan, covering proposals for biodiversity net gain, environment net gain and natural capital.
Commenting, the MPA’s Nigel Jackson said: “Mineral Products make an important contribution to the UK economy and underpin almost every aspect of our way of life, from our homes, schools and hospitals to the transport and energy infrastructure we take for granted. But the ongoing supply of these essential minerals cannot be assumed. They need to be planned, monitored and managed to ensure that the right materials are made available in the right place and at the right time to ensure a sustainable, cost-effective supply is maintained to meet the nation’s needs. This conference highlights the continuing need and importance for effective, well-resourced mineral planning at both strategic and local scales to ensure a steady and adequate supply of these essential construction materials can be maintained.”
