Minerals Planning System Remains Fit for Purpose...
Head of Planning Resources and Environment Policy Division at
DCLG, Stephanie Hurst, announced that "there are no current
plans for significant changes to the minerals planning system"
at the QPA's annual Minerals Planning Conference in Wolverhampton
last week. The Conference, held in association with the Royal
Town Planning Institute (RTPI), is a major event on the minerals
planning calendar and this year brought together over 300 delegates.
Ms Hurst's crucial announcement helped to allay fears of changes
to the Managed Aggregate Supply System, or MASS. With both the
aggregates industry and Mineral Planning Authorities sharing concern
over the future of the MASS, the continuance of the current system
came as welcome news. MASS has played a key part in maintaining
supplies of construction materials for society since it was introduced
over thirty years ago.
Presentations by planning experts throughout the conference supported
the position that, following thorough reviews of the system, there
was little indication that anything was wrong with it. In fact,
the system costs very little to run and incorporates many features
which other European nations are still striving to achieve.
QPA's Director General, Simon van der Byl, commented, "Stephanie's
confirmation that the current managed minerals planning system
will remain in force is very good news and removes an uncertainty
that has been hanging over the industry for many months. It also
reflects the views reached by the various research projects and
accords wholly with the advice QPA has been giving to CLG."
The Conference, which brought together mineral planners, surveyors,
consultants and legal experts from government, environmental bodies,
NGOs and the minerals industry provided an excellent forum to
discuss several issues fundamental to the industry. Richard Bate
from Green Balance, who spoke at the conference, remarked: "This
has been a wonderful opportunity to present the latest research
findings to specialist audiences who can make use of work commissioned
by government."
ENDS
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