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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what sand reserves are recorded in the Lancashire Structural Plan; where deposits are located; and what planning guidelines apply to (a) sand quarries and (b) sand extraction. [214973] Keith Hill: The draft Replacement Lancashire Structure Plan, due for adoption in March 2005, does not record sand and gravel reserves or future requirements. However, the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, adopted in December 2001, requires the release of 3.2 million tonnes by 2006. The local plan identifies three areas of search, which are: North and West of Preston; The Lower Ribble Valley; and The Leyland-Chorley area. The returns to the North West Aggregates Working Party for 2003 show that there are 3.54 million tonnes of permitted reserves at the three working sand quarries in the county. The national context for sand extraction is given by Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6, revised in 2004. It sets out a regional apportionment, of which Lancashire's share is 15 per cent., or 8.2 million tonnes. Planning policy in relation to sand quarries and sand extraction is given at a national level by Minerals Planning Guidance Note 1 (currently being revised as Minerals Planning Statement 1: Planning and Minerals). Sand extraction is covered by MPG 6, referred to above. The draft Replacement Lancashire Structure Plan has a policy (26) on "Provision for working minerals" which covers all aspects of minerals' working in overall terms; more detail is provided by the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, which contains policies relating to: Safeguarding Mineral Resources; Mineral Consultation Areas; Prior Extraction; Concurrent Working; and Conservation of High Quality Material.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

430 c1586-7W; 214973

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Planning Location Quarrying Lancashire Dredging Sand

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk