Aggregate Minerals Spatial Framework Proposed Methodology March 2010

GLASGOW AND THE CLYDE VALLEY STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AUTHORITY

AGGREGATE MINERALS

SPATIAL FRAMEWORKPROPOSED METHODOLOGY

March 2010

Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority i

Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority AGGREGATE MINERALS SPATIAL FRAMEWORK PROPOSED METHODOLOGY March 2010

Contents

The Glasgow and Clyde Valley area � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ii

Introduction � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1

Purpose of this Report � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1

Strategic Environmental Assessment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1

Distribution Areas � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1

Scottish Planning Policy� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2

Coal Bed Methane � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2

Peat � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3

Aggregate Minerals Report of Survey (1997) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3

Scottish Aggregates Survey 2005� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4

Proposed Methodology � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4

Timescale � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6

Consultation Period � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6

ii Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority


Introduction

1 The city regions are expected to form the principal market areas for the provision of aggregates and planning authorities, through the Scottish Government’s Planning Policies, are expected to provide a landbank of permitted reserves equivalent to a minimum ten years extraction at all times for the appropriate part of the city region market area�

Purpose of this Report

2 The purpose of this report is to outline the proposed procedures that will be used to identify a ten-year landbank of consented reserves for construction minerals within Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority (GCVSDPA) area�

3 The first part of this report lists the requirements of the consolidated SPP (published February 2010) for minerals and considers the procedure followed in the Aggregate Minerals: Report of Survey (1997) and the Scottish Aggregates Survey 2005� The report then outlines the proposed methodology for identifying areas of search for minerals within the GCV area�

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

4 This consultation report merely seeks comment on the appropriateness of the proposed methodology and provides an indication of the likely spatial outcomes of applying these� This process will be further refined as the preparation of the SDP progresses and the proposals emerging from this and other relevant consultation documents and issues reports will be subject to the full SEA process along with the other elements of the SDP�

Distribution Areas

5 Demand for aggregates in different areas of Scotland varies considerably and distribution areas are generally set in relation to the economic viability of transporting the resource� It is likely that market areas extend beyond the constituent GCV local authority boundaries and it is recognised that issues of transportation and market will require consideration in identifying areas of search� Any new geographical areas that arise from collating the survey returns will be used solely for the purposes of the survey and are not intended to reflect ‘market areas’�

Is this correct approach in terms of distribution areas?

Question 1

Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority 1


Scottish Planning Policy

6 The GCVSDPA is required to ensure a landbank of permitted reserves for construction aggregates of a minimum of ten years extraction is available at all times in all market areas� The ten year period is a reflection of the likely timescale between an operator deciding that there is a need for a new site and bringing the site into full production�

7 Where market areas for construction aggregates extend across local authority boundaries, authorities are required to work together to ensure an adequate supply of minerals can be provided� This is relevant in the GCV city region and the GCVSDPA will liaise with operators, constituent and neighbouring planning authorities and use verifiable sources of information to identify appropriate search areas� Search areas will then be identified and safeguarded in the development plan alongside certain strategic criteria to be satisfied by development proposals�

8 Consideration will also be given to whether the same safeguarding principles should apply to land allocated for development which is underlain by minerals and where prior extraction of the mineral would be beneficial�

9 The SPP states that planning authorities should safeguard non-aggregate construction and industrial mineral resources including limestone, clay, dimension stone, slate and silica sands and provide for their working� Re-opening dormant and securing active sites can also be important in providing for future supply� Planning authorities are required ensure that conditions do not impose undue restrictions building stone reserves which are worked on small sites, often in limited quantities and intermittently�

Coal Bed Methane

10 The presence of methane in seams of coal is a regular occurrence in the mining industry and new technologies are emerging that allow the extraction of this gas in an economically viable way� Known as Coal Bed Methane (CBM), the extraction of methane from un-worked coal is now taking place in a number of countries around the world� The rapid depletion of conventional energy sources has led to a growing interest in how this gas can be extracted from coal in the long term�

11 The process of extraction of CBM targets methane in the coal itself, which is created by the decay of organic matter over time� As the heat and pressure underground builds - and the coal begins to form - the methane is gradually adsorbed into the surface coal� By releasing the pressure in the coal seams, it is possible to capture the methane and pump it directly into the local gas network�

12 A 2002 UK Government Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) funded study of all onshore coal deposits suggested that UK CBM has the potential to contribute around 29 years of natural gas consumption for the country, a significant contribution to the United Kingdom’s pressing need for a safe, secure and diverse energy mix�

The GCVSDPA is not aware of any active interest in CBM within the GCV area.

Do you consider this issue will become significant over the timescale of the SDP?

Question 2

2 Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority


Peat

13 Areas of peatland that retain a high level of natural heritage conservation interest, or are important for their archaeological interest, or have value as carbon sinks should be protected and conserved through development plans and development management decisions�

14 The SPP offers the following guidance:

Extractionshouldonlybepermittedwhereimpactsonlocalcommunitiesandtheenvironmentcanbeadequatelycontrolledormitigated.Whereverpossible,haulageshouldbebyrailorcoastalorinlandshippingratherthanbyroad.Whendecidingplanningapplicationsforextraction,planningauthoritiesshouldconsider:

disturbanceanddisruptionfromnoise,blastingandvibration,andpotentialpollutionofland,airandwater;

impactoncommunitiesandtheeconomy;

cumulativeimpact;

impactonnaturalandbuiltenvironment;

landscapeandvisualimpact;and

transportimpacts.

15 During this consultation, the GCVSDPA is seeking views on whether any peat extraction is considered acceptable within GCV area�

Do you consider that peat extraction is or is not a strategically significant issue within the context of spatial planning within the GCV area?

Do you consider there are more acceptable alternatives to peat extraction?

Question 3

Aggregate Minerals: Report of Survey (1997)

16 The 1997 survey involved consultation with the constituent authorities followed by a survey of operators� The objectives of the survey were:

to update the assessment of the effective aggregates landbank supply within the Structure Plan area;

to establish the outer ranges of the market area in respect of the GCV Structure Plan area; and

to establish whether the general need for search areas was required to meet landbank requirements to 2007/2012�

17 The survey requirements for the aggregates minerals survey were therefore:

a comprehensive inventory of all sites which currently contribute to the aggregate minerals supply, or have the potential to do so in the near future;

details of location, aerial extent, site address, operator (with address and contact telephone number) and planning application numbers for each site;

details of the available reserves, production rates, anticipated lifespan and regular market areas for each site; and

details of any proposed expansions of operations at each site�



Scottish Aggregates Survey 2005

18 The Aggregates Survey 2005 was conducted across Scotland and a survey questionnaire was prepared in consultation with the Quarry Products Association (QPA) and the British Aggregates Association (BAA)� The survey recognised the difficulties of defining market areas in a country like Scotland with considerable variation in population density and geology� New geographical areas for collating returns were put in place but solely for the purposes of the survey and were not intended to reflect ‘market’ areas� The intention is to provide the volume statistics necessary to inform the planning process without creating problems of commercial confidentiality�

19 The survey gathered information on the production, distribution and reserves of material produced and available from Scottish quarries in 2005� The survey was designed to be factual but recognises that on reserves and distribution the figures are at best available estimates as there can be no absolute precision in these fields�

Proposed Methodology

20 The GCVSDPA is committed to liaising with operators, its own constituent authorities and with neighbouring planning authorities� It is considered that the methodology used for the 1997 GCV Survey and 2005 Scottish Aggregates Survey remains relevant and should be mirrored for the SDP� Early engagement and discussion with industry operators has confirmed this to be so�

21 The survey will gather information on the production, distribution and reserves of material produced and available from GCV quarries as at 2009� As with the 2005 Survey, the difficulty of defining ‘market areas’ is recognised� Any geographical areas used in collating the survey returns will be used solely for the purposes of this survey and are not intended to reflect ‘market areas’�

22 Accordingly, the proposed methodology is as follows:

Phase 1 Consultation with constituent local authorities to establish existing consented and licensed sites for hard rock, sand and gravel and any other relevant mineral extraction� This consultation will also identify any pending applications for mineral extraction� The GCVSDPA can use monitoring information to provide lists to the authorities which can then be checked against their own records� Some sites may have been active for some time without any subsequent planning applications and may slip through the net� The attached Map shows the extent of aggregate mineral activity in the GCV area� If there are any omissions or errors on the map, the GCVSDPA should be informed�

Phase 2 Survey of operators to gather operational information regarding remaining reserves, production rates, life expectancy and market details for each site� A Survey form, similar to that used in 1997 and 2005 surveys, is attached� Comments on the content of this form are welcomed� An Industry workshop will help to fill in any gaps in the basic information gathered in this first phase� The Quarry Product Association (QPA) and the British Aggregates Association is participating in this process with a view to establishing a co-ordinated industry response� The SDPM has given assurances to the Industry that any information supplied will, of course, be treated in the strictest confidence and appropriate confidentiality agreements will be in place�



Workshop

An Industry structured workshop was held on 11 March 2010 to discuss the proposed methodology, consider views put forward by the industry and to assess the issue of demand for aggregates� The following sample questions were considered during the workshop:

What level of demand for aggregates does the industry expect to be needed to support sustainably an economy through to 2035 (where growth rates, from 2022, are forecast to be approximate to those experienced between the years 2002-2008)?

What evidence can be sourced to justify such demand levels?

Will the existing supply (base date of 2009/2010) of aggregates, both operational and consented, be sufficient to meet that demand and its variations throughout that period to 2035?

If new sources of aggregates are required, what is the geographical distribution of them in the Glasgow metropolitan area context which would provide the basis of a search exercise?

In identifying relevant resources, what operational distances come into play in terms of distribution and what measures should be used to define those distances?

Sustainability and Climate Change targets now provide a new context for the extraction of new aggregates – how would these ‘drivers’ be reflected in any search exercise?

Are there additional issues that should be included when considering demand for aggregates?

Question 4

Collated survey results

These results will include:

inventory of sites including the geographical spread of active and new sites and output;

production rates (million tonnes per annum);

distribution movements;

production, reserves and years supply;

assess levels of supply and demand; and

relationship with SDP�

Is this methodology considered the best approach for the GCV area?

Are there additional elements that should be included or steps that should be omitted given the strategic nature of the SDP?

Question 5



Timescale

23 The timescale for the consultation report is outlined below;

Joint working and targeted consultation

Local authority survey and Aggregates Survey 2010 industry audit February - April 2010

Awareness raising

Agree search area methodology April - May 2010

Identifying Search Areas May - June 2010

Formal consultation

MIR and SEA September 2010

Proposed Plan and SEA March 2011

Submission of Strategic Development Plan

October 2011

Consultation Period

24 Comments are sought on the proposed methodology by 23 April 2010 and sent to Dr Grahame BuchanStrategic Development Planning Manager Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning AuthorityLower Ground Floor 125 West Regent Street Glasgow G2 2SA or by email to [email protected]



Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority

Lower Ground Floor, 125 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2SA

telephone 0141 229 7739 fax 0141 221 4518 email [email protected] web www.gcvsdpa.gov.uk

Documents

Aggregate Minerals Spatial Framework Proposed Methodology March 2010