Explanation MW1

12.12

It is important that the regional and national need for minerals are met and that this Plan provides an effective framework within which the industry may make applications. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA – see glossary) will normally be required for all minerals planning applications.  However, proposals for minerals extraction or related development (such as minerals storage, stockpiling, re-use and recycling) can have significant environmental impacts and cause harm, at least for the duration of the operation and in some cases for a longer period. In considering proposals for mineral extraction the Council will weigh the extent and impact of such harm against any contribution that the proposal would make towards meeting national or regional need for the mineral concerned.

12.13

When considering a particular proposal, the Council will take the following factors into account:

•  How the proposal will assist Merseyside’s contribution to the national or regional need for the mineral in the North West, (in the case of aggregates provision this is set down in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6 - see footnote ¹⁴);

•  The need to maintain a landbank of permitted reserves in Merseyside; and

•  How the proposal will affect intra- and inter-regional supply of minerals and aggregates.

12.14

The following policies identify the environmental and other planning considerations which will be taken into account in assessing minerals applications, and which will be balanced against the need for the proposal.   

Safeguarding of minerals reserves

12.15

Government policy (in Minerals Planning Guidance note 1 “General Considerations and the Development Plan system”) advises that valuable mineral resources should be safeguarded from other forms of development, which could effectively sterilise the resource for future generations. However, it is equally important not to blight land which could otherwise be developed for other uses through inappropriate safeguarding of land to meet future needs for mineral development that may never materialise, particularly if the mineral resources are considered unlikely to be exploited in practice.

12.16

In Knowsley, there are known resources of coal, brick clay, coal bed methane, silica sand, and potentially oil or gas. The general location of coal resources within the Borough is shown on maps provided to the Council by the former National Coal Board, and is concentrated at the southern and eastern parts of the Borough. However, there have been no recent proposals either for deep mining or open cast coal extraction in Knowsley and little is known about whether the resources could viably be extracted in the future. Silica sand resources are restricted to a small area to the east of Kirkby.  Silica sand is an asset of national importance and should not be used for aggregate purposes although there has been no recent activity or interest in the extraction of this mineral. Little is currently known about the extent of brick clay resources (other than the existing quarry in Tarbock) and other minerals which may be present.

¹⁴ “Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6: Consultation Draft    Guidelines on National and Regional Aggregate Provision in England 2001-2016” Office of the Deputy Prime Minister June 2003

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