Planning policy for quarries

The mining and quarries sector covers extraction of coal, construction materials, industrial minerals and metal minerals. In 2024 there were around 47,000 mining and quarrying jobs in Great Britain, representing 0.15% of all jobs. An estimated 55% of these jobs were based in Scotland, 43% in England and 3% in Wales.

Government has published two main guidance documents which are relevant for planning for quarries. These are:

• Mining and quarrying in the UK (December 2019)
• Planning guidance for minerals (October 2014)

The National Planning Policy Framework is also relevant and sets out planning policies for England to facilitate the sustainable use of minerals.

Minerals Planning Authorities (MPAs) are responsible for planning for sustainable minerals extraction in local minerals (and waste) plans, determining minerals planning applications and monitoring and enforcing operations.

Planning guidance for minerals explains that: “Minerals extraction may only take place if the operator has obtained both planning permission and any other permits and approvals.”

In preparing local minerals plans and determining minerals planning applications there are a range of impacts from quarrying for MPAs to take into account, including on:

• the natural environment
• the historic environment
• air quality
• nuisance (including noise)
• water quality
• local communities.

The MPA will consider appropriate mitigation measures which may also include relevant licencing and permits from regulators such as the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Quarrying is a temporary land use, although operations may take place over a long period of time. MPAs will take account of the temporary nature of operations and specify restoration requirements in local mineral plan policies and minerals planning conditions. Once mineral operations have completed, restoration can create new habitats, be used for agriculture or offer opportunities for other types of development.