MPA welcomes classification of aggregates and industrial minerals as ‘Nationally Significant’

Nationally Significant minerals

The Minerals Product Association, representing the interests of the UK aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete and related industries, has welcomed the news that aggregate and industrial mineral proposals should be able to use the Nationally Significant Infrastructure (NSI) planning regime.

Categorisation of aggregate and industrial mineral development as nationally significant should help to give quarry operators the confidence to move forward with investment in new sites, and will also streamline the approvals process. Where before the operators would have to go through the permitting process with several government agencies, this should now be dealt with through just one agency.

Cautiously optimistic

“Aggregates and industrial minerals, such as cement and silica sand, are essential to the economy and there is no doubt that many of the operations run by MPA members are nationally significant”, said Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive MPA. “But not all proposals will be a good match for the NSI process”, said Nigel Jackson, “so we strongly support the intention to make applications for the use of the new system at the discretion of the applicant, who will now have a choice as to how best to secure planning for future developments. Whilst the flexibility given to the Secretary of State to determine what is in scope is also welcome, there is a need for additional clarity as to the precise criteria he will use.”

Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui