The Minerals Local Plan is the current approved planning policy document that guides minerals extraction policy and related issues within Essex.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 led to the replacement of the Minerals Local Plan with the Minerals Development Document (MDD). The MDD is currently being prepared and, as a result, the contents of the Minerals Local Plan have been saved for an indefinite period.

The aims of the Minerals Local Plan and the MDD are to:

• Provide a sustainable planning framework, to supply both recycled and basic raw materials at least cost to the environment of Essex
  
• Provide policies and proposals for non-land won supply including recycled aggregate and the importation of hard rock and marine dredged aggregates
• Ensure extraction is matched by a high standard of restoration and site clearance

In practice, having a current and an emerging minerals plan means that planning decisions relating to minerals still use the Minerals Local Plan as the main policy document to determine planning applications. Once the emerging MDD has been completed and adopted, the Minerals Local Plan will be replaced. A timescale for the development of the MDD is included in the Mineral and Waste Development Scheme.

Consultations on particular aspects of the MDD are carried out regularly. As part of the document writing process a number of supporting and related documents are produced too.

For further information about any of the current or emerging documents, please contact the Minerals and Waste Planning team.