Residents are being invited to have their say on the future of minerals development in Essex.
Like other Planning Authorities across the country, we are required to publish a Minerals Local Plan. This provides planning policies for minerals development in Essex and identifies future sites for mineral extraction.
In 2020, we started a review of the Essex Minerals Local Plan. This was to ensure it is up to date and fit for the future. The plan date has been extended to 2040. As a result, new sites are needed to meet the forecasted demand for materials, or aggregates.
We have launched a consultation on the Replacement Essex Minerals Local Plan proposals. Residents and stakeholders can have their say on the sites submitted for inclusion, as well as the revised Plan itself.
Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy, said:
Minerals are essential to our way of life – we need them to build homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and much more.
It is therefore in everyone's interests that we have a proper plan in place to secure an adequate supply of minerals to support the development and future growth of Essex.
The suitability of all the sites submitted has been assessed by experts, and we are now asking residents and stakeholders to feedback on the updated plan, as well as the sites submitted for inclusion, as part of the consultation.
No decisions on the allocation of any sites have been made at this stage, and we will take the views of our communities into account as the Replacement Essex Minerals Local Plan is finalised."
Respond now before Tuesday 19 March 2024.