Minerals Local Plan
We adopted the Essex Minerals Local Plan (PDF, 8.3MB) on July 2014. The plan:
- provides planning policies for minerals development in Essex until 2029
- identifies future sites for mineral development
The plan includes ways to reduce reliance on primary mineral resources in Essex. This includes the use of recycled aggregates.
The Essex Minerals Local Plan includes:
- the Minerals Core Strategy, which sets out the long-term direction for minerals development and a plan to deliver this
- development management policies for minerals planning
- strategic site allocations and safeguarding for mineral extraction
- a Policies Map, showing site locations
Minerals Local Plan review 2025 to 2040
We ran a Call for Sites and non-statutory engagement to re-assess our approach to mineral provision, given the expiration of the National and Sub-National Guidelines. This took place between the 11 February 2022 and the 25 March 2022.
To make sure the MLP meets the Tests of Soundness for new plans as set out in National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Paragraph 35, a carefully considered decision has been made to extend the Plan period from its current end date of 2029 to 2040 as part of the ongoing Review.
Due to the plan extension, an additional Call for Sites ran from 28th September to 9th November 2022.
Next steps
The suitability of any submitted sites is being assessed. The results will be combined with the emerging outcomes of the assessments carried out on the candidate sites submitted as part of the previous Call for Sites exercise which concluded in March 2022. We will publish the results of all these site assessments as part of a Regulation 18 public consultation alongside a full draft Minerals Local Plan 2025 to 2040 and associated evidence base.
This evidence base will include the Council’s response to all consultation responses received as part of the Regulation 18 consultation (April 2021) and the informal engagement on sand and gravel provision (March 2022).
The next Regulation 18 public consultation is currently scheduled for February 2024. However, we intend to re-consult on the entire Plan, including on revised Plan provision figures and the assessments made of individual sites. We will not seek to present a list of Preferred and Non-Preferred Site Allocations to meet the newly quantified need for sites ahead of this engagement.
Following this Regulation 18 public consultation, we will assess all representations received. Evidence may be presented that justifies additional amendments to the Plan and any of the individual site assessments.
Following the drafting of any additional amendments, we will consider the next appropriate step. This may include more detailed technical assessment on candidate sites in light of comments received or moving towards selecting Preferred Site allocations to inform any further consultation.
Shale gas and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Essex
The British Geological Survey (BGS) has carried out extensive work to identify the feasible shale gas deposits in the UK. It is unlikely that ‘fracking’ will take place in Essex.
There is also an interactive map which has been produced by the Oil and Gas Authority showing on-shore gas and oil activity in the UK. There are no prospective shale gas areas in Essex.
Minerals local plan – supporting documents
The Minerals policies map (JPG, 5.5MB) shows the location of mineral infrastructure across the county. This includes mineral extraction and recycling sites. The Essex County Council Minerals Local Plan Adoption Statement (PDF, 66kB) gives notice of our adoption of the plan.
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Sustainability Appraisals
Sustainability Appraisals test a plan’s policies to ensure that they’re supporting sustainable development. They test policies across environmental, social and economic themes, as set out in the Sustainability Appraisal itself.
Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement (PDF, 329kB)
Sustainability Appraisal Strategic Environmental Assessment - Addendum (February 2014) (PDF, 469kB)
Appendix of Main Modifications (PDF, 204kB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires us to produce a Local Aggregate Assessment (LAA) every year.
The LAA monitors the current supply of minerals and helps to determine the amount required in the future. This ensures the production of a steady and adequate supply of minerals throughout the period covered by the Minerals Local Plan. The LAA covers the area known collectively as ‘Greater Essex’, which includes the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. See below for the most recent reports.
Each report is dated with the year that it was produced but it reports on the preceding calendar year. For example, the ‘Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - December 2019’ reports on data representing the period between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2018.
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment – January 2023 (PDF, 2.90MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - December 2021 (PDF, 2.07MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - October 2020 (PDF, 2.37MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - December 2019 (PDF, 2.17MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - December 2018 (PDF, 2MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - October 2017 (PDF, 2MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - November 2016 (PDF, 1.5MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - Update 2014 (PDF, 5MB)
Greater Essex Local Aggregate Assessment - June 2013 (PDF, 5MB)
Supplementary Planning Guidance
Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) provides more evidence, clarification and support for certain policies. This can also give more details on how to interpret or apply policies in practice. SPG can take many forms including:
- Design Guides
- Master Plans
- Development Control Advice Notes
It can help:
- by giving a greater level of detail than a development plan
- when an urgent policy response is necessary
SPGs do not have the same status as adopted Development Plan policies. They cannot be used to make new policies. However, they’re a material consideration in determining planning applications.
The Supplementary Planning Guidance: Mineral Site Restoration for Biodiversity (June, 2016) (PDF, 9MB) supports the Minerals Local Plan. It gives guidance on how to promote biodiversity on mineral sites. Using this can help site operators make successful applications.
We consulted conversation bodies and the Mineral Products Association when creating the SPG. It’s aimed at creating 200 hectares of new habitat for plant and animal life. It focuses on areas considered a priority for conservation.
The SPG also:
- implements local plan policy relating to mineral site restoration and after-use
- focuses efforts on 5 schemes that offer the best opportunity to enhance biodiversity
- identifies an approach to creating habitats at mineral sites