Planning for supply of building and roofing stone Brian Marker Chairman, English Stone Forum

Scope Minerals Policy Statement 1 (2006) Planning and Minerals Annex 3 Natural building and roofing stone Provides guidance for planners and developers

Planning Regulation of use of land in the public interest and within principles of sustainable development National planning guidance Regional Spatial Strategies Minerals and Local Development Frameworks Determination of planning applications Planning conditions

Need for the mineral For repair of historic structures For building in styles compatible with existing development For new building Competition from overseas

Key issues Public opposition to quarrying Minimisation of impacts Securing restoration of worked land Need to secure appropriate stone for repair Potential sources may, or may not, be subject to planning consents Sales for new building required for economic operation of many sites

Specific objectives To encourage reuse of materials where feasible To assess the need for small scale extraction for repair To enhance the environment when extraction ceases….with regard to requirements for small quantities of stone for future restoration / conservation

Safeguarding of resources 1 EH/industry to make MPAs aware of sources that should be safeguarded Appropriate where these are: of suitable quality scarce (technical properties, aesthetic characteristics) Identified as important for repair of culturally important buildings

Safeguarding of resources 2 Safeguarding of important historic quarries Original source of stone for important historic building or monument Technically compatible with material in structure to be repaired Required in absence of viable alternatives Historic sites naturally regenerated Discussions between MPAs, EH and EN

Supply for conservation and restoration Have regard to national, regional and local need

Supply for new building Have regard to national, regional and local need Proven durability Aesthetic/ technical properties Requirements set out in local design guides, planning policies and planning documents Potential alternative supplies MPAs to identify in local development documents quarries of importance whether disused or active

Planning considerations Scale of operations - proportionate policies Flexible approach to long duration and intermittent working Planning agreements to limit extraction to building/roofing purposes Encourage to stockpile useful materials in other types of quarries Pre-application discussions well in advance Viability of some sites may depend on sales of other products

Planning considerations 2 Consider whether formal EIA is needed When reviewing planning conditions for dormant or working sites to conform with MPS1 policies

Efficiency of use Make good use of unusable rock, while guarding against changing character of extraction Stone suitable for building/roofing should not be sued for aggregates where lower quality material suitable for crushing would suffice

Restoration and after use Consider potential for partial restoration retaining where practicable access to future supplies of small quantities of stone

Liaison Need for consultations when developing medium to long term supply strategies MPAs, EH, EN, local communities, manager of historic buildings, architects, building surveyors, conservation officers and conservation and amenity groups Need for information on resources, reserves, historic quarries and buildings

The future? Government considering reform of planning guidance Minded to significantly reduce guidance to a short expression of key national policies Might lead to revocation of existing guidance

Conclusion MPS1 Annex 3 set out in detail planning policies for supply of natural building and roofing stone in England for the first time Current consideration of the need to reduce the amount of planning guidance might lead to revocation of that advice