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Minerals Report
January 2011
Minerals Report | January 2011
Executive summary
•• T
his report is the first edition of the Carter Jonas Minerals Report. The report highlights the
regional disparity of minerals reserves in terms of number of years, for both sand and gravel
and crushed rock throughout England and Wales.
•• N
ational objectives for minerals planning are focused around the need to ensure the prudent,
efficient and sustainable use of minerals. It is essential to ensure an adequate and steady
supply of minerals without causing irreversible damage to the environment.
•• T
he maps included in the report clearly illustrate the areas that are likely to witness a shortfall
in mineral reserves over the short to medium-term. Immediate action within those regions
highlighted should be taken in order to ensure that sufficient supply of aggregates is provided
which will ultimately assist in the region’s development and construction programme.
Minerals Report | January 2011
Background
National objectives for minerals planning are focused around
Relevant policy within Wales is set out in Mineral Planning
the need to ensure the prudent, efficient and sustainable
Policy Wales. Each mineral planning authority must ensure
use of minerals. It is essential to ensure an adequate and
that an appropriate contribution is made to meeting local,
steady supply of minerals without causing irreversible damage
regional and UK needs for minerals, reflecting the nature and
to the environment.
extent of resources in the area. For aggregates this should
be done with the assistance of the North and South Wales
Because aggregate minerals are not distributed evenly across
Regional Aggregates Working Parties, who are tasked with
the country there are geographical imbalances between the
providing a regional overview of supply and demand.
location of resources and where the demand arises, resulting
in the transportation of minerals into areas outside the
Sustainable minerals supply relies on there being adequate
boundaries of individual Mineral Planning Authorities. Regional
provision within a region to meet the anticipated needs. Whilst
Aggregates Working Parties (RAWPs) were established in the
geographical imbalances are recognised, MPS1 indicates
early 1970’s to provide technical information and advice on
that a shortfall in one part of a region should be made up for
the provision of aggregates in England and Wales and the
elsewhere in the same region.
regional commentaries on supply and demand that have
been made available since that time has provided valuable
Provision of a steady supply of aggregate minerals is achieved
data which has informed current policy and guidance.
by the use of landbanks of planning permissions for minerals
working. The length of a landbank in a particular area is used
Advice and guidance is set out in Minerals Policy Statement 1:
as an indicator as to when new permissions for aggregate
Planning and Minerals (MPS1). Minerals Planning Authorities
minerals are likely to be required. Landbank indicators
are required to have regard to the National and Regional
are at least seven years for sand and gravel and ten years
Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England (published
for crushed rock, however these should be maintained for
by the Department of Communities and Local Government)
the period in which a development plan document is in force.
when preparing local development documents in order to
A landbank below seven years indicates that additional
ensure that the geographical imbalances between supply and
reserves will need to be permitted if acceptable planning
demand for aggregates are addressed effectively.
permissions are submitted.
Sand and gravel
The landbanks have been divided into seven year periods
The restricted supply in these areas is a combination of
to coincide with the RAWP guidelines. The map identifies a
geological constraints and the limited number of permitted
clear shortfall in the landbank reserves across England and
reserves. An adequate and steady supply of minerals is the
Wales. Landbanks in the majority of the UK fall between zero
key objective within the minerals sector and there is a need to
and fourteen years with a significant number falling below
progress sites within areas with a landbank lower than seven
seven years. This is likely to be insufficient to meet demand
years where suitable reserves are present.
requirements for the plan period.
The secondary aggregate market is becoming increasingly
The majority of the South East and the West Midlands have
significant and this is expected to continue over the medium to
reserve levels of less than seven years. In addition, Cornwall,
long term. However although there have been some attempts
Somerset and Bristol and its surrounding areas, Oxfordshire,
to quantify the volumes of secondary aggregate arisings in
Bedfordshire and Norfolk all have comparatively low reserves.
parts of the country, predictions as to future availability of
In comparison in the North; only West Yorkshire, East Riding
suitable material are not available. It is imperative that any
of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and County Durham have
significant shortfall in landbank provision is addressed at the
similarly low reserve levels.
regional level as a matter of urgency.
Landbank (number of years)
Legend
Sand and gravel reserves
Confidential
0-7
7-14
14-21
21+
Source: RAWP and Carter Jonas
Crushed rock
In contrast to the situation with sand and gravel, crushed
The distribution of the reserves may lead to problems in
rock is generally in plentiful supply throughout England and
relation to the transportation of mineral into areas of need, in
particularly in Wales.
particular the South East.
The supply of crushed rock reserves is geologically
Minimal changes in reserves are anticipated over the medium
dependent to a greater extent than sand and gravel, with
to longer term with significant reserves apparent in Wales, the
the majority of hard rock being located to the North of the
South West and the North West. However these reserves will
UK and little or none further South East.
be required to satisfy demand from more than the local area
This contrasts
with the situation of sand and gravel which is distributed
more evenly with pockets of reserves throughout the UK.
and may need to be safeguarded.
Minerals Report | January 2011
Landbank (number of years)
Legend
Crushed rock reserves
Confidential
0-10
10-20
20-30
30+
Source: RAWP and Carter Jonas
Conclusions
The shortfall in sand and gravel reserves is cause for concern.
significant growth in demand and that this will be exacerbated
It is believed to result from both geological issues and as a
as economic conditions are projected to improve over the
direct result of the complexity of progressing proposals for
next five years. Unless immediate action is taken to address
extraction of suitable minerals through the planning system.
regional shortfalls the anticipated recovery will have a serious
impact on supply of sand and gravel in parts of the country
There appears to be adequate reserves of crushed rock to
that are projected to be key areas of growth.
meet future demand but the distribution is uneven. Crushed
rock is more likely to move across regional boundaries into
There remains considerable uncertainty about the future of the
areas of low supply.
RAWPs. RAWPs have proved successful in administering and
managing their respective regional reserve levels and provide
The construction industry has witnessed a sharp decline
both timely and accurate data which forms the base for the
over the last two years, in line with the economic downturn.
calculation of future supply requirements. It is understood that
Landbank figures have been adjusted to take account of
the RAWPs will continue until March 2011 after which time the
a lower demand for primary aggregate and in some cases
future is uncertain. The loss of the RAWPs, coupled with the
have been inflated. There is concern from the industry that
loss of regional policy and guidance, would create considerable
permitted sand and gravel reserves are insufficient to support
difficulties in assessing future needs for minerals supply.
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Penman
Head of Research
DD: 01604 608203
E: [email protected]
Paul Malam
Partner
DD: 01939 210118
E: [email protected]
Paul Clarke
Senior Associate
DD: 01939 210119
E: [email protected]
Mary Davies
Minerals Surveyor
DD: 01939 210126
E: [email protected]
carterjonas.co.uk