ABSTRACT
Minerals extraction, in whatever form, whether it be deep mining or surface working, is subject to planning control under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1990, with the exception of the classes set out in the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) 1995. Unlike other land use allocations, minerals by their very nature can only be worked where they are found to exist in sufficient quantity, quality, and at a depth which will make it economic to extract the material. This presents a problem for the planning authorities in determining where these conditions exist, and as a result, the authorities frequently have to rely upon the extraction industries to provide the necessary information. Supply and demand for low value materials is frequently on a regional basis, and this has led to the setting up of regional working parties to deal with particular minerals.
