Quarry Design Hbook Pre-pub Draft[1]

8/20/2019 Quarry Design Hbook Pre-pub Draft[1]

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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKFINAL REPORT ON PROJECT SAMP3.E2

SAMP3.E2 - Final report. Front pages and Foreword - Sept07.doc, 01/10/2007

A QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKSAMP3.E2

Final report(incorporating a pre-publication draft of

the Handbook)


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOK

CONTENTS Pre-publication draft September 2007

1

SAMP3.E2 - Contents pages - Sept07.doc, 05/10/2007

A QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOK

CONTENTS

FINAL REPORT – SAMP3.E2

The project and its evolutionThe authors

Acknowledgements

Invitation to comment

Feedback received from reviewers of the consultation draft

FOREWORDTHE NEED FOR QUARRY DESIGN...................................................................... 2

THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK .................................................................. 3

STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS ............................................................................ 3

FURTHER INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS ........................................................... 5

PART I THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY

DESIGN

CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING THE PLANNING AND

LICENSING PROCESS1.1 Who may apply for planning permission? ............................ 1-3

1.2 What are the essential elements of a planningapplication?.......................................................................... 1-3

1.3 What are the main relevant Acts of Parliament?.................. 1-4

1.3.1 Town and Country Planning Act 1990................... 1-41.3.2 Planning and Compensation Act 1991.................. 1-41.3.3 The Environment Act 1995.................................... 1-51.3.4 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act

2004...................................................................... 1-5

1.4 What are the different types of planningapplication?.......................................................................... 1-6

1.5 When will an environmental impact statement berequired as part of a planning application? .......................... 1-7

1.5.1 Screening Opinions............................................... 1-71.5.2 Scoping Opinions.................................................. 1-71.5.3 The Environmental Statement............................... 1-9

1.6 Who is consulted on the application?................................... 1-9

1.7 Determination of the application........................................... 1-9


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Pre-publication draft September 2007 CONTENTS

2


1.7.1 The Appeal Process.............................................. 1-91.7.2 Called in/Recovered Application ......................... 1-10

1.8 Planning Permissions ........................................................ 1-10

1.8.1 Planning Conditions ............................................ 1-101.8.2 Planning Agreements and Obligations ................ 1-10

1.9 Licences, permits and regulatory compliancerequired for the operation of a quarry................................. 1-11

1.10 Other Planning Issues........................................................ 1-13

1.10.1 Enforcement........................................................ 1-131.10.2 Certificate of Lawfulness for an Existing

Use or Development (CLEUD)............................ 1-13

CHAPTER 2 PRIMARY INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS2.1 THE NEED FOR PRIMARY INFORMATION....................... 2-2

2.2 MINIMUM LAND REQUIREMENTS .................................... 2-2

2.3 LEGAL ................................................................................. 2-3

2.4 PLANNING........................................................................... 2-3

2.5 SITE..................................................................................... 2-4

2.6 ENVIRONMENTAL.............................................................. 2-5

2.7 SAFETY............................................................................... 2-6

2.8 COMMERCIAL/FINANCIAL................................................. 2-6

CHAPTER 3 SITE SELECTION

3.1 DEMAND/NEED .................................................................. 3-23.2 NEW SITES/EXTENSIONS ................................................. 3-2

3.3 INVESTIGATIONS & ASSESSMENTS................................ 3-2

3.4 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES ............................. 3-2

3.5 COMPANY STRATEGY ...................................................... 3-4

3.6 QUARRY DESIGN PROCESS ............................................ 3-4


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3


PART II THE QUARRY DESIGN PROCESS

CHAPTER 4 DESIGN OF THE OPERATION AND ITS

RESTORATION

4.1 ESTABLISHING THE DESIGN BRIEF ................................ 4-74.1.1 Objectives ............................................................. 4-74.1.2 Technical requirements......................................... 4-84.1.3 Information requirements ...................................... 4-84.1.4 Deliverables .......................................................... 4-8

4.2 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, OPTION SELECTIONAND FEASIBILITY STUDY................................................ 4-11

4.2.1 Objectives ........................................................... 4-114.2.2 Design requirements ........................................... 4-134.2.3 Information requirements .................................... 4-134.2.4 Deliverables ........................................................ 4-13

4.3 DESIGN OF THE FINAL VOID ANDRESTORATION SCHEME................................................. 4-18


4.4 DESIGN OF PHASED WORKING ANDRESTORATION SCHEME................................................. 4-22

4.4.1 Objectives ........................................................... 4-224.4.2 Design requirements ........................................... 4-22

4.4.3 Information requirements .................................... 4-234.4.4 Deliverables ........................................................ 4-23

4.5 PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OFPLANNING APPLICATION................................................ 4-26


4.6 PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS ............................ 4-27

4.6.1 Objectives ........................................................... 4-27

4.6.2 Design requirements ........................................... 4-274.6.3 Information requirements .................................... 4-274.6.4 Deliverables ........................................................ 4-27


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4


CHAPTER 5 INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AND

INVESTIGATIONS5.1 INFORMATION TO SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT

OF THE BRIEF .................................................................... 5-4

5.2 SITE PLAN........................................................................... 5-6

Why?..................................................................... 5-6What & How? ........................................................ 5-6Who?..................................................................... 5-6Input into the design process ................................ 5-6Design of the operation and its restoration............................. 5-6Environmental assessment..................................................... 5-7Safety ...................................................................................... 5-7Costs and benefits .................................................................. 5-7

5.3 GEOLOGY........................................................................... 5-9

Why?..................................................................... 5-9What & How? ........................................................ 5-9Desk Study.............................................................................. 5-9Design and notification of site Investigation............................ 5-9Investigation............................................................................ 5-9Reporting............................................................................... 5-10

Who?................................................................... 5-10Input into the design process .............................. 5-10Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-10Environmental assessment................................................... 5-11Safety .................................................................................... 5-11Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-11

5.4 GEOCONSERVATION ...................................................... 5-12

Why?................................................................... 5-12What & How? ...................................................... 5-12Who?................................................................... 5-12Input into the design process .............................. 5-12Environmental assessment................................................... 5-13Safety .................................................................................... 5-13Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-13

5.5 SURFACE WATER............................................................ 5-14

Why?................................................................... 5-14What and how? ................................................... 5-14Background desk study......................................................... 5-14Site Investigations................................................................. 5-15Analysis and consultations.................................................... 5-15


5.6 GROUNDWATER.............................................................. 5-18

Why?................................................................... 5-18What & How? ...................................................... 5-18Desk study. ........................................................................... 5-18


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5


Baseline investigations ........................................................ 5-18Conceptual modelling............................................................ 5-19Further site investigations ..................................................... 5-19

Who?................................................................... 5-19Input into the design process .............................. 5-19Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-19Environmental assessment................................................... 5-19

Safety .................................................................................... 5-19Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-20

5.7 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL............................................... 5-21

Why?................................................................... 5-21What & How? ...................................................... 5-21Background desk study......................................................... 5-21Site visits and investigations................................................. 5-21

Who?................................................................... 5-22Input into the design process ................................................ 5-22Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-22Environmental assessment................................................... 5-23Safety .................................................................................... 5-23

Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-235.8 ARCHAEOLOGY/CULTURAL HERITAGE ........................ 5-24



5.9 TRAFFIC............................................................................ 5-27

Why?................................................................... 5-27What & How? ...................................................... 5-27Background desk study......................................................... 5-27Site/surrounding investigation............................................... 5-27


5.10 ECOLOGY......................................................................... 5-30


Who?................................................................... 5-31Input into the design process .............................. 5-31Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-31Environmental assessment................................................... 5-31Safety .................................................................................... 5-31


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6


Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-31

5.11 SOILS ................................................................................ 5-33

Why?................................................................... 5-33What & How? ...................................................... 5-33Who?................................................................... 5-33

Input into the design process .............................. 5-33Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-33Environmental assessment................................................... 5-33Safety .................................................................................... 5-33Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-33

5.12 AIR QUALITY..................................................................... 5-34

Why?................................................................... 5-34What & How? ...................................................... 5-34Who?................................................................... 5-34Input into the design process .............................. 5-34Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-34Environmental assessment................................................... 5-34Safety .................................................................................... 5-34Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-34

5.13 NOISE AND VIBRATION................................................... 5-35

Why?................................................................... 5-35What & How? ...................................................... 5-35Who?................................................................... 5-35Input into the design process .............................. 5-35Design of the operation and its restoration........................... 5-35Environmental assessment................................................... 5-35Safety .................................................................................... 5-35Costs and benefits ................................................................ 5-35

CHAPTER 6 DESIGN RISK ASSESSMENT6.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 6-2

6.1.1 Elements of design risk assessment..................... 6-26.1.2 Key terms.............................................................. 6-36.1.3 Environmental, operational and

commercial risks ................................................... 6-4

6.2 RISK ASSESSMENT ........................................................... 6-5

6.2.1 Description of action.............................................. 6-66.2.2 Hazard identification.............................................. 6-66.2.3 Identification of consequences.............................. 6-8

6.2.4 Estimation of the magnitude ofconsequences....................................................... 6-8

6.2.5 Magnitude of consequences ................................. 6-9Magnitude of environmental consequences ........................... 6-9Magnitude of operational consequences.............................. 6-10Magnitude of commercial consequences ............................. 6-11

6.2.6 Estimation of the probability ofconsequences..................................................... 6-12

6.2.7 Risk estimation.................................................... 6-12


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7


6.2.8 Risk evaluation....................................................... 136.2.9 Risk perception ...................................................... 146.2.10 Reviewing the process ........................................... 15

6.3 DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A RISKREGISTER............................................................................ 16

PART III DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL

QUARRY DESIGN

CHAPTER 7 CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION7.1 CONSULTATION................................................................. 7-2

7.1.1 Stakeholder groups............................................... 7-2Local, Regional and National Government ............................. 7-2Statutory Consultees............................................................... 7-2Non statutory consultees ........................................................ 7-4Public consultees .................................................................... 7-4

7.1.2 Existing methods of public Consultation inthe Aggregates Industry ........................................ 7-5Liaison groups:........................................................................ 7-5Public exhibitions: ................................................................... 7-5Quarry open days:................................................................... 7-6Public meetings:...................................................................... 7-6

7.1.3 Mineral Planning application decisionsand public consultation.......................................... 7-7Stakeholder workshops........................................................... 7-7Issues and Concerns of Stakeholders .................................... 7-7

7.1.4 Successful consultation and engagementin the Quarry Design process................................ 7-8

7.2 COMMUNICATION.............................................................. 7-87.2.1 Graphic Communication........................................ 7-9

Graphical visualisation techniques.......................................... 7-9Spatial and Geographic Information Systems (SIS& GIS) ................................................................................... 7-11

7.2.2 Written Communication....................................... 7-117.2.3 Verbal communication......................................... 7-12

CHAPTER 8 MANAGING THE QUARRY DESIGN PROCESS8.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 8-2

8.2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT.................................................. 8-2

8.2.1 Scope management .............................................. 8-38.2.2 Time management ................................................ 8-38.2.3 Cost resource management .................................. 8-38.2.4 Quality management ............................................. 8-48.2.5 Human resources management ............................ 8-48.2.6 Communications management.............................. 8-58.2.7 Risk Management ................................................. 8-58.2.8 Procurement management.................................... 8-6


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8


8.3 SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ................................................. 8-6

8.3.1 Administration ....................................................... 8-68.3.2 Data Storage and retrieval .................................... 8-78.3.3 Information Technology (IT) .................................. 8-78.3.4 Health & Safety ..................................................... 8-78.3.5 Operational management system ......................... 8-8

8.3.6 Quality management system................................. 8-88.3.7 Environmental management systems ................... 8-8


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A HANDBOOK ON QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOK FOR SME AGGREGATEPRODUCERS

FINAL REPORT ON ALSF PROJECT: SAMP3.E2

Project SAMP3.E2 was awarded to GWP Consultants1 in association with David Jarvis Associates Ltd

and commenced on 1st July 2005. The project completion date was 31

st March 2006.

The objectives of the project as set out in the original proposal were as follows:

• To provide practical guidance to SME aggregate producers on a staged, iterative and rationalapproach to the preparation of quarry designs at planning application stage, which genuinelyshows how the quarry will develop over time, and accurately demonstrates what itsenvironmental impacts will be. Such designs will form a realistic basis for communication ofthe proposals to other stakeholders with improved confidence on all sides that what isproposed will be implemented and that its impacts will be predictable and acceptable.

• To demonstrate to operators the clear ongoing benefits of quarry designs produced forplanning applications as a framework for business planning, and monitoring of environmental,health and safety and business performance when the quarry is operating.

• To facilitate wider dissemination of the significant amount of completed ALSF supportedresearch.

These objectives have been met through the writing of A Quarry Design Handbook , a pre-publicationdraft of which forms the main body of this report, following this introduction.

The project and its evolution

The specific reference to SME aggregate producers in the title of the project was dropped early on inour work at the suggestion of our steering committee (which included SME representation), on thebasis that the project output would be useful to all aggregate operators, as well as to a range of otherstakeholders.

The structure, content, level of detail and target audiences for the Handbook emerged over the first 6-8 months of the project through meetings with our steering committee and consultation sessions toseek the views of a range of stakeholders as to what they would find useful in terms of content andpresentation.

It was originally intended that the Handbook would aim to provide an introduction and a ‘portal’ tomore detailed information and guidance published elsewhere. In the course of our backgroundresearch and consultation, however, we concluded that there was a need for more detail than we hadoriginally envisaged in the project proposal. What has emerged is a substantial piece of work in threemain sections:

• The Handbook itself in 8 chapters, organised into three parts covering: The context for quarrydesign; The quarry design process; and Delivering successful quarry design.

• A ‘dynamic bibliography’ of references and background reading material. This is a searchabledatabase which includes all the ALSF projects completed and in progress at the time ofwriting, as well as other references relevant to quarry design. In the published version of theHandbook, this database and the text will be inter-linked through hyperlinks.

• A collection of checklists, flowcharts, examples and other materials to support the Handbook

and provide more detailed information and guidance where this does not exist in otherpublished or publicly available material.

Of the 8 chapters of the Handbook, chapters 1 to 3, 7and 8 are complete in a pre-publication formatthat has benefited from peer review in a consultation process, which took place in the first quarter of2006. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 (Part II of the Handbook) require more work to incorporate the feedbackand Chapters 4 and 5 need a certain amount of re-structuring. All chapters will benefit from moreillustrations. Comprehensive lists of references for each chapter and insertion of links to the dynamic

1 Formerly known as the Geoffrey Walton Practice


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bibliography and a glossary have yet to be completed2. The bibliography is included with this draft of

the Handbook and is fully functional, save that comprehensive cross referencing to chapters in theHandbook is still to be completed. The checklists, flowcharts etc in the final section of the Handbookare still under development and will not be more widely disseminated until a consultation draft of thismaterial has been issued and peer reviewed.

In this document, following this introduction to the final project report, you will find the Foreword to theHandbook. The individual chapters are presented in separate documents, and the dynamicbibliography is also presented separately.

The authors

The principal authors of the Handbook are Ruth Allington of GWP Consultants and David Jarvis ofDavid Jarvis Associates Ltd. Significant contributions were also made by other members of GWP andDJA staff, notably Dr Isobel Brown and Dr Steve Reed of GWP, and Tamsyn Howard, and FionaSharman of DJA.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all those who have contributed to this work, particularly the members of oursteering committee, those who attended our stakeholder consultation events, and those who reviewedand commented on the consultation draft

3.

Invitation to comment

The Handbook is still ‘work in progress’ and the authors would welcome comments and suggestionson any part of the Handbook as it is presented in its draft format here. We would particularly welcomedetails of publications or websites that are not included in the draft bibliography but which readersconsider would be relevant. Any further comments and suggestions received will be taken intoaccount when preparing the work for publication and dissemination.

Ruth [email protected]

David [email protected]

2 This work is being partly supported by the ALSF via MIST project MA/6/2/008: Electronic and

print publication of the Quarry Design Handbook , due for completion by 29th February 2008.

3 Some of their comments are included on the next page.


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Feedback received from reviewers of the consultation draft

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Detailed comments were also received from the mineral planning team at Somerset County Council and frommembers of GWP and DJA staff not directly involved in the preparation of the Handbook. The consultation draftwas circulated to some 30 individuals and bodies, all of whom will be invited to comment on Part IV material.


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKFOREWORD Pre-publication draft September 2007

1SAMP3.E2 - Final report. Front pages and Foreword - Sept07.doc, 01/10/2007

FOREWORD

The project and its evolution..................................................................................................2

The authors ...........................................................................................................................3

Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................................3

Invitation to comment ............................................................................................................3

Feedback received from reviewers of the consultation draft .............................. ....................4

THE NEED FOR QUARRY DESIGN.....................................................................................2

THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK .................................................................................3

STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS ...........................................................................................3

FURTHER INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS...........................................................................5


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKPre-publication draft September 2007 FOREWORD


FOREWORD

THE NEED FOR QUARRY DESIGN

This Handbook is about the design of new quarries, quarry extensions or revised quarry workingschemes. The primary objectives of good quarry design are the safe, efficient and profitableextraction of the maximum usable material from the available land whilst causing the minimum

environmental disturbance and resulting in beneficial final restoration and land-uses. The essentialbalance and interaction between these objectives is illustrated in Figure 1.

Quarry design is not just a restricted technical process undertaken by engineers, planning specialistsor geologists; it is an inclusive and iterative process undertaken by a team of people covering a widerange of technical and commercial disciplines. Successful quarry designs are produced by carefullychosen and well managed teams and involve or take account of the views and requirements of allrelevant interested and affected parties (stakeholders).

Figure 1

COMMERCIAL

OBJECTIVESQuarry designs must be capable

of being costed and theirviability and commercial

attractiveness assessed andoptimised as part of business

planning and management.

This can be achieved throughfinancial risk-benefit assessment,

based on cash flow modelling thatallows for design assumptions tobe varied so that the sensitivity of

those assumptions may beassessed.

SAFETY &OPERATIONALEFFICIENCYA quarry design must be capableof being practicallyimplemented, with inherentlysafe and secure operations andstructures (including afterclosure).

This can be achieved throughdesign that delivers compliancewith appropriate regulations andbest practice and is based on

adequate reliable information andanalysis.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTA new quarry, quarry extension or revised working scheme

should be designed to cause the minimum ofenvironmental harm throughout its operational life and on

closure. The design should aim to deliver effectiveenvironmental management and compliance at all

operational stages and environmentally sustainable finalrestoration and after-use schemes.

This can be achieved through designs that include

environmental assessment as an integral activity and giverise to operating plans that deliver compliance with

appropriate regulations, legislation and best practice.

QUARRYDESIGN

PROCESS


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Failure to achieve a proper balance of the broad objectives of quarry design, or failure to communicatethis balance to stakeholders, even if it is achieved, benefits no-one. An incomplete or ill-considereddesign may lead to unacceptable environmental impacts, nuisance or danger to the public, danger tothe workforce, or additional monitoring costs for the operator and Regulators. These all translate intocost, litigation risk, and loss of profit or asset value to the operator/landowner. Critically, quarrydesigns that do not achieve this balance when implemented (or are sound but poorly communicated tostakeholders) can give rise to long term damage to an operator’s or landowner’s reputation, either

locally or with its customers. This may prejudice its chances of success in future planning applicationsor proposed amendments to existing permissions by introducing unnecessary and distracting conflictwith local and wider communities. Failure to maximise extraction from a quarry (within acceptablesafety and environmental limits) leads to the need for more quarries or unnecessary pressure on othersources of minerals. Therefore good design is an essential step towards sustainability.

This Handbook is about achieving the balance depicted in Figure 1. In order to do this, it is importantto understand both the context for design and the design process. These are described in Parts Iand II and the delivery of successful design is described in Part III.

Quarry design begins with the selection of a site for development and typically culminates in aplanning application. If successful, a good quality quarry design will support the implementation of thepermission. However, it is neither a linear process nor a process that necessarily includes all thestages described in this Handbook. A wide range of specialist inputs is involved and the processbenefits from frequent iteration through the various stages as well as effective consultation and

scrutiny from stakeholders throughout.

THE PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK

The Handbook sets out to provide a source of reference and guidance to those involved in designingand operating quarries. In particular, it should assist them in preparing good quality mineral planningapplications for new and extension sites, which also incorporate the requirements of the QuarriesRegulations, 1999 and demonstrate effective mitigation of environmental impacts. It also aims toassist and inform those who scrutinise planning applications (whether in an official or a privatecapacity) in understanding more about the process and its outcomes. It is aimed at a wide readershipincluding members of the public, quarry operators, Planning Authorities (members and officers),landowners, environmental and health and safety regulators and consultants.

In this way, the Handbook should assist in promoting common understanding of the process of quarry

design and provide support to effective communication and negotiation between all relevantstakeholder groups. In order to be accessible to a wide range of readers, it avoids, wherever possible,technical jargon and defines terms where these have to be used.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS

The Handbook is structured to allow it to be used in a number of ways: as a readable generalintroduction; as a source of guidance on specific techniques or aspects of quarry design; or as areference source to lead the reader to other sources of information and advice (e.g. primarylegislation, regulation, guidance, data, and technical and scientific reports, papers and books). It isstructured to allow accessible presentation in a variety of paper, electronic and combined formats.

The Handbook follows the entire design process from site selection and initial concept, throughdetailed development of the proposals and application for planning permission, to preparation for

implementation once planning permission has been obtained. Funding for the project that has led tothe production of this Handbook came from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF).Accordingly, the Handbook is specifically directed towards aggregate quarrying, both crushed rockand sand and gravel, drawing distinctions where appropriate. However, although the examples aredrawn from the aggregates industry, all of the principles and many of the specific elements ofguidance and sources of information are generally applicable to all types of mineral working. Theguidance is relevant to extensions to existing operations as well as to new quarries on greenfield sites.It is also relevant to revisions of existing quarry designs and operating plans that may be required torespond to previously unexpected commercial, operational, geological, environmental, planning orlicensing conditions (or combinations) that may arise.


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKPre-publication draft September 2007 FOREWORD


When fully complete, the Handbook will be published in five parts:

PART I THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY DESIGNThis section of the Handbook provides an introduction to the planning and licensing process inEngland and Wales (Chapter 1), sets out primary information requirements (Chapter 2) anddescribes how primary information is used alongside the planning process for site selection(Chapter 3).

PART II THE QUARRY DESIGN PROCESSPart II is the core section of the Handbook and examines the stages of operational design andindividual design elements appropriate at each stage (Chapter 4) and details the informationrequirements and investigations to support those design stages (Chapter 5). Explicitreference is made throughout these chapters as to the relevance of particular activities andstages in the process to achieving the essential balance between safety, commercialobjectives and environmental impact. Chapter 6 addresses the assessment, throughout thedesign process, of operational (especially safety), commercial and environmental risks.

There are extensive cross references made between individual design elements and to theextensive wealth of data, research, publications, reports and case studies available generally(particularly, but not exclusively, through the ALSF programme). This cross-referencing toexternal sources allows the Handbook to remain a readable and concise sequentialdescription of the process and relevant matters without being swamped in specific detail.Anyone requiring this detail, however, is provided with a range of more specific additional

sources and references. In addition to the references and bibliography, Chapters 4, 5 and 6are supported by a number of appendices, providing the reader with flowcharts, checklists andguidance on specific activities.

PART III DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL QUARRY DESIGN Part III provides introductions to consultation and communication and the need formanagement of the quarry design process. Consultation and, in particular, stakeholderconsultation, is of prime importance in reducing misunderstanding between stakeholders andproviding a basis for objections and questions to be considered and addressed at all stages,from pre-application consultations through the formal planning process and throughout theoperational life of the site. Consultation cannot be effective unless proposals have beenclearly communicated and these issues are covered together in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 stresses the importance of management of the design process in delivering proposals that arelikely to succeed in the planning system and deliver commercially successful operations thatare safe, efficient and limit environmental harm.

PART IV DYNAMIC BIBLIOGRAPHYWhen fully complete and prepared for publication, each chapter will include some referencesand suggestions for further reading as well as references to relevant legislation andregulation. Our approach has been to limit the number of references within the text so as notto chop it up. However, we have sought to provide ‘signposts’ to sources of more detailedinformation or guidance. The bibliography, which is provided electronically, includes all thetext references and, in addition, a full listing of ALSF research completed or in progress at thetime of writing, together with legislation and regulation and other references relevant to quarrydesign. The bibliography is presented as a database, which can be searched and reportedvia key words/topics and relevance to Handbook chapters as well as more conventionally byyear, author, title etc .

PART V CHECKLISTS, FLOWCHARTS, EXAMPLES AND OTHER TOOLS TO SUPPORT

PARTS I-IIIThe materials in Part V are provided in electronic format to support the individual chapters. Asa minimum they should assist with project planning and management, and provide referencematerial and guidance to support practitioners and therefore avoid abortive work. At theirmost effective, when used with the rest of this Handbook, it is hoped that they will provide apathway to the safe, efficient and profitable extraction of mineral with the least environmentalharm.

NOT INCLUDEDWITH THISDRAFT

INCLUDEDWITH THISDRAFT

PRE-PUBLICATIONDRAFT

PRE-PUBLICATION

DRAFT

CHAPTERS 4AND 5 AREWORKINGDRAFTS,CHAPTER 6 ISA PRE-PUBLICATIONDRAFT


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FURTHER INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS

For readers with no previous experience of quarrying, excellent graphical and introductory materialscan be found at the websites listed below (some of which are referenced in this Handbook):

http://www.goodquarry.co.uk

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/free_downloads/home.html (especially the Mineral Matters downloads)

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/quarryrestoration.html

http://www.virtualquarry.co.uk/ (aimed at young people)

http://www.qpa.org/cinema.htm

end


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOK PART I: THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY DESIGNPre-publication draft September 2007 INTRODUCTION

I-1SAMP3.E2 - Part I front pages - Sept07.doc, 01/10/2007

PART I

THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY DESIGN

CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING THE PLANNING ANDLICENSING PROCESS

CHAPTER 2 PRIMARY INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

CHAPTER 3 SITE SELECTION


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PART I: THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY DESIGN QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKINTRODUCTION Pre-publication draft September 2007


The Handbook begins (Part I) with three chapters setting the context for quarry design:

Chapter 1 Understanding the planning and licensing processChapter 2 Primary information requirementsChapter 3 Site selection

No site may be operated without planning permission and relevant licences. The preparation of amineral planning application provides the over-arching context for this Handbook.


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOK PART I: THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY DESIGNPre-publication draft September 2007 INTRODUCTION


The planning and licensing process

The planning/licensing process has three main elements:

• submission of a planning application for mineral development (often accompanied by anEnvironmental Statement),

• securing a planning permission and all necessary operating licences, and

• operating in accordance with the planning permission, the licences and permits obtained and allrelevant statutory requirements and regulations (especially the Health and Safety at Work Act1974 and the Quarries Regulations 1999).

The planning process operates against a background, and within a framework, of national, regional,and local levels of planning policies, which may constrain or promote development of quarries in ageneral or specific way. At the site-specific level, the planning process relies on an effective designprocess to:

• Ensure that the planning application and environmental statement communicate the proposalseffectively;

• Ensure that the proposals stand up to scrutiny on environmental, commercial and safety grounds;and

• Ensure that, if successful, the proposals can be implemented as designed and presented withinthe planning application and as regulated by planning conditions and other licences, permits,permissions and all relevant regulations and statutory requirements that apply to the site.

Key considerations during the planning process are:

• the possibility of a planning appeal against refusal;

• the range of planning conditions that may be imposed and whether they are deliverable;

• environmental licensing requirements and whether they can be achieved by the permitteddevelopment; and

• compliance with regulations and statutory requirements and whether that compliance can beachieved through implementation of the permission.

The relationship between the planning and design processes provides the focus for effectivecommunication and iteration within the planning and design team and also for effective engagementwith stakeholders, whose views arising from consultation at various stages of the process may giverise to amendments to the proposals.

Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to the planning and licensing process, as background to thelater chapters of the Handbook.

Primary information requirements

The establishment of adequate primary information upon which to base first site selection and, later,the quarry design itself is vital to successful quarry design. Adequate information is also essential tothe assessment (environmental, commercial and safety) of the quarry design at all stages of itsevolution. If the design process commences with inadequate, outdated or missing primary

information, this almost invariably leads to delays in the planning process while additional informationis sought and supplied. There are seven key areas where collection and primary analysis ofinformation is always required and increasing levels of detail are needed as the process moves fromsite selection to detailed design:

• Establishing the minimum land requirements – limits of recoverable mineral resources andareas required for associated activities such as processing, stocks of finished products, access,and on-site disposal of quarry or process waste.

• Establishing the legal context – ownership and control of the land etc.

• Establishing the planning context – history, status and planning cycles etc.


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PART I: THE CONTEXT FOR QUARRY DESIGN QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKINTRODUCTION Pre-publication draft September 2007


• Site description – ground surface contours, geological, geochemical, geotechnical,hydrogeological, hydrological information and the creation of reliable 3D models from primaryanalysis of this information.

• Identification of environmental drivers – matters that will have a major effect on design, such asspace needed for construction of anti-pollution measures (e.g. settlement lagoons), the presenceof ecology or archaeology on which there might be an impact, or proximity to stakeholders whomay be affected by noise, dust, visual impact or other nuisance.

• Identification of safety drivers – identification of geotechnical or operational settings relevant tothe deposit or its location that influence the creation of inherently safe designs for the workforceand third parties.

• Establishing the commercial/financial context – the market, competition, establishment costsetc.

Successful quarry design depends on effective identification and interpretation of primary informationrelevant to the project in all of these areas. It also depends upon frequent review of all of thesematters as the design proceeds.

Site selection

The quarry design process often begins with the selection of a site and its promotion through the

planning and licensing process. The key to this starting point is the mineral landbank maintained bythe mineral planning authority. In the case of sand and gravel, this should normally be for 7 years ofproduction. Approaches to landbank requirements for crushed rock vary from county to county, basedon the Regional apportionment for crushed rock. Once the landbank drops below the appropriatethreshold, the mineral planning authority must permit additional reserves of mineral. These willnormally be drawn from sites identified in the plan/development framework documents or, where nosuch sites have come forward, from sites proposed by landowners/mineral operators.

For their part, the landowners/mineral operators must identify a commercial need for the mineral andeither acquire/control sites already permitted, or investigate new sites ready for promotion into theplan/development framework document.

Site selection, therefore, requires both an appreciation of what may be permitted through the planningand licensing system (and where) and sufficient primary information (Chapter 2) to establish whatdrivers and constraints exist at particular sites (resources/reserves, relationship to markets,environmental constraints and opportunities etc ). When a site has been selected by a developer, anda decision has been taken to apply for planning permission for a new quarry or quarry extension,understanding and negotiating the planning and licensing process (Chapter 1) becomes an integralpart of, and a key driver for, the design process, which is covered in Part II.


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QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOK PART IPre-publication draft September 2007 CHAPTER 1

1-1SAMP3.E2 - Chapter 1 - Sept07.doc, 01/10/2007

CHAPTER 1UNDERSTANDING THE PLANNING AND LICENSING PROCESS

1.1

Who may apply for planning permission?................................................................. 3

1.2

What are the essential elements of a planning application?..................................... 3

1.3

What are the main relevant Acts of Parliament? ...................................................... 4

1.3.1

Town and Country Planning Act 1990......................................... 4

1.3.2 Planning and Compensation Act 1991........................................ 4 1.3.3

The Environment Act 1995........................................................... 5

1.3.4

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004........................... 5

1.4

What are the different types of planning application?............................................... 6

1.5

When will an environmental impact statement be required as part of aplanning application? ............................................................................................... 7

1.5.1

Screening Opinions...................................................................... 7

1.5.2

Scoping Opinions......................................................................... 7 1.5.3

The Environmental Statement ..................................................... 9

1.6

Who is consulted on the application?....................................................................... 9

1.7

Determination of the application............................................................................... 9

1.7.1

The Appeal Process ..................................................................... 9

1.7.2

Called in/Recovered Application............................................... 10

1.8

Planning Permissions ............................................................................................ 10

1.8.1

Planning Conditions................................................................... 10

1.8.2 Planning Agreements and Obligations ..................................... 10

1.9

Licences, permits and regulatory compliance required for the operation of aquarry .................................................................................................................... 11

1.10

Other Planning Issues............................................................................................ 13

1.10.1

Enforcement ............................................................................... 13

1.10.2

Certificate of Lawfulness for an Existing Use orDevelopment (CLEUD)............................................................... 13


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PART I QUARRY DESIGN HANDBOOKCHAPTER 1 Pre-publication draft, September 2007


Figure 1-1 simplified flow diagram of the planning application process


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1 UNDERSTANDING THE PLANNING AND LICENSING PROCESS

Mineral extraction, processing and transportation cannot take place without appropriate planningpermissions and licences. This makes it of fundamental importance that the quarry design teamunderstands the planning context. In particular, the team needs an awareness of:

• The role of Government, Authorities and Statutory Consultees

• The relevant Acts of Parliament and other Planning Legislation

• Government Planning, Mineral and other Policy Guidance

• The role of the Regions, Counties and Districts/Boroughs etc.

• The environmental assessment rules, regulations and process

• The planning application process

• The appeal process

• The licence/permit application process

These matters are well covered in other texts and relevant legislation (see bibliography, Part IV, andselected references and suggestions for further reading at the end of this chapter). This chapter doesnot seek to duplicate or summarise this body of material. Reference is made, however, to provide ageneral introduction to the stages in applying for a mineral planning permission, the ways in whichother interested parties may participate, challenge and be informed and options available for appealsand variations.

When undertaking new development, an application must be made to the Local Planning Authority.For mineral related applications, i.e. the winning and working of minerals or ancillary operations (notthose specifically located on industrial estates e.g. Concrete Batching Plants) the relevant Authoritywill be the Mineral Planning Authority (i.e. the County Council or the Unitary Development Authority).

The process described below is illustrated in Figure 1-1.

1.1 Who may apply for planning permission?

Anyone can apply for planning permission whether they have a legal interest in the land or not.

1.2 What are the essential elements of a planning application?

Whilst there is no prescribed form for planning applications, it is best to use the forms provided by thePlanning Authority from which permission is being sought. Further general information may be foundvia the Planning Portal (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/). These forms will seek to establish basicinformation about the development proposed. It is good practice to provide additional information insupport of the application in the form of plans and drawings and a supporting statement describing theproposals in detail. Many Planning Authorities provide checklists and examples to assist applicantsand some links are provided in the bibliography in Part IV and examples are given in Part V. If aPlanning Authority considers that insufficient information has been provided to it for the purpose ofevaluating and determining the application, it can require further information to be made availablebefore commencing the process. Any detail or proposal that is provided with a planning application (orsubsequently in the course of the consultation and determination stages) becomes part of the planning

permission if the application is granted unless it has been amended or superseded by requirements ofthe planning permission (conditions) or specifically withdrawn from the proposal. Thus, a phasedworking and restoration scheme that is approved as part of a planning application becomes theapproved scheme of working and restoration against which the planning permission will be monitoredin the future by the Planning Authority.

The application will need to be accompanied by the appropriate Certificates. These confirm that theapplicant or its agent has served notice on those with an interest in the property:


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• Landowner – where the applicant does not have the freehold interest in the whole of theapplication site.

• Tenant – with an unexpired term of more than 7 years

• Tenant of an agricultural holding

It will also need to be accompanied by the appropriate planning application fee. For mineral extraction

applications the current scale of fees, effective from 1 April 2005 is:a) in the case of operations for working of minerals

(i) where the site area does not exceed 15 hectares, £135 for each0.1 hectare of the site area;

(ii) where the site area exceeds 15 hectares, £20,250, and anadditional £80 for each 0.1 hectares in excess of 15 hectaressubject to a maximum in total of £50,000

9. The carrying out of any operationsnot coming within any of the abovecategories

b) in other cases £135 for each 0.1 hectares of the site area subject to amaximum of £1,350

In some cases the application will also need to be supported by an Environmental Statement. This isdiscussed in more detail below.

1.3 What are the main relevant Acts of Parliament?

1.3.1 Town and Country Planning Act 1990

The 1990 Act consolidated the various preceding pieces of legislation. The key elements of the Actfrom a mineral perspective are:

• The re-definition of the role of District and County Councils in the planning process. CountyCouncils being responsible for both the forward planning and determination of mineral relateddevelopments (often referred to as the Mineral Planning Authority or MPA).

• The introduction of the requirement to prepare Development Plans (now overtaken by the 2004Act (see below)).

• The requirement, under Section 54A of the Act, that “the determination [of the application] shall bemade in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.”

• The definition of development as being either operational development ( i.e. the carrying out ofbuilding, engineering, mining and other operations) or change in use ( i.e. the making of a materialchange in the use of any building or other land).

1.3.2 Planning and Compensation Act 1991

The Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (the 1991 Act) introduced new procedures for dealing withpermissions for the winning and working of minerals or the depositing of minerals waste, originallygranted under Interim Development Orders (IDOs). These were permissions granted after 21 July1943 and before 1 July 1948, which have been preserved by successive planning Acts as validplanning permissions.

Unlike permissions issued since the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 (the 1947 Act), there wasno requirement to register these permissions, so records were sparse and imprecise, with planningauthorities and other interested parties not knowing where permissions existed. Because they werenot registered, long dormant workings could also be re-activated without warning. In addition, existingworkings could be subject to few, if any, conditions governing the operation of the quarry or itsrestoration. In some cases, there were large, unworked, extensions to existing workings covered bythese permissions, which if worked could have significant adverse impacts on the environment andamenity.


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Under the 1991 Act, holders of IDO permissions had to register them with the MPA and, subsequently,to submit a scheme of operating and restoration conditions for the Authority's approval. For dormantsites (those not substantially worked between 1 May 1989 and 30 April 1991) the scheme ofconditions must be approved prior to the recommencement of operations. For active sites, thescheme of conditions was required to be submitted within 12 months of registration, unless a longertimescale had been agreed within the MPA.

At the current time most, if not, all IDO permissions will have been reviewed.

A key feature of the review provisions of the 1991 Act is that it gave opportunities for re-design ofquarries to which the IDO permissions related.

For further information on the IDO process make reference to MPG8.

1.3.3 The Environment Act 1995

The Environment Act 1995 (the 1995 Act) went a step further than the 1991 Act in considering allpermissions from 1948 to the present. Under the requirements of the 1995 Act, all mineral planningpermissions are required to be reviewed on a rolling 15 year programme (Review of Mineral PlanningPermissions or (ROMP)) in order to ensure that modern conditions of working and restoration can beapplied to all operations.

Under the 1995 Act, old mineral planning permissions were defined as either:

• Dormant

• Active Phase I

• Active Phase II

A site was declared dormant by the Mineral Planning Authority if there had been no substantialmineral working during the period from 22 February 1982 to 6 June 1995. No mineral developmentmay be undertaken on dormant sites until a new scheme of conditions have been submitted to andapproved by the MPA.

An Active Phase I site is a site where either the whole or the greater part of the site is subject to aplanning permission granted between 30 June 1948 and 1 April 1969. For locations wholly or partiallywithin National Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,the definition of Active Phase I sites also included all sites with planning permissions granted since1948. For Active Phase I sites, there was a requirement to make a submission to the MPA by 31October 1998.

An Active Phase II site is a site where either the whole or the greater part of the site is subject to aplanning permission granted between 1 April 1969 and 22 February 1982. For Active Phase II sitesthere was a requirement to make a submission to the MPA by 31 October 2001.

For those sites with a planning permission post-dating 22 February 1982 and the reviewed Phase Iand II sites, then there is a requirement for the MPA to review the permission on a 15 year rollingprogramme.

The 1995 Act cites certain circumstances under which the MPA would be liable to pay compensation ifthe imposition of new conditions adversely affects the viability of the operation.

For further information on the ROMP process make reference to MPG14.

1.3.4 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) reforms the planning system andaims to improve and speed up the process.

The 2004 Act has resulted in a change to the way in which “forward planning” is undertaken.Previously there was the Development Plan, to which all development must accord. This Plan wasmade up of a series of documents:


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• The Structure Plan

• The District or Borough Local Plan

• The Mineral Local Plan

• The Waste Local Plan

Within Unitary Authorities, where there is only one tier of local government, the above plans were

incorporated into a single Unitary Development Plan.

As a result of the 2004 Act there have been a number of changes.

There has been a move away from the above system towards the development of Local DevelopmentDocuments (LDD), comprising the Local Development Framework (LDF). These are intended tostreamline the planning process and promote a proactive, positive approach to managingdevelopment.

Under the new system, Local Authorities, at a District and Borough level are responsible fortransferring regional policies and guidance to the local level. Prior to the 2004 Act this role wasundertaken by County Councils through their Structure Plans. The Structure Plan has been abolishedunder the new system, with the strategic planning function passing up to the Regional Planning Bodies(RPBs), which have responsibility for producing Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). The RSSs set out,

in broad terms, the requirements for each county to identify a certain level of aggregate (and othermineral) capacity in that county (i.e. the provision for future aggregates supply that each MPA shouldmaintain).

Whilst the County Council has more limited functions under the new planning system, it retainsresponsibility for:

• The determination of mineral planning applications and their monitoring and control;

• Maintenance of the mineral landbanks; and

• Preparation of the Mineral and Waste Local Development Framework Documents.

1.4 What are the different types of planning application?

In general, a range of planning applications, and therefore planning permissions, can be applied forand subsequently granted:

• Full

• Outline

• Reserve Matters

• Variation of Condition

• Retrospective

As the name would suggest, an application for full planning permission seeks permission for thedevelopment in totality. It is this form of application that is used for mineral extraction.

An outline application is only available for built development and seeks to establish the principle oracceptability of that development. The application will not be as comprehensive as a full applicationand will leave various matters for further consideration. This type of application is not available formineral developments, although such an application may be made for a new or alternative use of anestablished minerals site (e.g. built after-use).

An application for the determination of reserve matters follows from the grant of outline permission andcomprises the submission of further detailed information on matters such as siting, design, externalappearance, means of access and landscaping. Again this only applies to built development.


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An application for the variation of a planning condition or set of conditions is made under Section 73 ofthe 1990 Act and seeks permission for the development of land without compliance with conditionspreviously attached to the permission. As a result of the 2004 Act it is now not possible to make aSection 73 application to extend the life of a permission, this applies both to the period in which thedevelopment must be commenced and any end date for operations.

A retrospective planning application seeks permission for a development, which has already beenundertaken. This is most commonly used to regularise extraction/tipping which has occurred outsideof the permitted area. This is an undesirable mechanism which attempts to put right a wrong andshould be used only as a last resort (see also the section on CLEUD below).

1.5 When will an environmental impact statement be required as part of a planningapplication?

The European Union Directive Number 85/337/EEC (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC) introducedthe requirement to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on a range ofdevelopments. This directive was implemented in the UK by the Town and Country Planning(Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999.

Under these (updated) regulations thresholds are set out in terms of the anticipated production rateand/or area of the application site, above which an EIA must be undertaken. For a mineral extractionsite, the threshold is 15 hectares or 30,000 tonnes per annum. However, where proposeddevelopment sites are in sensitive locations, lower thresholds may be applied. Where EIA isundertaken, its findings are reported in an Environmental Statement (ES), which is submitted with theplanning application (or, if required, with an application for approval of conditions under the 1991 or1995 Acts). If a mineral planning application does not meet the thresholds for EIA as a statutoryrequirement, an applicant may apply to the MPA for a screening opinion.

1.5.1 Screening Opinions

Where an applicant suspects that a development will require environmental assessment, or is unsure,it can ask the MPA for its opinion as to whether an EIA is necessary; this is known as a request for ascreening opinion. In practice, such a screening opinion should be sought for all mineral-relatedapplications. In order to secure such an opinion, the applicant must provide, as a minimum, a plan onwhich the site of the proposed development is identified and give a brief description of its nature andpurpose and of its possible effects on the environment. If the MPA fails to issue its opinion within 3

weeks, or where an applicant disagrees with it, an appeal can be made to the Secretary of State. Theopinion of the MPA is just that, an opinion, and is not binding on the MPA or the applicant. Howeverthe Secretary of State has the power to require EIA and, if the MPA’s opinion is that no EIA isnecessary, that can be challenged through Judicial Review instigated by any interested stakeholder.

Where an application is submitted without an ES, the Authority will, as part of the validation and pre-registration process, undertake an internal screening assessment with the benefit of the information inthe application itself (inevitably more detailed than that which could be submitted with a pre-applicationscreening opinion request). This happens whether or not a screening opinion has previously beengiven by the MPA to the effect that EIA is not required. This screening assessment leads to a decisionwhich, unlike the pre-application screening opinion, is binding unless successfully appealed. Thisdecision will state whether EIA should be carried out or not, and its scope if required. If an EIA isrequired by the MPA after the application has been submitted, the MPA will not begin the formalprocess of determining that application until the ES has been submitted.

1.5.2 Scoping Opinions

Where EIA is required and an ES is to be prepared as part of a planning application, the applicant canseek guidance from the MPA as to what issues should be addressed by the EIA. This is done byrequesting a scoping opinion. As with a screening opinion, outline information in respect of thedevelopment proposed and its possible effects must be supplied to the Authority. The Authority isrequired to issue its opinion within 5 weeks. If this does not happen, the applicant can apply to theSecretary of State for a decision as to what must be covered by the EIA.


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Whilst the scoping opinion is only guidance, it is a helpful mechanism for early dialogue with theplanning authority and the statutory consultees, whose views will be sought by the MPA in the courseof reaching its opinion. There is no standard format or recommended content for the supportinginformation to be provided with a request for a scoping opinion, and therefore a wide range ofapproaches is adopted. Some applicants (and/or their advisors) regard the request for a scopingopinion as an opportunity to engage in detailed early discussion with the MPA (and those it consults)as background to the preparation of a very detailed document amounting to an early draft ES. This

approach tends to limit the risk that, post application, delays will be caused by the introduction offurther elements that should be assessed. Other applicants will confine the supporting information toa general description of the proposed development. This is sometimes accompanied (often in matrixformat) with their suggestions as to what should be covered, and what is not relevant, with a brief justification for the scope proposed.

It should be noted that the Authority is not bound in any way by the comments made in any scopingopinion issued, and may extend the scope of the ES when it undertakes its internal assessment aspart of validation and pre-registration procedures. Similarly, as it develops its proposals, an applicantshould vary or extend the scope of its ES if appropriate to reflect the anticipated environmental impactof the proposals that comprise the application; this often happens in consultation with the MPA.

1.5.3 The Environmental Statement

An Environmental Statement (ES) provides a formal record of the activity of Environmental Impact

Assessment. An ES sets out the applicant’s own assessment of the likely environmental effects of aproposed development. It is prepared by the applicant (or a team of specialists appointed by theapplicant) and submitted with the planning application to which it relates. Applicants are expected toconsult those with relevant information, and public authorities which have such information in theirpossession are required to make it available to the developer (although charges will generally bemade for its provision).

There is no statutory provision as to the form of an ES, although there is now a substantial body ofguidance and recommended good practice as well as some established approaches endorsed byprofessional bodies. However, every ES should provide a full factual description of the development,and describe the 'main' or 'significant' environmental effects to which a development is likely to giverise, and there must be a summary of the likely effects in non-technical language. In many cases, onlya few of the effects identified at the scoping stage will be significant and will need to be discussed inthe ES in any great depth. Other impacts may be of little or no significance for the particular

development in question and will need only very brief treatment to indicate that their possiblerelevance has been considered. It is necessary to state where alternative approaches to developmenthave been considered and to give the main reasons for the choices made.

The information in the ES must be summarised in a non technical summary (NTS). This is particularlyimportant for ensuring that the public can comment fully on the ES. The non technical summaryshould set out the main findings of the ES in accessible plain English. It is a requirement thatdevelopers make available copies of the ES for sale to the general public, however the NTS must bemade available free of charge. The applicant should make clear where and how copies may beobtained.

1.6 Who is consulted on the application?

It is good practice to undertake consultation with interested parties in advance of the submission of a

planning application. This includes the planning authority, the statutory consultees, and members ofthe general public (including communities close to the development site and NGOs and non-statutoryconsultees with an interest in the development). At the time of writing planning authorities are not ableto charge for pre application consultation exercises, although this is under review and may change inthe future. Statutory and non-statutory consultees are defined and discussed in Chapter 7.

Once an application has been registered as valid and complete by the planning authority, it will besent out to consultees for their comments. These are likely to include the following bodies:


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• Environment Agency

• Natural England (incorporating English Nature and the Countryside Agency)

• District and Parish Councils

• Highways Agency/Highways Authority

• DEFRA

• English Heritage

• CPRE

• The Local Wildlife Trust

• The Health and Safety Executive

The application will also be advertised and the general public informed in order to allow them to makecomments on the development proposed.

1.7 Determination of the application

Under the 1990 Act, there is a requirement that a planning application is determined within 8 weeks ofvalidation. If a planning application is accompanied by an ES, this period is extended to 16 weeks. If

an Authority is unable to meet these deadlines it may request an extension to the period fordetermination of the Application. Where this does not happen, the applicant may appeal against thenon determination of the application (see below).

Most planning applications will be determined by a planning committee comprising a group of electedCouncillors, who are advised by planning officers via a report with recommendations. However, insome limited circumstances, planning officers will have been granted delegated powers to determinean application without reference to a committee.

In advance of an application “going to committee” the planning officer will prepare his or her report.This will give details of the development proposed, together with a summary of the responses receivedfrom statutory, non-statutory and other consultees, together with public responses. The planningofficer will make a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved with or withoutconditions (and with outline conditions as applicable) or whether it should be refused and give reasons

for refusal. Planning officers’ reports are publicly available prior to discussion and voting atcommittee.

While the 16 week period may be extended by agreement, it is important to maximise pre-applicationconsultation with the authority and statutory consultees before the “official” period begins, to minimisethe potential for delay.

1.7.1 The Appeal Process

An appeal can be lodged in the following circumstances:

• Against refusal of planning permission

• Against non-determination of a planning application within the statutory time period

• Against the conditions which the Planning Authority intends to attach to the permission

Only the person who made the planning permission can appeal, and an appeal must be lodged within6 months of the decision/determination of the application.

An appeal can take one of a number of forms:


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• Written Representations – This form of appeal is used in cases which are relatively simple andwhere there is little public interest. This is the least costly of the appeal routes. Written evidenceis exchanged by the parties and considered by a planning inspector (appointed by the PlanningInspectorate), who makes a decision which is binding on the parties (unless challenged legally).

• Informal Hearing – Here the inspector will lead a discussion about the points at issue in arelatively relaxed and informal atmosphere. There is an exchange of evidence before the informalhearing (similar to the written representations route), but there is no right during the hearing forany party to cross-examine the witnesses of another. Again, the planning inspector makes adecision which is binding on the parties (unless challenged legally).

• Public Inquiry – This is the most costly and formal of the appeal options, and is most applicablein complex cases attracting a great deal of public interest such as quarry applications. AnInspector will hear evidence from the appellant and the Mineral Planning Authority as well as fromany other groups, bodies or individuals who wish to register an objection. A Public Inquiry isconducted to a formal structure with parties represented by (usually) legal counsel. Witnessesproduce written proofs of evidence and are required to appear in person to be examined on thatevidence by opposing parties and by the inspector. All witnesses are subject to rules of evidenceand behaviour and there is a right for opposing parties to challenge evidence in crossexamination. Members of the public may make statements to a Public Inquiry at a time set asidefor this by the inspector but, unless registered as ‘Rule 6 parties’, they may not cross examinewitnesses for the appellant. The planning inspector presides as a neutral party in the

proceedings, although he or she may ask questions of any witness after they have finished givingtheir evidence and have been examined upon it.

1.7.2 Called in/Recovered Application

In cases where a planning authority has resolved to grant planning permission for a developmentwhich is contrary to its Development Plan, the matter has to be referred to the Secretary of State, whowill consider whether to “call in the application” or “recover the application”. The effect of “calling in” or“recovering” an application is to remove from the planning authority the right to determine theapplication and transfer the responsibility to the Secretary of State. In these circumstances, aplanning inspector will consider the application (usually in a Public Inquiry) and submit a report to theSecretary of State, who will then issue a decision based on that report.

1.8 Planning Permissions

1.8.1 Planning Conditions

Most planning permissions are granted subject to a series of conditions. These will cover issues suchas:

• Time limits – the time when certain activities may take place or must be completed (for example,the phasing and completion of restoration provisions).

• Restrictions on development rights – these limit or define the amount of additional developmentwhich may be permitted without planning application in the future.

• Design considerations – these cover materials, heights of structures, specifications etc.

• Highways – these Conditions cover works to the road network, access design, trafficlimitations/weights/hours of usage etc

• Landscaping – this covers advance, sequential and restoration works including phasing and soilstripping/storage.

• Noise etc – this provides limits and times for noise generation and defines mitigation me

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