We ran a consultation from 9 October 2012 to 11 January 2013 on the first stage of the development of the new Minerals Local Plan, with a variety of ways to get involved:

• testing your knowledge - we provided an interactive quiz on minerals for you to test your knowledge
• responding to our consultation document - we developed a Consultation leaflet which gave the background information on Minerals in Worcestershire and the reasons why having a Minerals Local Plan is so important; it included questions to help us to develop an evidence base for the minerals local plan and understand the local issues - Consultation leaflet (PDF)
• we held an open morning on Saturday 10 November 2012 so that people could pop along and find out more
• we held a workshop on Wednesday 21 November where participants were invited to help us get to grips with the big issues for minerals in Worcestershire
• requesting comments on the background documents that had been prepared so far - these set out the evidence which the Minerals Local Plan will be based on and flagged up some key issues; some of these documents were quite detailed and some inevitably more technical, but we asked anyone who felt they had the expertise to help us out by looking at the background documents we had prepared so far

We considered all of the comments we received in response to the consultation and we published a Response document which set out the comments received and details of how the council intended to take them into account in the development of the Minerals Local Plan.

• Response document (PDF)

We ran a consultation from 11 November 2013 to 31 January 2014 on the second stage of the development of the new Minerals Local Plan. This consultation included:

• a portrait of Worcestershire giving an overview of the minerals found in Worcestershire and identifying the key issues affecting the county
• a draft vision and objectives for what we think the Minerals Local Plan should aim to achieve
• a spatial strategy diagram which sets out very broadly what type of development the County Council would like where
• details of how much of each mineral we need to provide and when, including alternative methods considered in making this calculation and options for when it should be provided
• ideas about how minerals should be worked, setting out the issues to be considered when developing criteria to manage working practices
• ideas about where minerals should be worked, setting out the issues to be considered when developing location criteria for all mineral workings and identifying 'areas of search' for aggregates and an 'opportunity area' for clay
• our ideas about how mineral workings should be restored, setting out issues to be considered when developing principles for all workings and a proposed approach to identifying key considerations and restoration priorities for each individual 'area of search'
• details of how minerals should be safeguarded for future use including alternative options to consider.

We considered all of the comments we received in response to the consultation and published a Second Stage Consultation Response document which sets out the comments we received and details of how we intend to take them into account as we develop the Minerals Local Plan.

• Second Stage Consultation Response document (PDF)

There were a variety of ways to get involved:

Responding to the document

We produced a main consultation document which set out the processes we had undertaken and options we had considered to arrive at the proposed approaches.

• Main Consultation document (PDF)
• Appendices (PDF)

We understood that the main consultation document was lengthy and you may not have had the time to dedicate to reading all of it in detail. We therefore also prepared a Summary document composed of extracts from the main consultation document and having an overview of the issues the new Minerals Local Plan will address and how we used the comments you made on the first consultation on the Minerals Local Plan to develop the approaches proposed.

• Summary document (PDF)

We hoped that the summary document would give you a good overview and enough information to decide which sections you want to look at in more detail.

Finding out more

We held three open days designed for residents, Parish Councils and other interested parties to drop in and ask us any questions about the consultation.

We proposed to hold a workshop aimed specifically at minerals operators to get an industry perspective and to focus on technical issues and deliverability. We did not receive any interest in an industry workshop during the consultation period, but we will continue to engage with the minerals industry to ensure that the Minerals Local Plan will be deliverable.

We also offered to hold a workshop aimed at organisations involved in delivering and managing green infrastructure in and around the county to focus on the implementation and deliverability of our restoration aspirations. We did not receive any interest in a green infrastructure workshop during the consultation period, but we had already worked closely with a number of stakeholders in advance of the consultation and we will continue to do so.

Testing your knowledge

We provided an interactive quiz on minerals for you to test your knowledge.

Looking at the background evidence

We invited people to look at the suite of background documents we had prepared so far which set out the background evidence that the Minerals Local Plan would be based on and flagged up key issues:

• what minerals are found in Worcestershire
• how much of each mineral do we need to make provision for
• how the Minerals Local Plan will be appraised against sustainability, habitats and equality considerations
• other local issues

We have considered all of the comments we received in response to:

• call for sites 2014
• call for sites, resources and infrastructure 2015
• consultation on Background Documents 2015

We have published a Call for Sites Response document which sets out the comments we received and details of how we intend to take them into account as we develop the Minerals Local Plan.

• Call for Sites Response Document (PDF)

In the second stage consultation we intended to rely on Areas of Search as the primary means of directing where aggregate minerals development would take place. In the responses we received to the second stage consultation, you told us that this might create unacceptable levels of uncertainty, both for the minerals industry, landowners and Worcestershire's residents and businesses.

Government guidance has also been strengthened, and we have been told that we should plan for the steady and adequate supply of minerals in one or more of the following ways (in order of priority):

• Designating Specific Sites – where viable resources are known to exist, landowners are supportive of minerals development and the proposal is likely to be acceptable in planning terms; such sites may also include essential operations associated with mineral extraction
• Designating Preferred Areas, which are areas of known resources where planning permission might reasonably be anticipated; such areas may also include essential operations associated with mineral extraction and/or
• Designating Areas of Search – areas where knowledge of mineral resources may be less certain but within which planning permission may be granted, particularly if there is a potential shortfall in supply

The second stage consultation asked for broad information on mineral resources. Some sites were proposed in response but we needed to make sure we have enough information to assess all proposals on the same basis. We therefore conducted a "call for sites" in summer 2014 to give people an opportunity to give us additional information, or to put forward additional locations for us to consider including as either Specific Sites, Preferred Areas or Areas of Search in the Plan.

21 sites were proposed in response to the second stage consultation and the first call for sites: These sites have been considered through a "Deliverability Assessment" and the results have informed the development of the third stage consultation.

• Deliverability Assessment (PDF)

A second call for sites was undertaken over summer 2015.

Second call for sites, infrastructure and consultation on background evidence

We have considered all of the comments we received in response to:

• call for sites 2014
• call for sites, resources and infrastructure 2015
• consultation on Background Documents 2015

We have published a Call for Sites Response document which sets out the comments we received and details of how we intend to take them into account as we develop the Minerals Local Plan.

• Call for Sites Response Document (PDF)

Second call for sites

Following the call for locations for aggregate extraction (First call for sites) in summer 2014, a second call for sites was conducted in summer 2015. The consultation officially closed on 25 September 2015 but late submissions were accepted until 27 November 2015.

• 2nd Call for Sites Document (PDF)

This was a call for sites for non-aggregate minerals including clay, building stone, silica sand, salt and brine, coal and any other minerals. It was also a further call for sites for aggregate minerals, these being sand and gravel and crushed rock.

An interactive webtool was published alongside this showing the resource areas the council has assessed in developing the Minerals Local Plan.

We requested the following information in order to assess whether the sites proposed should be included in the Minerals Local Plan:

• A location plan, preferably on an OS map base.
• An estimate of the quantity of mineral resource. Borehole or other survey results would be helpful.
• Details of minerals operator(s) interested in working the site (an estimate of when they might expect to bring the site forward would help us to plan delivery through the plan period).
• Details of landowner(s) and confirmation that they would support mineral working. Landowners should be aware from the start of the process that sites may not be fully restored to agricultural use following extraction.
• Details of any landowner or community aspirations for the land which might influence site restoration and after-use options.
• Potential site access options (water, rail, conveyor and/or road).
• Processing options – would you expect processing plant to be provided on site, or would material be transported to another site for processing?

We have considered the sites put forward through a "Deliverability Assessment" and the results have informed the development of the third stage consultation.

• Deliverability Assessment (PDF)

Safeguarding mineral resources and infrastructure

We need to safeguard the known location of specific mineral resources of local and national importance to make sure that they are not needlessly sterilised by non-mineral development. We have undertaken an analysis of mineral resources to inform our approach.

We also need to identify the following types of infrastructure for safeguarding where appropriate. This includes:

• existing, planned and potential rail heads, rail links to quarries, wharfage and associated storage, handling and processing facilities for the bulk transport by rail or inland waterways of minerals, including recycled, secondary and marine dredged materials; and
• existing, planned and potential sites for concrete batching, the manufacture of coated materials, other concrete products and the handling, processing and distribution of substitute, recycled and secondary aggregate material.

Alongside the 2nd Call for Sites, we asked whether there are any infrastructure features that you think we should safeguard, asking for the following information:

• a location plan, preferably on an OS map base
• details of minerals operator(s) interested in using the site or infrastructure (an estimate of when they might expect to bring the site forward or when it’s useful life might come to an end would help us to plan delivery through the plan period)
• details of landowner(s) and confirmation that they would support those essential operations
• existing or potential site access proposals

No infrastructure was proposed for safeguarding in response to this consultation.

How else you could help

To inform the development of the Minerals Local Plan so far we have prepared a suite of background documents. We also asked for comments on these documents by Friday 25 September.

The third stage consultation on the emerging Minerals Local Plan ran from 14 December 2016 to 8 March 2017. This included a 3rd call for sites. A summary of the comments received during this consultation and the council's initial response was published in September 2017.

• Minerals Local Plan Third Stage Consultation document (PDF)
• Third Stage Consultation Response Document (PDF)

The consultation document included policies to:

• protect and enhance health, well-being and the natural and historic environment;
• safeguard important mineral resources and mineral infrastructure for the future;
• identify broad locations where proposals for mineral development will be viewed favourably; and
• identify "specific sites" and "preferred areas" for mineral development. If these sites are allocated in the final plan it does not replace the need for these sites to apply for planning permission

We asked for your views on the consultation document and the suite of technical background documents setting out some of the evidence on which the plan is based. This included a summary of action undertaken under the duty to cooperate in relation to crushed rock supply.

The consultation document was more detailed than in the previous consultations and sets out proposed policy wording and site allocations to enable comment on the principles of the plan and the specific issues it seeks to address. Strategic corridors, specific sites and preferred areas were set out in the consultation document and could also be viewed in more detail on the interactive mapping tool.

We held six drop-in sessions around the county

• Bromsgrove Library 10.00am - 3.30pm, Saturday 14th January 2017
• Upton Memorial Hall 2.30pm - 8.00pm, Thursday 19th January, 2017
• Evesham Library 10.00am - 3.30pm, Saturday 21st January 2017
• Droitwich Library 10.00am - 3.30pm, Saturday 4th February, 2017
• Kidderminster Library 2.30pm - 8.00pm, Tuesday 7th February 2017
• The Hive Worcester 2.30pm - 8.00pm, Monday 13th February, 2017

These sessions were designed for residents, Parish Councils and other interested parties to drop-in and ask us any questions about the consultation.

We also offered workshops for the minerals industry and parish councils

Responses to the third stage consultation highlighted that there are not enough mineral workings in Worcestershire to deliver the level of minerals supply required from the County.

In response to this, the Council undertook a 4th call for sites from September 2017 to January 2018 to ensure that all practical efforts have been made to meet the requirements in the National Planning Policy Framework to make provision for a 7 year landbank for sand and gravel and a 10 year landbank for crushed rock through the plan. Proposals for sites containing other types of mineral or sites for supporting minerals infrastructure were also welcomed.

We have published a Fourth Call for Sites Response document which sets out the comments and site proposals we received.

• Response Document 4th Call for Sites (PDF)

The 4th call for sites sought additional sites for inclusion in the Minerals Local Plan. The ideal site would have proven viable mineral resources, interest from a mineral operator and would not impact adversely on environmental designations, homes or businesses. If a site is allocated in the plan this means that it would have policy support when applying for planning permission.

The following information was requested:

• Details of the site location and boundary: This is essential (preferably on an OS map base 1:10,000 scale)

• Any evidence of viable mineral resources at the site and/or evidence of any mineral operator interested in working the site: A mineral resource survey is desirable and preference will be given to sites with a proven resource over 600,000 tonnes. In the absence of a survey, the limited data held by the BGS will be used to give an indication of the mineral potential of a site. Preference will be given to those sites where there is confirmed interest from a mineral operator to work the site, but this is not essential.

• Evidence of landowner support: Preference will be given to those sites where there is confirmed support from all landowners for mineral extraction to take place.

• Any available information about how the site would be worked and restored: This information will inform the plan but would be subject to further consideration at a planning application stage. This might include intended transport links, whether processing would be undertaken on site and any restoration aspirations.

We are developing strategic, environmental and amenity criteria to assess all the potential sites which have been put forward by landowners and mineral operators including those submitted at earlier stages. However, a revised Local Development Scheme was approved by Cabinet in July 2018 setting out that site allocations will now be made through a separate Mineral Site Allocations Development Plan Document.

The fourth stage consultation on the Minerals Local Plan ran from 17 December 2018 to 8 February 2019. Late responses were accepted up to 15 February 2019. We have now published a document setting our response to each of the comments received on this consultation.

• The response document (PDF)

The consultation included an open day at The Hive Worcester on Monday 21 January 2019, which was intended for residents, Parish Councils and other interested parties to drop in and ask us any questions about the consultation.

The Fourth Stage Consultation Document set out the proposed vision and objectives for mineral development in Worcestershire and included the proposed strategic policies and development management policies which will be used to make decisions on planning applications once the plan is adopted.

• Fourth Stage Consultation Document (PDF)
• Addendum to the Fourth Stage Consultation (PDF)

Please note: An Addendum to the Fourth Stage Consultation contains information about the implications of a technical error. The Addendum should be read alongside the Fourth Stage Consultation Document.

The Fourth Stage Consultation document was a full draft of the proposed wording of the plan. It proposed:

• a preference for mineral development within site allocations, including "areas of search"; these areas of search are defined in the Minerals Local Plan, based on known mineral resources which have passed viability, environmental and amenity tests
• five large "strategic corridors" which contain the areas of search; locally appropriate priorities are set for each of the strategic corridors to help coordinate how mineral working and restoration will maximise benefits to the environment, the economy and communities
• policies to enable a sufficient supply of minerals
• policies to guide the assessment of minerals planning applications, covering issues including health, well-being and the natural, built, historic and water environments
• policies to safeguard important mineral resources, mineral sites and supporting infrastructure for the future

The proposed strategic corridors and areas of search could be viewed on the interactive minerals mapping tool, which incorporates the proposed Policies Map. 

The consultation documents were also made available to view at County Hall reception (Spetchley Road, Worcester) and at all public libraries in Worcestershire during normal opening hours.

Responding to this document

We asked for your views on the Fourth Stage Consultation document to establish whether:

• the plan sets the appropriate priorities to address the key issues for mineral planning in Worcestershire - this relates to the strategic direction of the plan, particularly whether the vision, objectives and spatial strategy are appropriate to achieve the aims of national policy and are responsive to local considerations
• any wording changes are required to improve the clarity of the policies or reasoned justification - decision making depends on the detailed wording of the plan; this consultation document provides a full draft of the proposed wording of the plan to enable you to comment on specific issues
• there are any other issues which the plan needs to consider

This was the last opportunity to comment on any aspect of the plan. Although there will be further consultation, the next stage will be limited to asking whether the plan complies with national requirements and legislation. 

The consultation questionnaire also included questions on:

• Minerals Local Plan Background Documents
• Statutory Assessments  of the Fourth Stage Consultation on the Minerals Local Plan
• Mineral Site Allocations Development Plan Document - Proposed Methodology
• Satisfaction with the consultation process

The publication version consultation on the Minerals Local Plan under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) ran from 19 August 2019 to 30 September 2019.

The publication version of the Minerals Local Plan sets out the proposed vision and objectives for mineral development in Worcestershire, and includes the proposed strategic policies and development management policies which will be used to make decisions on planning applications once the plan is adopted.

• The Minerals Local Plan Publication Version Consultation Document (PDF)

The consultation gave six weeks for people to comment on the legal and procedural compliance, the soundness of the Minerals Local Plan, and whether the duty to co-operate has been met.

Following the publication version consultation, all representations were collated and submitted alongside the Minerals Local Plan to the Secretary of State.

View the representations documents

The Secretary of State the appointed independent Planning Inspectors to assess the 'soundness' and legal compliance of the plan. 

Following an 'Examination in Public’, the Inspectors concluded that the Minerals Plan was sound. Worcestershire County Council adopted the Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan on 14 July 2022.