Mineral Resource Assessments

To secure the steady and adequate supply of minerals for the future, it is important to safeguard locally and nationally important mineral resources from sterilisation by other development.

The Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan 2018 - 2036 (PDF) requires all non-exempt development within Mineral Consultation Areas to provide an assessment of how it will avoid and minimise the sterilisation of safeguarded minerals. This assessment is a “Mineral Resource Assessment” or “MRA”.

More information on when an MRA is required and what types of proposals are exempt can be found in chapter 7 of the Minerals Local Plan. The Mineral Consultation Areas can be viewed on the interactive minerals mapping tool.

It is important that MRAs provide the evidence necessary for Worcestershire County Council (WCC) to reach a view on whether minerals safeguarding has been adequately addressed. This view is then shared with the determining local planning authority, who take Worcestershire County Council’s comments into account alongside all other material considerations when determining planning applications.

Mineral Resource Assessment guidance note

An inadequate MRA risks delays to the decision-making process. To reduce this risk, a Mineral Resource Assessment Guidance Note (PDF) has been prepared to help applicants by setting out what information an MRA must include. 

The Guidance Note does not set or change existing policy, but expands upon it with further detail. Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Guidance Note before development proposals are finalised. 

The presence of safeguarded mineral resources could affect the acceptability or design of a proposed development. As such, safeguarding should be considered early enough in the process to influence the proposal. 

Please contact us if you have any queries on the need for or content of a Mineral Resource Assessment.

Minerals policy team

Email: Minerals@worcestershire.gov.uk

Strategic Planning

Directorate of Economy and Infrastructure
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP
Telephone: 01905 766374