Under the new system of Development Plans introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the County Council has to prepare Minerals and Waste Development Frameworks (MWDF).  These replace the existing Minerals and Waste Local Plans, and set out how the County Council will plan for the future provision of minerals and how facilities for the management of waste produced in the County will be catered for.  The waste framework is being prepared jointly with Leicester City Council.  

Minerals make a significant contribution to society’s prosperity and quality of life and are key to the creation of sustainable communities.  It is important therefore that there is an adequate supply of raw material to provide the infrastructure, buildings and goods that society, industry and the economy needs.  However, there is potential conflict between the benefits to society that minerals supply can bring and the impacts that this process may have on the environment and the amenity of local communities.  The minerals planning framework aims to meet the needs for minerals in the most sustainable way by achieving the best balance of social, environmental and economic considerations and a prudent use of natural resources.

Leicestershire produces around 20Mt of mineral sales per year, and is consequently one of the leading producing Counties.  It is the largest producer of igneous rock in the Country but also contributes limestone and sand and gravel aggregates, brick clay, fireclay, gypsum, and energy minerals such as oil and coal.  It is required to produce in the order of 280Mt of crushed rock and sand and gravel aggregates over the period 2001 – 2016, in accordance with national and regional policy. Presently there are around 25 active sites producing minerals within the County

The Preferred Options version of the Minerals Development Framework was approved by the County Council's Cabinet on 26th July 2006.  A consultation period on the documents ran from 25th August to 6th October 2006.  Copies of the documents, the responses received and other information on the preferred options consultation can be found via the Preferred Options Consultation link to the left or the link below.  A re-consultation on the core strategy took place between 19th October 2007 and 5pm on 30th November 2007.  

The Core Strategy and Development Control Policies documents have been submitted to the Secretary of State and a consultation on these documents was undertaken between 23rd June and 4th August 2008.  Copies of the documents and representation forms, responses received and futher information on the consultation can be found below.

As part of preparing the submission documents a background paper has been produced for the minerals development framework.

(Some of these documents may take up to 10 minutes to download using a 56k modem)
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