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 Minerals Core Strategy and Development Control Policies document was adopted on 8th October 2009.  The adopted document can be viewed via the following link - Adopted Development Plan Documents.

No work is planned for the allocation of mineral sites.

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