Greater Manchester councils consult on minerals plan

COUNCILS in Greater Manchester are asking businesses for their views on which sites are most approporiate for use as quarries or for other mineral development in the city-region.

The consultation, which starts on 15th October and runs until 26th November, will also ask people for their views on how to deal with the future development of the sites.

Following the consultation, a new Minerals Plan for Greater Manchester will be drawn up.

Councillor David Molyneux, Chair of the Joint Minerals Planning Committee, said:

“The plan aims to ensure that planning authorities have policies in place to ensure we can cope with future demands for minerals in the greenest, safest and most sustainable way possible. It also aims to recognise the importance of secondary and recycled aggregates whilst providing for primary extraction where necessary.

“This stage brings the results of earlier consultations together with technical evidence and national and local planning advice to develop a series of preferred policy directions and identify preferred sites/areas for allocation within the Minerals Plan.

“If any resident or business has views on the preferred sites for primary minerals extraction and associated minerals development or how development at these sites should be managed in the future, this is their chance to get involved,” Cllr Molyneux said.

The Waste Plan Preferred Approach Report is now available to view and comment upon at www.gmmineralsplan.co.uk.