Information and advice related to spatial planning for domestic minerals supply

The Mineral Resources and Policy Team of BGS provided technical advice, comment and information to assist policy makers in relation to spatial planning for UK domestic mineral supply. Current commercial interest and community concerns regarding the development of shale gas prompted the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to revise its planning practise guidance on onshore oil and gas development. Jo Mankelow and Nigel Smith provided DCLG with technical input and comments on a draft version which were then substantially incorporated into the finalised revision published in July 2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/224238/Planning_practice_guidance_for_onshore_oil_and_gas.pdf. At the request of DCLG, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government, Tom Bide and Teresa Brown compiled a summary of opencast coal statistics (including coal production, reserves, sites granted/ operating/ closed). This annual survey covers individual Mineral Planning Authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. It was undertaken in collaboration with the Coal Authority and local planning authorities with opencast coal resources in their areas. In addition to dissemination on www.mineralsUK.com, the information is summarised in the annual BGS United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook. Survey outputs are vital in monitoring UK and devolved government spatial planning policies which seek to balance access to important shallow coal resources with the need to protect the environment and communities from the negative impacts of extraction.