30 October 2014

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)’s Gloucestershire branch is calling for Forest of Dean District Council to stand firm against developers who want to build hundreds of houses on green field sites across the Forest.

Gloucestershire County Council - the minerals planning authority (MPA) – is working on a replacement for the former Minerals Local Plan (MLP).  In this update the process is outlined and CPRE's involvement at the plan making stage and in relation to planning applications and monitoring.

A Minerals Core Strategy is in preparation which will be a key component of the County’s Minerals and Waste Development Framework (MWDF). The process will be modified by changes in legislation and as a result of publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Most policies from the MLP have been “saved” pending adoption of the new document.

Formal sub-regional apportionment of primary aggregate production no longer applies and the reference to “regional” in the Government’s guidelines for the production of aggregates is now referred to as “sub national” in the NPPF.

CPRE Gloucestershire will make representations as necessary to the new Minerals Core Strategy as it evolves. We may also seek to influence CPRE National Office responses to minerals related issues, including pressing for greater incentives to encourage more use of secondary and recycled aggregates.

CPRE Districts in Gloucestershire will take the lead on mineral extraction within their areas, both in respect of new planning applications and of monitoring/ enforcement issues.