Minerals Site Allocations Document

We are in the early stages of preparing a Minerals Site Allocations Document (MSAD). Once adopted, this document will identify suitable sites for the extraction of sand, gravel, building stone and ball clay to meet national, regional and local requirements.

MSAD Discussion Paper

The discussion paper identified all the sites that have been suggested, by land owners and mineral operators, to be considered for inclusion in the MSAD as future locations for quarrying. The purpose of this initial stage of consultation was to gain feedback from a wide cross section of interested parties in the early stages of preparation.

Consultation on the discussion paper took place between 17 October and 12 December 2008.

The outcomes of the consultation were reported to the Minerals and Waste Policy Joint Advisory Committee in March 2009. The Minerals and Waste Consultation Portal (opens in a new window) allows you to view the document and the comments made during the consultation period. Alternatively you can download pdfs of the chapters of the discussion paper from the right hand side of this page.

What happens next?

Work relating to the difficult decisions relating to which sites should be included in the MSAD, and which sites should be discounted, will begin once we have made the formal submission of the Minerals Core Strategy DPD to the Planning Inspectorate - which is expected to be during Summer 2012. The work towards producing the MSAD consultation document will include gathering further detailed information on each site, and undertaking a full assessment of each site's suitability, together with carrying out a further sustainability appraisal in order to inform decisions. Once sites have been selected and a document produced, the MSAD will be made available for consultation. Updates on progress will be posted here.

A comprehensive set of criteria to assess the suitability of sites for inclusion in the MSAD is included within the Minerals Core Strategy, at Appendix 1 of the Revised Draft Minerals Core Strategy consultation document. (opens in a new window)

We are currently gathering further detailed information and will undertake a full assessment of each site's suitability as well as carry out a further sustainability appraisal in order to inform decisions.

Indications show that some of the sites contained within the discussion paper are likely to be found unsuitable. Further work will therefore need to be undertaken in order to identify whether there are further possible sites for sand and gravel extraction in the county in order to meet Government requirements or whether environmental constraints are such that these will not be met.

Landscape Assessment

A landscape and visual assessment (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window) has been undertaken to assess the landscape capacity of a number of the potential sites to accommodate mineral development. The methodology used assessed landscape character, landscape character sensitivity and visual sensitivity to determine capacity. The study also included an assessment of potential cumulative impacts of groups of sites from two key viewpoints in Purbeck - Creech Barrow and Whiteway Viewpoint. The full report plus two photo panels illustrating long distance views of existing and potential mineral sites are available to download.

Further suggested mineral sites

During the consultation on the MSAD Discussion Paper, and during the period that has followed, a number of additional potential quarry sites have been suggested to us for consideration. Further information on these is available to download here.

Withdrawn Sites

Some of the sites that were consulted on at the end of 2008 have been formally withdrawn by the promoter. These sites will not therefore be subject to any further assessment and will not be considered for inclusion in the MSAD.

The sites that have been withdrawn are:

AS02 & AS17 Cannon Hill and Uddens Plantations, NE of Wimborne Minster

AS18 Land north of River Stour, Wimborne Minster

BC01 Carrot Bank, Creech

If you would like to be added to our database of consultees and be kept up to date on the progress of the MSAD and other minerals and waste development plan documents please register on the Minerals and Waste Consultation Portal (opens in a new window) . Alternatively contact the Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team.

Frequently Asked Questions about Minerals Discussion Paper Consultation
Background papers
A series of background papers to the Minerals Site Allocations Document (MSAD) discussion paper, including more detailed site assessments, are available to download here.
Further suggested mineral sites
During the consultation on the MSAD Discussion Paper, and during the period that has followed, a number of additional potential quarry sites have been suggested to us for consideration.