Minerals Local Plan
As the Minerals Planning Authority for County Durham, we previously prepared a Minerals Local Plan. This plan was prepared to give clear guidance to the minerals industry and the public on our policies for dealing with mineral planning applications for the extraction of a range of minerals such as opencast coal, sand and gravel and hard rock.
We adopted the County Durham Minerals Local Plan in December 2000 and it covered until 2006. It contributed to the Development Plan for County Durham.
It was drawn up in response to the policies that were set out in national policies on mineral working that were operational at the time it was prepared. It included policies on the need for new mineral working, the efficient use of resources and the protection of the environment and local communities.
Minerals Local Plan (PDF, 4.8mb)
Status of the Minerals Local Plan policies
Most Waste Local Plan policies have now been replaced by the County Durham Plan which was adopted in October 2020.
15 Minerals Local Plan policies remain 'saved' and still form part of the development plan for County Durham. The remaining saved Minerals Local Plan policies are set out in Appendix B of the County Durham Plan and in the schedule of remaining of Saved Mineral Local Plan Policies in the Development Plan for County Durham. They will be replaced by the Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations document which is now being prepared
- Contact Spatial Policy
- spatialpolicy@durham.gov.uk
- 03000 263 967
