§ Mrs. Angela KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to revise the planning guidelines for opencast coal in minerals planning guidance note 3; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardMy hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, announced on 15 July 1992 the Government's intention to revise the planning guidelines on opencast coal in MPG3. Revision of the guidelines has had to await the outcome of the Government's coal review. With the publication of today's White Paper, I intend to proceed as quickly as possible to consultation on revised draft planning guidelines. These will deal with both deep mine and opencast coal. The Welsh Office will undertake separate consultation in Wales.
It is clear that the revised guidelines will need to take into account the Government's energy policy and the policies for the coal industry set out in the White Paper. They must also reflect the Government's commitment to the protection of the environment. Within that broad national policy framework, the guidelines must be based on the development plan led approach introduced by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. This approach will provide more certainty for the industry and for the communities in those areas where coal reserves exist.
Subject to any further considerations arising out of the debate on the White Paper, I intend therefore that the draft guidelines should be based on the following broad principles:
1. It is not the function of the planning system to seek to set national limits on or targets for any particular source or level of energy supply. Nevertheless coal which can be produced economically is an important indigenous energy resource and it would be against the national interest to prevent its extraction where that can be done in an environmentally acceptable way and consistently with wider environmental objectives, including the principles of sustainable development.2. It is also relevant to consider whether a particular proposal for coal extraction would itself provide national, regional or local benefits to offset the disturbance occasioned during development restoration—e.g., through contributing to UK employment, the clearance of 715W dereliction or other improvements to the quality of land, the creation of nature reserves or the provision of other benefits.3. Mineral planning authorities should prepare Mineral Local Plans based on policies which reflect that approach and which indicate in detail those areas where provision is made for coal extraction and the disposal of colliery spoil, as well as those areas where working or disposal is not likely to be acceptable and where coal resources are to be safeguarded for future working. The preparation of these plans is now an urgent requirement.The national policy guidelines in MPG3 published in 1988 remain relevant to the consideration of individual opencast proposals until full revised guidelines are published. In the light of the coal review White Paper, however, further advice is necessary on the national policy considerations to be taken into account in the handling of planning applications in England and Wales to ensure a consistent approach between the White Paper and the guidelines. These are as follows:
It remains the case that there is no Government target for United Kingdom coal production in general or for opencast coal output in particular. Opencast coal mining can be environmentally intrusive, but can also produce benefits, such as landscape improvements and the provision of job opportunities. The Government are firmly committed to the protection of the environment and wish to ensure that the right balance is struck between development of opencast coal resources and proper protection of the environment and local amenity. There is no cause in land use planning terms for placing more restrictions on economic coal production than are required to secure full and proper protection of the environment; and, in accordance with the longer-term principles set out in this answer, it would be against the national interest to refuse planning permission for the extraction of economic indigenous coal resources where the development can be carried out in an environmentally acceptable way.
Individual proposals for opencast development should therefore be considered against the broad principles set out above and must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise, as required by section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The existence of national policy guidance more recent than the development plan, including the advice set out in this answer, would normally constitute one such consideration to be taken into account.
This advice replaces paragraphs 5 and 6 of MPG3 which are hereby withdrawn.
§ Mr. DoverTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make in the planning procedures relating to opencast coal mining to improve the rate of approvals.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 24 March 1993]: None. The Government remain concerned to remove unnecessary delays in the issue of planning decisions generally and to encourage efficiency and effectiveness in development control. We have already taken action in the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 to provide greater certainty for the industry and local communities through the introduction of the new development plan led system, and we have removed one element of delay in the consideration 716W of minerals applications by providing for such applications to be made direct to the mineral planning authority. Nevertheless, local planning authorities should make every effort to enhance their performance and improve on the length of time taken over planning cases.
We are also proposing to make available a standard planning application form for mineral development which will be of benefit to the industry and mineral planning authorities.
§ Mr. DoverTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress made on restoration of derelict land, extension of wildlife areas, extension of woodlands and hedgerows, and development of recreation facilities due to opencast coal mining over the last(a) five and (b) 10 years.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 24 March 1993]: This information is not held centrally. According to statistics compiled by the County Planning Officers Society's committee No. 3, however, during the last four years 6,490 hectares of land received planning permission for opencasting in England, of which 1,309 hectares was derelict. All permissions for opencasting carry a requirement fully to restore the land.