Minerals Local Plan Issues and Options consultation

No to both questions. Lincolnshire County Council considers that, in relation to Sand and Gravel, the average 10 year
sales figure is not an appropriate basis for forecasting future aggregate demand in Nottinghamshire. Accordingly, an
alternative methodology should be utilised for Sand and Gravel.
The County Council's main concern is that the proposed approach significantly underplays the demand for sand and
gravel in Nottinghamshire. This is due to a lack of recognition of the increasing disparity in cross‐boundary
movements of sand and gravel between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
In our letter dated 14 August 2017 to the East Midlands Aggregates Working Party (attached), the County Council
raised concerns in relation to Nottinghamshire's Draft LAA (2017) (the document which now underpins the approach
proposed in the Issues and Options document subject to consultation), and as such, our concerns still stand.
As outlined in the attached letter, it appears that in response to reduced levels of demand both during and following
the recession, sand and gravel producers in the Trent Valley have rationalised their operations, focussing production
in Lincolnshire and reducing operations temporarily in Nottinghamshire. This is reflected in sales data (see attached
letter) which shows that imports of sand and gravel into Nottinghamshire from Lincolnshire have increased
substantially in recent years, however this has not been adequately acknowledged in the LAA.
The increasing reliance on imports from Lincolnshire that appears to have taken place since the recession has
depressed sales figures for Nottinghamshire and therefore basing future provision solely on 10 year average sales
without having regard to this other relevant local information misrepresents and underestimates the demand for
minerals in Nottinghamshire going forward. It will also serve to reinforce recent trends and therefore increase
pressure on resources in Lincolnshire.
This may therefore lead to supply issues during the plan period if quarries in Lincolnshire are unable to meet any
increased demand from shortfalls in Nottinghamshire, particularly when it is also noted in the LAA that there may be
further pressure on the Trent Valley in the long term due to shortages in the Idle Valley. Furthermore, given the
acknowledged extent of the sand and gravel resource within Nottinghamshire, there is no clear justification for
continuing to rely on imports from Lincolnshire rather than making appropriate local provision within
Nottinghamshire.
In summary The County Council therefore has concerns over the use of the most recent 10 year average as set out in
the LAA because it believes the figure has been skewed by the recent increases in imports of sand and gravel from
Lincolnshire, and which have temporarily depressed production in Nottinghamshire. This is a local factor that should
2
be taken into account when setting the level of provision to be made in the emerging Minerals Local Plan, and
warrants a different approach to be taken in relation to Sand and Gravel.
It is recommended that the level of provision should be based on the assumption that sales in Nottinghamshire will
return to a similar proportion of total sales in the East Midlands achieved prior to the recession.
Q8: How important is it to maintain a geographical spread of sand and gravel quarries across the County (i.e. Idle
Valley, near Newark and near Nottingham) to minimise the distance minerals are transported to markets?
The County Council considers that it is important to maintain, wherever possible, a geographical spread of sand and
gravel quarries to ensure that they are best located in relation to their local markets. This helps to minimise the
distance minerals are transported and also reduces reliance on imports from neighbouring areas.

No to both questions. Lincolnshire County Council considers that, in relation to Sand and Gravel, the average 10 year
sales figure is not an appropriate basis for forecasting future aggregate demand in Nottinghamshire. Accordingly, an
alternative methodology should be utilised for Sand and Gravel.
The County Council's main concern is that the proposed approach significantly underplays the demand for sand and
gravel in Nottinghamshire. This is due to a lack of recognition of the increasing disparity in cross‐boundary
movements of sand and gravel between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
In our letter dated 14 August 2017 to the East Midlands Aggregates Working Party (attached), the County Council
raised concerns in relation to Nottinghamshire's Draft LAA (2017) (the document which now underpins the approach
proposed in the Issues and Options document subject to consultation), and as such, our concerns still stand.
As outlined in the attached letter, it appears that in response to reduced levels of demand both during and following
the recession, sand and gravel producers in the Trent Valley have rationalised their operations, focussing production
in Lincolnshire and reducing operations temporarily in Nottinghamshire. This is reflected in sales data (see attached
letter) which shows that imports of sand and gravel into Nottinghamshire from Lincolnshire have increased
substantially in recent years, however this has not been adequately acknowledged in the LAA.
The increasing reliance on imports from Lincolnshire that appears to have taken place since the recession has
depressed sales figures for Nottinghamshire and therefore basing future provision solely on 10 year average sales
without having regard to this other relevant local information misrepresents and underestimates the demand for
minerals in Nottinghamshire going forward. It will also serve to reinforce recent trends and therefore increase
pressure on resources in Lincolnshire.
This may therefore lead to supply issues during the plan period if quarries in Lincolnshire are unable to meet any
increased demand from shortfalls in Nottinghamshire, particularly when it is also noted in the LAA that there may be
further pressure on the Trent Valley in the long term due to shortages in the Idle Valley. Furthermore, given the
acknowledged extent of the sand and gravel resource within Nottinghamshire, there is no clear justification for
continuing to rely on imports from Lincolnshire rather than making appropriate local provision within
Nottinghamshire.
In summary The County Council therefore has concerns over the use of the most recent 10 year average as set out in
the LAA because it believes the figure has been skewed by the recent increases in imports of sand and gravel from
Lincolnshire, and which have temporarily depressed production in Nottinghamshire. This is a local factor that should
2
be taken into account when setting the level of provision to be made in the emerging Minerals Local Plan, and
warrants a different approach to be taken in relation to Sand and Gravel.
It is recommended that the level of provision should be based on the assumption that sales in Nottinghamshire will
return to a similar proportion of total sales in the East Midlands achieved prior to the recession.
Q8: How important is it to maintain a geographical spread of sand and gravel quarries across the County (i.e. Idle
Valley, near Newark and near Nottingham) to minimise the distance minerals are transported to markets?
The County Council considers that it is important to maintain, wherever possible, a geographical spread of sand and
gravel quarries to ensure that they are best located in relation to their local markets. This helps to minimise the
distance minerals are transported and also reduces reliance on imports from neighbouring areas.