Mineral assessments
The presence of protected mineral resources or the proximity of safeguarded mineral infrastructure can place major constraints on development.
East Sussex MRA and MIA
We delivered a Mineral Resource Assessment and Mineral Infrastructure Assessment on behalf of a residential developer in East Sussex.
We are supporting a developer in East Sussex for a proposed residential development on land that is currently being promoted into the Local Development Plan for residential end use. Located within a Mineral Consultation Zone, the site is designated around safeguarded mineral infrastructure and active mineral extraction. The county mineral planning authority has identified the need for a combined Mineral Resource Assessment and Mineral Infrastructure Assessment to support the development.
Key details
Project name
Confidential
Client
Confidential
Location
East Sussex
Services provided:
- Mineral Resource Assessment
- Mineral Infrastructure Assessment
- Air quality assessment
- Acoustic assessment
- Light assessment
- Transport assessment
Challenge
The development is situated close to safeguarded mineral infrastructure, including a wider variety of safeguarded operations in addition to the mineral extraction. Currently, the operator of safeguarded infrastructure is objecting to the proposed development on the basis it is an incompatible development that would place unacceptable constraints on the current and future mineral operations. Their objections relate to the potential to introduce constraints to air quality, noise, light and transport.
Solution
We are providing the complete range of mineral support services required to deliver a combined MRA and MIA.
We are evaluating the significance of resource sterilisation by the proposed development, and considering the viability and practicability of prior extraction that requires consideration under mineral planning policy.
Operations on the safeguarded mineral infrastructure have the potential to adversely impact the residential development in many ways, most notably in relation to air quality, noise, light and transport. Given the proximity of the mineral operations, we are delivering a full MIA that will assess each of the possible impacts. To minimise cost to the developer, we are integrating these assessment works into other environment impact assessments required for the development. The MIA will positively support the promotion of the site and demonstrate that any impacts can reasonably be mitigated as part of the development proposals.
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