What is a Minerals Report?
If you are buying a property you may wish to find out more about the local area and if it is likely to be affected by existing or future quarrying operations. Shropshire Council's planning team can prepare a report for you that details this information.
A Minerals Report is based upon searches of the council's planning records. It identifies:
- If the property is situated within a Mineral Consultation Area. (i.e. an area containing a potentially economic mineral resource).
- Any planning permission's granted for quarrying or related operations on land near to the property, and the status of that site (e.g. active; closed; dormant; not commenced).
- Policies from the Minerals Local Plan relating to the land surrounding the property. This could include details of land highlighted by the plan for future mineral working.
- Any planning applications submitted to Shropshire Council for quarrying or related operations near to the property.
- Details of records that we hold relating to areas of former metal mining in Shropshire, such as the South Shropshire Metal Mines. These records include studies undertaken in relation to lead mining.
In most cases, these reports can not provide information relating to quarrying or underground mining activity which occurred before the start of the modern planning system (i.e. pre-1940).
Information about waste sites
The report will also include information relating to waste management or disposal sites. It identifies:
- Any planning permission's granted for waste management or disposal sites near to the property and the status of any site (e.g. active; closed, etc.).
- Any planning applications submitted to the Shropshire Council involving waste management or disposal near to the property.
- Policies from the Shropshire Waste Local Plan relating to the land surrounding the property. This could include details of any sites identified in the plan as preferred sites for future waste management operations.
How do you request a Minerals Report?
You should write to:
Development Management Central - Minerals and Waste
Shropshire Council
Shirehall, Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
SY2 6ND
(DX No. DX702024 Shrewsbury 2)
Your request should be accompanied by a location plan of the property (of 1:2500 scale or similar).
Under our new charging scheme, the cost of the Report is based upon the Officer time incurred in preparing it. For 2011, this rate is £66.30 per hour. Upon receipt of your request, we will contact you to advise what the cost will be. Payment is required in advance.
The planning team will aim to send out the Minerals Report within two to three days of receiving your payment.
Inspection of planning files
Information relating to planning applications and decisions is public information. Some of this is available to view on the Council's website by following the Public Access link on this page. You can also view information that would be contained within a Minerals Report for free by inspecting the relevant files at the Shirehall. An appointment to come and view the files can be made by telephoning the Development Management Central team on 0345 678 9004.
Further information
Information relating to past coal mining activity can be obtained from the Coal Authority as part of the Mining Report Service (follow link on this page).
The Environment Agency maintains records of licensed Waste Management Sites (follow link on this page).