1. Introduction and outline of the policy being evaluated
This report has been prepared by the Scottish Executive to explain the consultation process undertaken in drafting Scottish Planning Policy 4: Planning for Minerals and the changes that have been made to the SPP in the light of the consultation responses.
NPPG 4 Land for Mineral Working was published in 1994. Research carried out in 2002 indicated that NPPG 4 needed to be refreshed and brought up to date with other SPPs. The review is consistent with the programme to review and update the NPPG series arising from the report Review of Strategic Planning: Conclusion and Next Steps (2002). An external stakeholder group (see Annex A) was formed to guide the revision. It first met in October 2003 then in March 2005 to discuss a first draft.
The Scottish Executive then issued a consultative draft of Scottish Planning Policy ( SPP) 4 - Mineral Working for comment from 31 August to 25 November 2005.
SPP 4: Planning for Minerals replaces NPPG 4 Land for Mineral Working. This evaluation report on the draft SPP accompanies the publication of the finalised SPP.