The British Aggregates Association (BAA) is finalising its formal response to the UK Government’s consultation on proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), describing the review as one of the most consequential planning exercises for the mineral products sector in recent years.
The Association has welcomed the decision by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to retain a dedicated minerals chapter within the Framework, describing it as an important acknowledgement of the sector’s strategic role.
However, the BAA has also raised concerns about proposed changes to terminology in the draft document, warning that subtle wording changes may have significant implications for how mineral extraction is treated in the planning balance.
“In planning policy, terminology is not cosmetic,” said Mike Phillips, chief executive of the British Aggregates Association. “Words such as ‘essential’, ‘great weight’ and ‘substantial weight’ carry real meaning in decision-making and in the courts. If that hierarchy becomes unclear, it creates uncertainty foroperators and planning authorities alike.”
The Association is therefore calling for a clear and consistent hierarchy of terms to be inserted into the revised Framework to ensure that the importance of aggregates and industrial minerals is properly understood and consistently applied.
While Chapter 11 remains dedicated to minerals, the BAA stresses that the sector’s role extends far beyond a single chapter.
Housing delivery, transport infrastructure, renewable energy projects, flood defences, coastal protection schemes and biodiversity initiatives are all heavily dependent on the availability of construction and industrial minerals.
“This consultation is about growth,” Phillips continued. “Housing, infrastructure and clean energy targets all rely on mineral supply. Without minerals, in one form or another, it becomes very difficult to build, maintain or manage anything.”
The BAA argues that mineral safeguarding must be seen as integral to the delivery of wider Government objectives, rather than a standalone policy consideration. The Association has also emphasised that mineral policy should recognise both primary and secondary aggregates as strategically important.
Recycled and reprocessed materials make a significant contribution to the sector’s circular economy, and planning policy must support reprocessing and recovery alongside primary extraction.
In addition to construction uses, industrial minerals support clean water treatment, chemical manufacturing, road building, food and agricultural production, and a wide range of essential industrial and environmental processes, forming a critical part of the infrastructure that underpins modern life across the UK.
The BAA has confirmed that it remains committed to working constructively with Government and MHCLG as the consultation progresses.
“We very much want to support the Government in delivering growth,” Phillips said. “Our role is to ensure that minerals are properly recognised as fundamental to those ambitions. Clear, proportionate and consistent policy will benefit the sector, planning authorities and the wider economy.”
The Association’s formal submission is expected shortly.
