Chris Heffernan on LinkedIn: Cheery thought for a Friday - A bit of an awakening during UKREiiF for me… (2024)

Nick Horsley

Director of Planning, Industrial Minerals, SAMSA and MPA Wales at MINERAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED

2d

...continued - Take Gypsum for example. For many years the supply of gyspum for plaster board and other construction products came as a by products from coal fired power stations. The closure of the UK coal fired power stations has undoubtedly impacted upon supply, but where does this feature in Government policy. Why is silica sand a footnote in National Policy. The removal of the Regional Tier of Government has been a disaster in terms of stretegic planning, but Government and the opposition have all sorts of suggestions for speeding up the planning system. At the end of the day Chris it's all about resourcing and not papering over the cracks. Sorry for the rant, but if people did read what we do, they's understand what we at the trade associations and the BGS actually produce and the words you have used are the messages we have been banging on about for many moons. Sorry, rant over, but happy to talk about it with you.

Joshua Singh MRTPI 💫

Regeneration Team Leader | RTPI National & West Midlands Young Planner of 2023 🏆

2d

Something Bryn Walters has consistently been saying for many years. It all comes out of the ground, for now anyway...

Nick Horsley

Director of Planning, Industrial Minerals, SAMSA and MPA Wales at MINERAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED

2d

You should know Chris that this message runs through every response we do to Govt, LPAs and being consultations, LAAs, etc. The message has been for many years that all major developments and NSIPs in particular should include a resource assessment and supply chain considerations, but whilst you can lead a horse to water (in this case central and local government), you can't make it drink. i.e the message doesn't always get home. You are fully aware of how long we have been lobbying Government for a formal statement of need and a government produced Minerals Strategy. That's why we produced our own Minerals Strategy. We recongise there are those in government and the LPAs who do get it, but unfortunately the resources are extremely limited. But we are never going to get back to a position of Robin Mabey, Lester Hicks and Brian Marker where a team of 10-20 staff were focussing on minerals. Also Government is too siloed and never fully understands the unintended consequences of its decisions.

Michael Stovin MCILT

40 years Experience of Logistics, Construction and Minerals

1d

quite interesting that virtually everything inside the building and everything around it is made from minerals or materials which need minerals to manufacture them and there’s no recognition of that . As Greta Thunberg once said “I know you can hear me but you’re not listening”

Claire Petricca-Riding

Partner and National Head of Planning and Environmental Law at Irwin Mitchell. ENDS Power List 2022 and 2023 lawyer. Recommended Chambers and Legal 500 planning and environmental lawyer.

2d

Really good points Chris.