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MPA conference

2013 RTPI/MPA Mineral Planning Conference- Streamlining the System: What does it mean for Minerals Planning?

Booking now open with an early bird offer until 21st March 2013.

2012 RTPI/MPA Mineral Planning Conference

Held on 17 May at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham.

Please click here for a press release from the MPA.

2011 RTPI/MPA Mineral Planning Conference: Delivering localism in minerals planning

Over 200 delegates welcomed the opportunity to engage with Bob Neill, Minister for Planning, at the annual RTPI/MPA conference: Delivering Localism in minerals planning held on 9 June 2011 in Wolverhampton.

As the first minister to attend the conference since the 1990s, Bob Neill thanked the industry for its constructive engagement on the Localism Bill and the good evidence base provided by practitioners. He said that the Government sees the minerals industry as a key strategic industry, necessary for growth.

The Minister said that the Government wants to see high quality restoration and that there are many good examples of this from the profession.

The Minister recognised the importance of the duty to co-operate in the minerals context. He stated that the Government had been persuaded by the evidence put forward that the duty to co-operate, which started off as light touch, did need strengthening.

He emphasised however that the duty to co-operate needs to be genuine, and should not be treated simply as an exercise to go through. It is important as a means to deal with larger than local issues.

During the question and answer session, it was suggested that there are four elements of the Localism Bill that are especially notable for minerals: neighbourhood plans, the demise of Regional Spatial Strategies, pre-application discussions, and the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The Minister agreed that they are key elements but added that the duty to co-operate and the hierarchy of plans (neighbourhood, LDF, national policy) are also important.

Speaker presentations