Councils begin preparation for new Minerals Plan for Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council have formally given notice of their intention to begin preparing the plan under the Government’s new plan-making system.

The Minerals Local Plan will set out the strategic vision, spatial strategy and planning policies needed to ensure Nottinghamshire has a sufficient supply of minerals to support homes, businesses and infrastructure – while helping to protect the environment.

It will help guide decisions on where future mineral development could take place across the county and how sites can be restored once mineral extraction has finished – including opportunities to enhance biodiversity and create valuable new habitats.

The first opportunity for people to get involved will be through a scoping consultation, which will run from 12 October to 9 November 2026, and will seek views on what the Minerals Local Plan should contain, the key issues it should address and how people would like to be involved in its preparation.

Councillor Bert Bingham, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, is encouraging people to take part.

He said: “The Minerals Local Plan will play an important role in shaping how minerals are provided for across Nottinghamshire while ensuring that environmental considerations, including biodiversity and the restoration of former mineral sites, are given proper consideration.

“This is an early opportunity for residents, businesses, community groups and other interested organisations to tell us what they think the plan should address and how they would like to be involved.

“I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of Nottinghamshire’s environment, economy and communities to take part in the consultation and help us develop a plan that works for the county.”

Councillor Jay Hayes, Executive Member for Housing and Planning at Nottingham City Council, said: “The Minerals Plan sets our responsibility to plan for the minerals needed for homes, schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure across Nottinghamshire. I encourage the residents of Nottingham to have their say during this consultation.”

The councils have published a timetable setting out the key stages, timescales and opportunities for public consultation during the preparation of the Minerals Local Plan. This timetable will be maintained and updated as work progresses.

Formal preparation is expected to begin in spring 2027, following consideration of feedback received through the scoping consultation and the gathering of information about potential mineral sites from operators.

Towards the end of the expected 30-month preparation period, the Minerals Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination, before it is expected to be adopted in 2029.

Until the new plan is adopted, the existing Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan and Nottingham Land and Planning Policies Local Plan document will remain relevant to planning decisions relating to mineral development.

More information about the notice, timetable and how to get involved is available on the county council’s website.