This report describes work carried out by the British Geological Survey on behalf of North
Yorkshire County Council to delineate Mineral Safeguarding Areas (MSAs), the results of which
will be used to inform its Minerals and Waste Development Framework. The approach taken is
in accordance with the methodology outlined in ‘Mineral safeguarding in England: good
practice advice’ (Wrighton et al., 2011). This report has been published during a period of
change in national planning policy. The Government has committed to radically streamline and
consolidate existing national planning policy. In July 2011 the Department for Communities and
Local Government (DCLG) published the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
which has undergone a period of consultation. Whilst the draft NPPF retains the obligation for
Local Planning Authorities to define MSAs, it is important to recognise that this report should be
read in the context of a changing framework for planning. National policy for minerals
safeguarding, at the time of the study, is contained within Minerals Policy Statement 1: Planning
and Minerals, which was published in November 2006.
The work involved in this study involved the provision of maps showing the extent of mineral
resources in North Yorkshire (excluding the national parks) and creating MSAs for each mineral
resource. Data depicted on the maps have been provided in digital form to the council for use
within a Geographical Information System
