Paragraph N – Interpretation of Part 17

We will not be expanding upon Paragraph N, which explains the various words and phrases contained within Part 17 for mineral and mining and what they each mean in context, within Planning Geek at this time.

The legislation can be found below. If you need the guidance of Planning Geek in the process for Paragraph N, please contact us for any assistance or book a Zoom call today.

Legislation

Interpretation of Part 17

N.1 For the purposes of Part 17—

“active access” means a surface access to underground workings which is in normal and regular use for the transportation of coal, materials, spoil or persons;

“ancillary mining land” means land adjacent to and occupied together with a mine at which the winning and working of minerals is carried out in pursuance of planning permission granted or deemed to be granted under Part 3 of the Act (control over development);

“coal-mining operations” has the same meaning as in section 65 of the Coal Industry Act 1994 (interpretation) and references to any development or use in connection with coal-mining operations include references to development or use for or in connection with activities carried on in association with, or for purposes connected with, the carrying on of those operations;

“groundwater” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016;

“licensed operator” has the same meaning as in section 65 of the Coal Industry Act 1994;

“mineral exploration” means ascertaining the presence, extent or quality of any deposit of a mineral with a view to exploiting that mineral;

“minerals” does not include any coal other than coal won or worked during the course of operations which are carried on exclusively for the purpose of exploring for coal or confined to the digging or carrying away of coal that it is necessary to dig or carry away in the course of activities carried on for purposes which do not include the getting of coal or any product of coal;

“normal and regular use” means use other than intermittent visits to inspect and maintain the fabric of the mine or any plant or machinery;

“relevant drinking water supply undertaker” means any water undertaker in whose area of appointment development will take place and, in the case where the development is likely to affect water resources in the area of appointment of another water undertaker, that undertaker;

“relevant scheme” means a scheme, other than a waste management scheme, requiring approval by the mineral planning authority in accordance with a condition or limitation on any planning permission granted or deemed to be granted under Part 3 of the Act (control over development), for making provision for the manner in which the deposit of waste is to be carried out and for the carrying out of other activities in relation to that deposit;

“stockpile” means a mineral-working deposit consisting primarily of minerals which have been deposited for the purposes of their processing or sale;

“structure” includes a building, plant or machinery; and

“underground mine” is a mine at which minerals are worked principally by underground methods.

N.2— (1) An area of land is an approved site for the purposes of Class A and B of this Part if—

(a) it is identified in a grant of planning permission or any instrument by virtue of which planning permission is deemed to be granted, as land which may be used for development described in this Part; or

(b) in any other case, it is land immediately adjoining an active access to an underground mine which, on 5th December 1988, was in use for the purposes of that mine, in connection with the purposes described in paragraph A.1(b)(i) or (ii) or paragraph B.1(b)(i) to (iii) of this Part.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), land is an authorised site for the purposes of Class D and F of this Part if—

(a) it is identified in a grant of planning permission or any instrument by virtue of which planning permission is deemed to be granted as land which may be used for development described in this Part; or

(b) in any other case, it is land immediately adjoining an active access which, on 5th December 1988, was in use for the purposes of that mine in connection with coal-mining operations.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2), land is not to be regarded as in use in connection with coal-mining operations if—

(a) it is used for the permanent deposit of waste derived from the winning and working of minerals; or

(b) there is on, over or under it a railway, conveyor, aerial ropeway, roadway, overhead power line or pipe-line which is not itself surrounded by other land used for those purposes.

Paragraph N Page Updated: 16th August 2023