Structure Plan Chapter 3 - Caring for the Environment
3.11 - Opencast Coal
- 3.11.1
The eastern part of the Structure Plan area has significant coal deposits including shallow coal that can be worked by opencast methods. NPPG 4 "Land for Mineral Working" and NPPG16 "Opencast Coal and Related Minerals" acknowledge the importance of coal as an energy mineral. In the local context, Longannet power station can provide a market for locally sourced coal for the next 20 years.
- 3.11.2
The Plan sets a strategy for the sustainable exploitation of the coal resource, directing opencast coal mining away from sensitive locations to ensure that any environmental or community impacts can be successfully mitigated. The strategy is based upon the identification of three types of area: high, medium and low constraint. These areas are defined in the background report and will be used in applying the tests set out in Policy ENV11. Essentially, high constraint areas relate to areas of international and national environmental and cultural importance as well as areas that cannot absorb the environmental or visual impacts of opencast mining. The medium constraint areas are those of regional or local importance in environmental terms and areas close to towns and villages. Low constraint areas are where opencast mining will most likely be acceptable subject to other planning criteria being met.
- 3.11.3
In Stirling, only the eastern villages area has significant coal deposits. This is identified as a priority area for urban regeneration as well as being in the area of search for a Major Growth Area (Proposal HP2). Opencast coal mining is not viewed as being compatible with these other strategic development objectives and accordingly this area is considered to be an area of high constraint within which opencast mining will not be permitted.
- 3.11.4
Within Clackmannanshire, an area of low constraint has been identified to the south of Clackmannan. Subject to detailed assessment, there may be community benefit in exploiting the shallow coal resource. The preferred alignment for the new Upper Forth Crossing and the A977 crosses this area. Extraction of the coal in advance of construction is a sustainable way of exploiting this resource and could also facilitate the engineering of the Bridge project. This would require to be developed in an extremely sensitive way in order that the ecological value of the adjacent Special Protection Area is not compromised. The potential for community benefit could be secured by seeking to ensure that use is made of the nearby Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline rail line for coal handling once this has been implemented.
Figure 3.3 of the Background Report
Definition of Open Cast Strategy Areas in Clackmannanshire High Constraint High Constraint Medium Constraint Low Constraint Natura 200 sites.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Outstanding Conservation Areas.
Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
Listed Buildings - Category A.
Ancient Woodlands.
Areas of Low Landscape or Low Visual Capacity.
Urban regeneration priority areas.
Archaeological Sites (including proposed sites).Areas within 500m of a settlement >20 dwellings.
Wildlife Sites.
Phase 2 Habitat Survey Sites.
Area of Great Landscape Value.
Areas of Moderate Landscape or Visual Capacity.
Country Parks.
Green Belt.
Tree Preservation Orders.
Prime Agricultural Land.
Conservation Areas.Other areas with potential opencast coal resources and outwith the High and Medium Constraint Areas.
Policy ENV11 - Opencast Coal
Proposals for opencast coal mining will be assessed as follows:
- Within or affecting an area of high constraint, mining will not be permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances where the applicant can justify and demonstrate that there are imperative reasons of overriding public, social or economic interest.
- Within or affecting an area of medium constraint mining will not be permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances where the applicant can justify and demonstrate that harm to the constraints can be avoided, and that the net benefits outweigh the significance of the harm.
- Within a low constraint area mining will be supported where it will provide an overall benefit to the community and the environment; and/or where it will reclaim derelict land or facilitate large engineering projects; and/or service or stabilise land prior to development, subject to the detailed assessment process set out in NPPG16.
Contact information
For further information about this page please contact:
Development Planning
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 450000 Fax: 01259 727453
Email: devplan@clacks.gov.uk
Or use the on-line contact form.