Promoting a mineral working opportunity

To inform the next Local Plan, Shropshire Council undertook a ‘call for mineral working opportunities’ between the 10 July 2025 and 2 October 2025. Land promoted through this exercise will be considered through an assessment process, which will inform the approach to meeting mineral demand in Shropshire.

Whilst the ‘call for mineral working opportunities’ period has now closed, if you do still wish to promote land (specific site opportunities with known mineral resources, general areas with known mineral resources, or general areas where there are potential mineral resources) for consideration, please complete and submit the mineral working opportunities promotion form to planningpolicy@shropshire.gov.uk. Submitted forms need to be accompanied by appropriate site location plan(s) and any available relevant supporting material.

If you're unable to submit this information via email, it can be posted to Planning Policy, Shropshire Council, PO BOX 4826, Shrewsbury, SY1 9LJ. However, it's not necessary to submit copies by both email and post.

Wherever possible, we will consider land promotions submitted after the close of the ‘call for mineral working opportunities’ within the assessment process which will inform the approach to meeting mineral demand in Shropshire. However, if land promotions are received after the completion of the assessment process this may not be achievable. Where this is the case we will endeavour to consider this land within a future assessment, but this may not inform the next Local Plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone comment on land promotions for mineral working?

We are not inviting comments from other parties on land promotions for mineral working. However, informed by the subsequent assessment process and other relevant evidence, we will start to develop proposals for inclusion in the next Local Plan. This includes in relation to the need to identify locations for mineral working, and if so the proposed approach to doing so. We are keen to hear thoughts on these proposals as part of the next Local Plan, with the first formal stage of consultation scheduled to commence in late 2026.

What is the assessment process?

Our assessment process will include consideration of site opportunities and constraints – examples of key factors to be considered through this process are included on the constraints map. Importantly, this process will also include consideration of infrastructure needs and capacity.

In due course, all submissions and the assessment undertaken will be made publicly available on this website.

Who can submit land?

The process is open to all: landowners, site promoters, businesses, organisations, operators and any other interested parties.

However, if you don't own the land you'll need to specify who does and whether they support the land promotion.

Do I need to use the site promotion form?

The form ensures that all necessary information is provided and will support the timely review of land by the council. As such, we don't encourage promotions in other formats.

Will all land promoted through this process be allocated as a mineral working site, identified as a preferred area for mineral working, or identified as a general area of search for mineral working?

No, not all promoted land will be proposed for allocation within the next Local Plan. Furthermore, not all promoted land will be supported as planning applications.

What happens if land promotions overlap?

Some parcels of land may be submitted to the council by more than one promoter, or the land promoter may wish for different components of a site to be considered separately. This won't affect the assessment process undertaken for the land.

When will the public see sites promoted during the call for mineral working opportunities?

All land promoted, and the assessment process undertaken, will be made publicly available on this website in due course. Specific timescales will depend on the number of land promotions received.

Can anyone comment on land promoted through the call for mineral working opportunities?

We're not inviting comments from other parties on lsnd promoted through this process. However, informed by the subsequent assessment process and other relevant evidence, we'll start to develop proposals for inclusion in the next Local Plan. This includes in relation to the need to identify locations for mineral working, and the proposed approach to doing so at those locations. We're keen to hear thoughts on these proposals as part of the next Local Plan, with the first formal stage of consultation scheduled to commence in October 2026.

Can anyone comment on the mineral working assessment process?

We are not inviting comments on our assessment process yet. However, it will be made publicly available as part of the evidence base that informs proposals within the next Local Plan. We are keen to hear thoughts on these proposals, with the first formal stage of consultation on the next Local Plan is scheduled to commence in late 2026.