Kent Mineral Sites Plan to go before independent examiner

Residents across Kent will get a formal say on where quarries and other extraction sites could be located in future, after the county council voted to publish its Pre-Submission Mineral Sites Plan and send it for independent examination. The Inspector — appointed by the Secretary of State and working through the Planning Inspectorate — will examine the Plan against soundness criteria established under national planning policy, which typically include whether a plan is positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy.

Before submission for examination, the council is required under planning regulations to publish the Plan for a minimum six-week public consultation period. That window is open to anyone — communities, parish councils, mineral operators, landowners — to submit formal written representations on the Plan’s soundness and legal compliance. Worth noting on your calendar.

Once examined and adopted, the Mineral Sites Plan would become part of the planning framework used to decide applications for mineral development anywhere in Kent. Transport routes, landscape impact, environmental effects near proposed sites — all of it falls within scope. Without an adopted plan in place, those decisions rest on considerably shakier policy ground.

The Planning Inspector may hold public hearing sessions during the examination, giving residents and local groups a further chance to speak directly to the process. Under the standard examination process, if the Inspector finds the Plan falls short on soundness, they can recommend main modifications that the council would need to accept for the Plan to be adopted.

The County Council has now taken the decision to proceed with publication and submission for examination, according to the council’s own announcement.

Key information

• The Pre-Submission Kent Mineral Sites Plan must be published for a public consultation period before it can be submitted for examination — watch for the publication date to be confirmed by Kent County Council
• During that consultation window, anyone can submit formal representations on the Plan’s soundness and legal compliance
• Public hearing sessions may be held by the Planning Inspector during the examination — details will be confirmed once the process begins
• The examination is carried out on behalf of the Secretary of State by a Government-appointed Planning Inspector through the Planning Inspectorate

*The public consultation period will open once Kent County Council publishes the Pre-Submission Plan. Residents should monitor Kent County Council’s official communications for confirmation of dates.*