Aggregates: in 13 out of the past 15 years consented reserves have failed to match production (Image credit: Essex County Council)
The picture was better in crushed rock. Two major consents – one in the east midlands and the other in Scotland – meant that producers more than replaced extraction during 2011. However, these two consents hide a generally deteriorating situation. If these two consents are excluded, crushed rock companies replaced less than 40 per cent of the production extracted last year.
In the industry as a whole, BDS has identified only four consents granted during 2011 for proposals that involved more than 10Mt of reserves.
Over the past 15 years, BDS believes that only in 2006 has the quarrying industry more than replenished the reserves taken out during the year. In one other year, new consents granted were similar to production. However, in the other 13 years, the consultancy estimates that consented reserves failed to match production.
An analysis of planning consents for last year shows significant differences between regions. The Midlands and Scotland replenished their production during 2011. However, the position was bleak in all other regions. In southern and northern England, and Wales, new reserves consented represented just four months production, even at the depressed 2011 levels.
Further details are available from Julian Clapp t. 01761 433035 or email julian.clapp@bdsmarketing.co.uk
