Mineral extraction in a green and pleasant land: What is the effect of sustainable development policies on aggregates quarrying in the United Kingdom?*

Any views presented in this paper are those of the author, not the views of Wardell Armstrong

Abstract

The United Kingdom (UK) government is committed to sustainable development and a number of its policies are targeted towards the quarrying industry. Environmental pressure groups have focused their attention on this industry and are influencing government policy in relation to aggregates quarrying. Excluding oil and gas this is the largest mineral extractive industry in the UK and its business activities are being increasingly affected and constrained by such policies. Consequently, what are the supply and demand implications for quarried aggregate minerals of the UK Government's evolving sustainable development policies? This paper examines some of these policies from an economic perspective and their effect on the aggregates market. It focuses on issues relating to land use planning policies, environmental taxation and recycling. The paper attempts to analyse the implications for the supply and demand for quarried aggregates and how the quarrying industry is responding to changes brought about by a sustainable development policy.

Notes

Any views presented in this paper are those of the author, not the views of Wardell Armstrong