Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Minerals Existing Workings

Within the Plan area there are 14 active basalt quarries between the four Council areas and 9 active sand and gravel pits.

Some of these are located near or in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or adjacent to other environmentally sensitive areas. In determining planning applications, the need for the mineral resource will be balanced against the need to protect and conserve the environment, taking into account all relevant environmental, economic and planning considerations.