Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Minerals Extraction of Other Minerals

Small-scale sand removal from beaches in Northern Ireland is a persistent environmental problem. Sand removal from the coastal zone along the North Coast occurs at Portstewart Strand, White Park Bay and Ballintoy Harbour and Ballycastle. Sand deposits on these beaches are generally finite in quantity and a non-renewable resource. The removal of sand from beaches impacts on the coastal ecology and may also affect the stability of coastal infrastructure. When the level of a beach is lowered by the removal of beach material, larger waves form, leading to an increase in coastal erosion. Indirect impacts can include loss of aesthetic quality, habitat destruction, damage to access provision and impairment of the ability of the shoreline to regenerate.

In some instances, private estates have granted individuals rights to take sand/gravel from the shore. Such rights were frequently established before planning control was enacted in Northern Ireland. However, this does not remove the requirement to obtain planning permission for the extraction of sand/gravel from the coastal zone under current planning legislation.

Over the past number of years intermittent extraction of sand/gravel has taken place at the above named locations along the North coast. Ballintoy Harbour, in particular, has been the subject of such periodic removal of sand/gravel. There is a need to control the extraction of sand/gravel from within the coastal zone to ensure no irreparable damage to ecology, shoreline stability and environmental amenity of such areas.

Commercial peat extraction also occurs in parts of the area.

Proposals for extraction of other minerals will be determined in accordance with prevailing regional planning policy, currently set out in Policy MIN 3 of the Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland (PSRNI).