JDi

Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan

Ended on the 18 December 2023
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Geodiversity and the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark

4.69 The Black Country enjoys a rich geological heritage. Limestone, ironstone, fireclay, coal and other minerals provided the ingredients to make iron and paved the way for the Industrial Revolution to begin in the area.

4.70 The Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark was declared on Friday 10 July 2020. The Executive Board of UNESCO confirmed that the Black Country had been welcomed into the network of Global Geoparks as a place with internationally important geology, because of its cultural heritage and the extensive partnerships committed to conserving, managing and promoting it. The boundary of the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark is the same as that of the Black Country itself.

4.71 A UNESCO Global Geopark uses its geological heritage, in connection with all other aspects of the area's natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society in the context of the dynamics of modern society, mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing the impact of natural disasters. By raising awareness of the importance of the area's geological heritage in history and society today, UNESCO Global Geoparks give local people a sense of pride in their region and strengthen their identification with the area. The creation of innovative local enterprises, new jobs and high-quality training courses is stimulated as new sources of revenue are generated through sustainable geotourism, while the geological resources of the area are protected.

(2) Policy SNE4 - Geodiversity and the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark

  1. Development proposals in Sandwell will not be supported where they would have significant adverse impact on Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark geosites, except:
    1. where suitable mitigation and / or compensation is provided to address the adverse impacts of the proposed development;
      or
    2. where any residual harm following mitigation / compensation, along with any other harm, is clearly outweighed by the benefits of the development.
       
  2. Development proposals in Sandwell should:
    1. wherever possible, make a positive contribution to the protection and enhancement of geodiversity within the boundaries of the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark and in relation to the geosites identified within it;
    2. give locally significant geological sites[62] a level of protection commensurate with their importance;
    3. consider, and avoid any disruption to, the importance of the inter-connectivity of greenspace and public access between geosites within the boundary of the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark;
    4. ensure geological sites of importance[63] are clearly identified where they are within or close to development proposals;
    5. make it easy to access geoheritage features – including temporary exposures – for research and educational purposes; and / or
    6. enable access to records and samples as part of local and national geological record keeping.
       
  3. Where necessary, conditions will be put in place on approvals for planning permission to ensure appropriate monitoring is undertaken and to make sure mitigation, compensation and offsetting is delivered effectively.

Justification

4.72 Paragraph 174 of the NPPF (2021) requires local authorities to protect sites of geological value, "… in a manner commensurate with their statutory status or identified quality in the development plan". The draft Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (September 2021)[64] states that development should at the very least aim to avoid significant harm to geological conservation interests including through mitigation and consideration of reasonable alternatives.

4.73 Areas of geological interest also form a significant part of the industrial landscapes of Sandwell and the wider Black Country. They reflect the area's history of mining and extraction and will often co-exist with, and form part of the setting of, protected / sensitive historic landscapes. In many cases they also form an intrinsic part of the green infrastructure network, contributing to landscape and ecological diversity as part of the wider natural environment.

4.74 As part of this strategic network of green infrastructure, geosites should be retained wherever possible and their contribution to GI recognised and considered when development is proposed that would affect the areas they form part of.

4.75 New development should have regard to the conservation of geological features and should take opportunities to achieve gains for conservation through the form and design of development.

4.76 Where development is proposed that would affect an identified geological site the approach should be to avoid adverse impact to the existing geological interest. If this is not possible, the design should seek to retain as much as possible of the geological Interest and enhance this where achievable, for example by incorporating permanent sections within the design, or creating new interest of at least equivalent value by improving access to the interest.

4.77 The negative impacts of development should be minimised, and any residual impacts mitigated.

UNESCO Global Geoparks

4.78 A UNESCO Global Geopark[65] is a single, unified geographical area where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are located. It is an area of geological significance, managed with three main objectives in mind:

  1. to protect the geological landscape and the nature within it;
  2. to educate visitors and local communities; and
  3. to promote sustainable development, including sustainable tourism.

4.79 All UNESCO Global Geoparks contain internationally significant geology and are managed through community-led partnerships that promote an appreciation of natural and cultural heritage while supporting the sustainable economic development of the area.

4.80 UNESCO Global Geopark status is not itself a statutory designation.

[62] Many of which are identified as Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINCs) or Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), and / or lie within areas of significant historic value, such as conservation areas, registered parks and gardens or other parts of the Black Country's historic landscape.

[63] Statutory designations and sites of local importance such as SINCs and SLINCs with a geological component

[64] Paragraph 5.4.6

[65] https://www.unesco.org.uk/geoparks/

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