Collation of the results of the 2023 Aggregate Minerals Survey for Great Britain

Aggregate Minerals (AM) surveys provide an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of national and sub-national sales, inter-regional flows, transportation, consumption and permitted reserves of primary aggregates. The results of these surveys provide comprehensive data for monitoring and facilitating aggregates provision at local, regional and national level. The output is used mainly by government, planning authorities, industry and environmental interest groups. The surveys are used to inform the development of minerals policy in respect of the production, movement and consumption of aggregates. The collated data are made publicly available. Traditionally, AM surveys in England and Wales have been undertaken separately to those for Scotland. Surveys in England and Wales have normally been undertaken at four-yearly intervals since 1973, while those in Scotland have been undertaken more irregularly and often for different years. Surveys for all three countries were, however, undertaken for 2019 (AM2019) but that for Scotland via a separate process to the survey for England and Wales. AM2019 was the first time since 2005 when all three countries used the same survey year. AM2023 is the first survey to incorporate all three countries at the same time, following the same process, thereby allowing data to be presented for Great Britain as a whole. This report and the accompanying data tables present the collation of the data for primary aggregates for 2023. In addition to presenting information on regional and national sales, consumption and permitted reserves of primary aggregates, the report also summarises the movement and consumption of primary aggregates by sub-region in England and Wales. Information is also presented on the quantity of aggregate minerals granted and refused planning permission and planning applications withdrawn between 2020 and 2023. In addition, information is presented on the quantity of aggregate minerals in planning applications submitted between 2020 and 2023 which were awaiting a decision at 31 December 2023. The information is presented for Great Britain, England, Wales and Scotland, for individual regions and, where relevant, sub-regions. It was collected from aggregates producers (reserves, sales and sales by destination) and Mineral Planning Authorities (MPAs) in England and Wales / Local Planning Authorities in Scotland (planning permissions) using standard survey forms. The information submitted via these forms was collated by the British Geological Survey (BGS) on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government. The British Geological Survey (BGS) was commissioned in November 2023 by MHCLG to implement the AM2023 survey and to collate, interpret and report the results. The study was overseen by a Steering Group, which included representatives of MHCLG, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government, Aggregate Working Parties (England) and Regional Aggregate Working Parties (Wales)1 and the aggregates industry.