Annex 3: Compendium of Baseline Data
Soil and mineral resources
Soil and mineral resources
Agricultural land
Although special procedures to protect prime quality agricultrual land, which is agricultural land identified as being of Class 1, 2 or 3.1 in the
land capability classification for agriculture as developed by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, were relaxed some years ago, it
remains an environmental asset. The draft replacement Scottish Planning Guidance considers prime quality agricultural land is a finite national
resource. Development on prime agricultural land should not be permitted unless it is an essential component of the settlement strategy or is
necessary to meet an established need, for example for major infrastructure development, where no other suitable site is available. Small scale
development, including housing, directly linked to rural businesses may also be permitted. Renewable energy generation development or
minerals extraction may be acceptable where restoration proposals will return the land to its former status.
There are large areas of prime quality agricultural land within the Local Plan. This is concentrated along a coastal strip which extends a few
kilometres inland
Published maps of good quality agricultural land are available from the Macauley Land Use Research Institute.
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Annex 3: Compendium of Baseline Data
Soil and mineral resources
Mineral resources
Development of mineral resources is controlled through the separate Minerals Subject Plan. However, the local plan can have an
influence over the extent to which development may take place in areas of mineral resources.
Ther are substantial areas of coal throughout the southern part of the Local Plan area. The shallower deposits could be worked by opencast
methods but there are also deeper deposits which could only be won by deep mining. The removal of coal, especially those deposits worked at
relatively shallow depths, can povide positive outcomes through preventing sterilisation by overlying development, by stabilising sites perviously
underlain by old mine workings and bringing about site restoration to suitable uses. These coals contain methane which can be abstracted via
boreholes. The acceptablility of opencast coal operations is indicated in the Minerals Subject Local Plan.
The area also contains limited deposits of sand an gravel. There are extensive deposits of igneous rock which provide a source of construction
aggregates scattered trhoughout the Plan area These reserves are extensivley worked: there are two active quarries (Cruicks and Lochhead)
and and one (Goat) moribund or consented unit. One of the quarries (Cruicks) is planned to close during the plan period with another reopening
(Goat) to replace it.
Two silica sandstone quarries supply the specialist sand trade (Burrowwine and Devilla Forrrest) and some of their production is
used by the cosntruction industry. There are extensive deposits of silica sandstone in the western part of the Plan area.
There is one small quarry at Cullaloe with permission for winning building sandstone.
All this mineral extraction activity will continue and, opencast coal activity apart, though there is no reason to expect a major
increase in the overall level of activity. The overall demand for crsuhed rock aggregate for fill purposes may drop due the
availablity of pulverised fuel ash from Longannet Power Station and the recycling of demolition materials while any downturn in the
economy tends to be reflected in similar downturns in demand for aggregates. The Scottish Government has indicated a
commitment to non-nuclear generation at Longannet Power Station in the draft National Planning Framework 2. The installation of
flue gas desulpherisation equipment at Longannet Power Station may increase demand for Fife coal previously considered to be
unsuitable which could result in increased activity with Fife. This, together with the anticipated development of carbon capture and
storage facilities will reduce the environmental impact of the Power Station and lengthen its productive life.
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Annex 3: Compendium of Baseline Data
Soil and mineral resources
Source: Fife Council
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Annex 3: Compendium of Baseline Data
Soil and mineral resources
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