The Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) manages this major minerals sector research programme on behalf of The Department for Communities & Local Government (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). The programme to be known as the Sustainable Land Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme is being funded through the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) which will contribute £3.87 million between 2004-2007.

The Sustainable Land-Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme has been established by The Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) as a mechanism to provide funding for aggregate minerals research that is consistent with the objectives of the ALSF and is broadly in line with the aims of the construction aggregates component of the DCLG’s Planning Research Programme.

The specific aims of the programme are:

• To improve the information base on aggregates and environmental constraints, onshore and offshore, so that more sustainable options can be identified in the future,

• To support the improvement of environmental management practices so that impacts can be reduced,

• To assist in providing information and examples of good practices to stakeholders in the process including the encouragement of better liaison between mineral operators and neighbouring communities.

The Programme operates through five research themes as follows.

Theme A:
Impacts of aggregates dredging on the marine environment

Theme B:
Basis of regional and local environmental assessments of aggregates policies

Theme C:
Dissemination of good practices for community involvement and liaison in respect of aggregate operations

Theme D:
Preparation and dissemination of training information for stakeholders in the aggregates planning process

Theme E:
Development and initial implementation of advice on good practices in environmental management of aggregates sites for small and medium sized enterprises.

The programme operates on a ‘calls for bids’ basis. All projects must conclude by the 31st March 2007.