Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

11.48. The geology of Dudley and the wider Black Country is very rich in industrial minerals. Limestone, ironstone, fireclay, and coal provided the ingredients to make iron and paved the way for an intense and very early part of the Industrial Revolution to begin in the area.

11.49. 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. There are forty-five 'Geosites' located across the Black Country with sixteen of these falling within Dudley. This includes Saltwells and Wren's Nest National Nature Reserves.

11.50. 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.

11.51. The NPPF 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 Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy^[29] states that development should aim to avoid significant harm to geological conservation interests and identify mitigation where possible; effects on sites of geological interest should be clearly identified.

11.52. Areas of geological interest also form significant facets of the industrial landscapes of the borough 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.

11.53. As part of this strategic network of green infrastructure, Geosites should be retained wherever possible and their contribution to green infrastructure recognised and taken into account when development is proposed that would affect the areas, they form part of.

11.54. 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.

11.55. 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.

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

^[28] Many of which are identified as Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINCs) or Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) – see policy DLP31, and / or lie within areas of significant historic value, such as conservation areas, registered parks and gardens or other parts of Dudley's historic landscape – see Policy DLP55 - Historic Character and Local Distinctiveness of Dudley.

^[29] Paragraph 5.3.7

11.57. A UNESCO Global Geopark^[30] 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:

11.58. All the 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.

11.59. UNESCO Global Geopark status is not itself a Statutory Designation, although a number of the Geosites are designated heritage assets e.g. Red House Glass Cone, Saltwells and Wrens Nest and Castle Hill are Scheduled Monuments.

^[30] Geoparks