July 24, 2018 10.51 am This story is over 68 months old

Quarry extension could create new public spaces and waterways

It would dig up in excess of 7 million tonnes of sand and gravel

How the restoration would look when finished.

A Stapleford Quarry could be set to dig up in excess of seven million tonnes of sand and gravel over the next 14 years if its plans to extend are approved on Monday.

Breedon Southern, which runs the Norton Bottoms Quarry which stretches over into neighbouring Norton Disney has asked for permission for the four-phase extension along with a restoration scheme to create new habitats, waterways and public access to the local area.

Lincolnshire County Council’s planning and regulation committee members have been recommended to grant the plans which would cover an area of 78 hectares and would help provide reserves of materials until 2032.

National planning policies say that authorities should have at least a seven years’ supply of sand and gravel.

A report before the council on Monday, tells councillors that the quarry’s current reserves are ‘nearing exhaustion’.

A layout of where the Norton Bottoms quarry would extend.

The plans will also pull together a number of existing planning permissions into one document, creating a Section 106 which outlines them all.

Planning officer Felicity Webber says in her report: “Overall I am satisfied that the potential impacts of the development would largely be mitigated, minimised and reduced through the implementation of the mitigation measures proposed within the application and the proposed extension, consolidation of existing planning permissions and overall improved restoration strategy would accord with the relevant policies.”

The report says that some agricultural land would be lost as part of the plans, but says that the restoration would balance that loss by creating an ‘enhanced and improved natural environment available for public access’.

Ms Webber writes: “Whilst it is concluded that the development would reduce the availability of best and most versatile agricultural land, on balance, the benefits of the scheme on whole, in particular through the enhanced habitat creation, would outweigh this loss.”