Aggregates Supplier Planning Services for Local Mineral Plan Allocation

The Applicant, is one of the Midlands leading suppliers of aggregates, sand and soils to the construction industry. They supply from their own strategically-located local sources that ensures the highest levels of product quality. An existing quarry development was nearing the end of its working life, necessitating a replacement site for the operator who had at that time no other allocated future provision in the area. 

A greenfield site was identified, located within a Green Belt designation, with a known mineral resource (sand and gravel) but without allocation in the local mineral plan. Our planning and development team were appointed to pursue a minerals allocation and seek planning permission for 3.5 million tonnes of minerals release. Arthian took on this project at a very early stage, it necessitating significant work to produce an environmentally acceptable scheme, in a Green Belt location, within rural Shropshire.

Arthian led the project from conception through to implementation (and operation) providing multidisciplinary expertise relating to the production of a phased operational (extraction) and restoration design, with full volumetrics and the undertaking of a variety of surveys and assessments, including those required for landscape and visual, ecological, arboricultural, hydrological and hydrogeological, and heritage and archaeology aspects, the latter also with geophysical survey and archaeological watching brief (see separate case study). An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mineral planning application were produced alongside the co-ordination and consideration of various other technical studies with subsequent monitoring schemes designed and implemented. Arthian also supported the operator in agreeing the content of a Section 106 Agreement.

The mineral planning authority granted approval in 2019, but subsequently the decision was taken to Judicial Review (JR) by local objectors to the scheme. Arthian provided strong evidence to inform this review, including at the review itself, and resulted in the JR being dismissed with the grant of planning permission being upheld. Arthian also provided submissions to allow planning conditions to be discharged prior to full operations starting at the site. The site is now fully operational in accordance with the approved scheme and Arthian continues to provide environmental and mineral planning support to the operator.