The EA have issued a permit variation for the soils washing plant located at Martells Quarry in Ardleigh, Essex. An application was submitted to the Environment Agency (EA) in May 2023 for a minor variation to add additional waste types only. The permit was confirmed duly made as received in August 2023. The permit was determined by the EA’s new transactional team which has been formed to process simple applications. No-one from the team made contact with us, a draft permit was not issued for review and the permit was issued in August 2023 and did not contain all the requested changes. The permit was re-issued in September 2023. From submission of the application to receipt of the correct permit took just over 4 months.

The EA have issued a permit variation for the waste activities undertaken at Dollymans Farm in Wickford, Essex. An application was submitted in July 2022 for a minor variation to increase the annual throughputs only. Whilst the application was awaiting allocation, two waste types were added to the list of permitted waste types, which the EA considered changed the application to a normal variation. The application was assigned for duly making in June 2023. The application was then passed between three EA officers before it was duly made in July 2023. When the application was nearing completion, and the draft permit was expected to be received, the local EA officer asked for additional information which had not previously been requested. The final permit was received in November 2023. From submission of the application to receipt of the final permit took nearly 16 months.

On behalf of our client, FM Conway Limited, PDE recently submitted a planning application to Gravesham Borough Council (GBC) for the installation of two additional bitumen tanks, load out gantry and the installation of a bitumen emulsion plant and alternative car parking on land at Imperial Wharf, Clifton Marine Parade, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0DY.

Planning permission was granted by GBC on 11 September 2023.

Imperial Wharf has been operated by FM Conway for a number of years as a bitumen storage facility, allowing bitumen to be imported by ship via the River Thames. Bitumen is stored at the facility before being distributed via road to sites throughout the southeast of England. In addition, Imperial Wharf accommodates FM Conway’s in-house Technology Centre which incorporates a UKAS accredited laboratory within which new bituminous products are designed and tested, playing a vital role in FM Conway’s commitment to innovation in sustainable material solutions.

The grant of planning permission is fantastic news for FM Conway as it builds upon the established operations increasing the wider facility’s resilience and safeguarding against shipment delays to ensure a constant supply of bitumen for the region’s needs. In addition the new investment in the site will provide continued employment opportunities and economic investment to the local area.

On behalf of our client Land Logical Limited, PDE recently submitted a Section 73 application to Kent County Council (KCC) for the variation of Condition 2 attached to planning permission reference DA/18/485 relating to operations at Stone Pit 1, Cotton Lane, Dartford, Kent, DA9 9ED.

The application sought to allow for an extension of time to complete the infilling and restoration of the site by 31 December 2023.

Planning permission was granted by KCC on 08 August 2023.

The need for the short time extension has arisen as a consequence of temporary disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in a reduction in the availability of inert materials for recovery operations as many construction projects were halted. This short extension of time is great news for Land Logical as it will allow the site to be fully restored so that it can be integrated into wider proposals for the sustainable long-term use of Stone Pit 1.

On behalf of our client, Shotley Holdings Limited, PDE recently submitted a planning application to Suffolk County Council (SCC) for the installation and use of a general-purpose building and a spray shop building together with some additional hardstanding. Also, a retrospective application for the installation and use of a secondary weighbridge, welfare unit, four lighting columns and haul road.

Planning permission was granted by SCC on 15 June 2023.

The grant of planning permission for Shotley Holdings Limited has enabled a number of minor changes within the Site which will improve the operational efficiency of the Site in addition to providing a safer and more efficient working environment.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued a variation to the environmental permit for Brickworth Quarry inert landfill site which is operated by Raymond Brown Quarry Products Limited. An application was made by PDE Consulting Limited for a normal variation to amend the permit boundary to include a western extension area (Area B).

The application was submitted in October 2021, and due to the current delays with the EA, it was not assigned for duly making until March 2023. It was duly made as received. The EA raised no questions on the submitted hydrogeological or stability risk assessments or on any other aspects of the application. There was no requirement for a Schedule 5 notice to be issued. A draft permit was issued in May 2023 and the final permit was received in June 2023.

From submission of the application to receipt of the final permit was nearly 20 months, 16 months of which was waiting for the application to be allocated for determination.

PDE Consulting Limited recently submitted three planning applications to Suffolk County Council (SCC) on behalf of Shotley Holdings Limited. This included an application for an eastern extension to Folly Farm Quarry for the extraction, processing, sale and distribution of sand and gravel and subsequent restoration using inert materials. In addition, two Section 73 applications were submitted to enable an extension of time to complete permitted operations in line with proposals for the working and restoration of the eastern extension.

The applications were validated by Suffolk County Council on 05 May 2023.

The Suffolk Minerals and Waste Local Plan adopted July 2020 has allocated the land to the east of the existing Quarry for sand and gravel extraction along with the subsequent restoration of the land using inert materials.

Ultimately, should planning permission be granted it will ensure a continuation of mineral extraction at the site, which provides a valuable source of aggregates to the local construction industry. The extension of time for the existing permitted operations will enable the recycling and mineral processing operations to continue in support of the eastern extension. Ultimately should all applications be approved, it will facilitate the timely and complete restoration of the site, whilst also allowing the proposed eastern extension to be worked and restored.

The Environment Agency (EA) has approved a Waste Recovery Plan (WRP) for the importation and use of wastes at Feltwell Quarry.

Sand and gravel has been extracted at Feltwell Quarry for a number of years. When sand and gravel extraction is complete, it is a requirement of the extant planning permission that the Site is restored in accordance with the approved scheme.

It is proposed that 187,600m³ of inert materials are imported to the Site under a waste recovery permit to complete the restoration. The objectives for the restoration of the quarry are to create a significant area of agricultural land with seasonal wetland and native woodland and hedge planting.

PDE Consulting Limited submitted a WRP to the EA in January 2023 and it was approved as received in May 2023.

PDE Consulting Limited recently prepared a planning application on behalf of Green Aggregates Limited for the erection and operation of an asphalt plant and road planings recycling facility, ancillary facilities and access on land off Burnley Road, West Thurrock, Essex.

The application was submitted to Thurrock Council and validated on 23 March 2023.

Should planning permission be granted, the application will allow for the installation of an eco-friendly asphalt plant which has been designed to support the Applicant’s sustainability initiatives. The asphalt plant has been designed to be able to produce both traditional asphalt and warm asphalt. The ability to produce warm asphalt allows the Applicant to be able to use more recycled road planings within the plant which will replace approximately 75% of virgin aggregate usually required, which significantly reduces the Applicant’s demand on virgin aggregates.

In terms of annual production the asphalt plant is forecast to produce around 250,000 tonnes of asphalt, which will be supported by the road planings recycling facility which is expected to receive 220,000 tonnes of planings per annum for recycling.

In addition to the eco friendly asphalt plant the whole development has been designed to incorporate a number of sustainability initiatives to support the Applicant’s own carbon reduction plans whilst also preserving and enhancing the natural environment. The sustainability initiatives consist of the following:

• Active and passive vehicle electric charging points;
• A cycle shelter to encourage alternative transport options;
• The installation of green and brown roofs to provide biodiversity enhancement;
• The installation of roof mounted PV panels for the solar generation of electricity; and
• High efficiency external LED lighting.

The Proposed Development will provide direct employment for ten full time employees at the Site and will also employ third party contractors which shall provide employment for around a further 175 indirect employees.

On behalf of our client The Lyndon Pallett Group Limited, PDE recently submitted a Section 73 application to Suffolk County Council (SCC) for the variation of Condition 28 attached to planning permission reference SCC/0214/17W relating to operations at Henham Quarry, Suffolk.

The application sought to allow for the implementation of a Mitigation Strategy and Non-Licensed Reasonable Avoidance Measures (RAMS) for Great Crested Newts, to replace an earlier Precautionary Method Statement.

Planning permission was granted by SCC on 05 April 2023.

The grant of planning permission is welcome news for The Lyndon Pallett Group as operations at the quarry have been heavily restricted for a number of years. The implementation of the Mitigation Strategy and Non Licensed RAMS ultimately allows for the full recommencement of operations at the Site in a sensitive manner, ensuring the continued protection of great crested newts and enabling mineral extraction and restoration operations to progress in accordance with the previously approved working and restoration schemes.

On behalf of our client STRABAG AG PDE Consulting Limited submitted a planning application to Hartlepool Borough Council for the erection of a concrete batching plant, gantry cranes, pre-storage shed, laboratory and ancillary infrastructure together with the demolition of a disused building on land at Greenland Road, Hartlepool. This application follows a previous consent obtained by PDE for a similar development at the Site, but allows for revisions to the previously approved Site layout, including the installation of two gantry cranes and a pre-storage shed to be used for the storage of manufactured concrete structures.

Planning permission was granted by Hartlepool Borough Council 17 March 2023.

The grant of planning permission allows STRABAG to continue with the construction of the development at Greenland Road with the inclusion of additional infrastructure which will provide an important supporting role in operations at the Site, increasing the Site’s efficiency. Once fully operational, the development will provide a significant number of new jobs to the Site which has been vacant for a number of years, providing opportunities for economic growth in the local area.