On behalf of Sewells Reservoir Construction Limited (SRC) PDE submitted a planning application to Essex County Council seeking planning permission for a western extension to Martells Quarry for the extraction, processing, sale and distribution of silica sand and gravel, and subsequent restoration using inert materials along with the creation of a new access at Martells Quarry, Slough Lane, Ardleigh, Essex. Alongside this application four Section 73 applications were submitted to Essex County Council to vary permissions for the existing consented operations at Martells Quarry to align with proposals for the working and restoration of the proposed western extension.

A resolution to grant planning permission was given by Essex County Council’s Development and Regulation Committee subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement. Planning permission for the western extension and associated Section 73 applications was issued by Essex County Council on 31 January 2024.

The proposed extension area is the only site allocated within the Essex Minerals Local Plan 2014 for silica sand extraction making it a highly important site to meet the identified need for mineral within the County. The grant of planning permission will provide significant benefits for the area including continued employment, the supply of high quality minerals and support economic growth. Following the completion of mineral extraction the western extension will be restored back to agricultural land with biodiversity enhancements via the deposit of inert materials.

PDE recently submitted a planning application to Suffolk County Council on behalf of our client Allen Newport Limited for the installation and use of a replacement mineral washing plant on land at Cavenham Quarry, Cavenham Road, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6SE.

The planning application was validated by Suffolk County Council on 16 January 2024.

The granting of this application will support the local construction industry through the provision of mineral which complies with the National Planning Policy Framework objective to support the building of a strong, competitive economy.

PDE recently submitted a planning application to Suffolk County Council on behalf of our client Allen Newport Limited seeking to allow for the installation and use of a washing plant for the recycling of inert materials on land at Cavenham Quarry, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The planning application was validated by Suffolk County Council on 16 January 2024.

The granting of this application will push material up the waste hierarchy by reducing the reliance on landfill as well as providing recycled aggregate products to the local construction market. This is a sustainable alternative to the use of primary aggregate products.

On behalf of our client, Aggmax Transport Limited, PDE recently submitted a planning application to Suffolk County Council to allow for a northern extension to Lawn Farm Quarry for the extraction, processing, sale and distribution of sand and gravel and subsequent restoration using inert materials at Lawn Farm Quarry, Wetherden, Stowmarket, Suffolk.

This application was validated by Suffolk County Council on 04 January 2024.

The Site is allocated within Suffolk County Council’s adopted Minerals and Waste Local Plan as a suitable site for the extraction of sand and gravel. The site allocation allows for the extraction of sand and gravel with restoration using imported inert materials. Should planning permission be granted, this development will provide significant benefits for the area including continued employment, and the supply of high quality materials to the local construction industry, meeting the identified need for sand and gravel within Suffolk.

On behalf of our client Allen Newport Limited, PDE recently submitted a planning application to Suffolk County Council seeking to allow for the western extension to Cavenham Quarry for the extraction, processing, sale and distribution of sand and gravel and subsequent restoration using inert materials at Cavenham Quarry, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Suffolk County Council’s Development and Regulation Committee resolved to grant permission on 19 December 2023 and planning permission was issued by Suffolk County Council on 20 December 2023.

The extension to Cavenham Quarry is allocated within Suffolk County Council’s adopted Minerals and Waste Local Plan and the grant of planning permission is fantastic news for Allen Newport Limited as it enables the continuation of mineral extraction at the Site, supporting jobs at the Quarry and the local construction industry. The development will contribute towards ensuring there is a sufficient supply of minerals to provide the infrastructure, buildings, energy, and goods the country needs. Upon completion of the proposed mineral extraction the land will be restored back to an agricultural afteruse through the use of inert materials with ecological enhancement which will complement the surrounding landscape.

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.