Mick George Ltd for the Proposal to Extract 1.95 Million Tonnes of Limestone and Import a Similar Volume of Inert Fill to Achieve a Suitable Landform Upon Restoration
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Ringstead Grange Quarry Ringstead, Northamptonshire VOL I ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT (Written Text and Plans) Proposals for Extraction of Limestone and Importation of Suitable Inert Fill MARCH 2012 Ringstead Grange Extraction of limestone and importation of inert Environmental Statement March 2012 CONTENTS Non-Technical Summary 1.Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Aims of the Environmental Statement .................................................................................... 1 1.2. Scoping Response ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3. Summary of Proposals ............................................................................................................ 2 1.4. Methodology Framework ....................................................................................................... 4 1.5. Planning History ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.6. The Applicant Company ......................................................................................................... 7 1.7. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ............................................................................ 8 2.Statement of Community Involvement ..................................................................... 10 3.Site and Environs ........................................................................................................ 15 3.1. General ................................................................................................................................... 15 3.2. Landscape ............................................................................................................................... 16 3.3. Noise ....................................................................................................................................... 17 3.4. Ecology ................................................................................................................................... 18 3.5. Highways ................................................................................................................................ 21 3.6. Soils ........................................................................................................................................ 22 3.7. Archaeology ........................................................................................................................... 25 3.8. Hydrology/Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................... 26 3.9. Public Right of Way ............................................................................................................... 27 3.10. Geology .................................................................................................................................. 28 4.Proposed Development ............................................................................................... 29 4.1. General ................................................................................................................................... 29 4.2. Working Proposals ................................................................................................................. 29 4.3. HGV Movements.................................................................................................................... 36 4.4. Translocation of Hedgerows ................................................................................................... 36 4.5. Mobile mineral processing plant and equipment .................................................................... 37 4.6. Soils Handling, Management and Replacement ..................................................................... 37 4.7. Dust Suppression .................................................................................................................... 39 4.8. Imported Material ................................................................................................................... 41 4.9. Management of Surface Water ............................................................................................... 42 4.10. Hours of Operation ................................................................................................................. 43 4.11. Lighting .................................................................................................................................. 43 4.12. Wheelwash ............................................................................................................................. 43 4.13. Fuel Storage ............................................................................................................................ 44 4.14. Community Liaison ................................................................................................................ 44 Ringstead Grange Extraction of limestone and importation of inert Environmental Statement March 2012 5.Design Statement and Restoration Scheme .............................................................. 45 5.1. Objectives and Restoration Concept ....................................................................................... 45 5.2. Restoration Features ............................................................................................................... 45 5.3. Aftercare ................................................................................................................................. 50 6.Environmental Considerations .................................................................................. 53 6.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 53 6.2. Nature Conservation ............................................................................................................... 53 6.3. Hydrology and Hydrogeology ................................................................................................ 55 6.4. Air Quality .............................................................................................................................. 58 6.5. Noise ....................................................................................................................................... 63 6.6. Highways ................................................................................................................................ 65 6.7. Landscape and Visual Impact ................................................................................................. 66 6.8. Archaeology ........................................................................................................................... 67 6.9. Soils ........................................................................................................................................ 69 6.10. Cumulative Impact ................................................................................................................. 69 7.Summary and Conclusions ........................................................................................ 71 7.1. Summary ................................................................................................................................ 71 7.2. Overall Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 73 Plans Drg No R15/01 - Location Plan (1:25,000 - A3) Drg No R15/02 - Existing Situation Plan (1:5,000 - A3) Drg No R15/03 - Working Scheme (1:5,000 - A3) Drg No R15/04 - Concept Restoration Plan (1:5,000 - A3) Drg No R15/05 - Indicative Phasing Plans (A2) Ringstead Grange Extraction of limestone and importation of inert Environmental Statement March 2012 TECHNICAL REPORTS (VOL II) ANNEXURE 1 Scoping Opinion Request (MGL 11th October 2011) Scoping Opinion (Northamptonshire County Council 6th December) ANNEXURE 2 Phase I Habitat and Protected Fauna Survey Including a Winter Bird Survey (Whitcher Wildlife Ltd) ANNEXURE 3 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (Crestwood Environmental) ANNEXURE 4 Soils Assessment (Land Research Associates) ANNEXURE 5 Archaeological Evaluation (Phoenix Consulting) ANNEXURE 6 Noise Assessment (AEC Acoustics) ANNEXURE 7 Transport Assessment (David Tucker Associates) ANNEXURE 8 Hydrological and Hydrogeological Assessment (DAB Geotechnics) ANNEXURE 9 Dust Action Plan Ringstead Grange Extraction of limestone and importation of inert Environmental Statement March 2012 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Aims of the Environmental Statement 1.1.1. This Environmental Statement, as required by the Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2011 (EIA Regulations), accompanies the planning application submitted by Mick George Ltd for the proposal to extract 1.95 million tonnes of limestone and import a similar volume of inert fill to achieve a suitable landform upon restoration. Environmental Impact Assessment was first introduced into English law by regulations in 1988, though the original procedure was known as Environmental Assessment. The EIA Regulations, came into force in March 1999 and were one of the ways in which the European Commission Directive 98/11 (which amended Directive