From: Harriss, Andrew To: Planning Services Subject: FW: Cater Concrete BX 13 0489 Date: 11 June 2013 10:05:40 Attachments: BX 13 0489 Carter Concrete Britons Lane .doc

From: Gary Linder [mailto:Gary.Linder@north-.gov.uk] Sent: 11 June 2013 09:55 To: Harriss, Andrew Subject: Cater Concrete BX 13 0489

Dear Andrew,

Please find attach the comments of this Council’s Landscape Officer.

Sorry for their omission.

Kind regards

Gary

Gary Linder BSc (Hon), DipTP, MRTPI, MIHBC. Senior Planning Officer North Norfolk District Council

01263 516152 [email protected]

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Follow us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/NorthNorfolkDC Think before you ink - do you really need to print this? ********************************************************************* North Norfolk District Council Conservation, Design and Landscape MEMORANDUM To: Gary Linder Ref: BX/13/0489 From: Kerys Witton, Landscape Officer Date: 31st May 2013 Re: Determination of conditions under first periodic review of Mineral Permission C/1/93/1007, Carter Concrete Ltd, Britons Lane, Beeston Regis, . The existing conditions, restoration and after-care proposals for the Britons Lane quarry fall short of what would now be considered acceptable for minerals workings under current standards and best practice. The site is situated within the AONB, a key area of ecological connectivity and high tourism value, and the restoration proposals should seek to address these areas of concern. Although the quarry and operations are not readily visible within the AONB, this does not negate the need to ensure a high quality restoration package.

The current conditions lack adequate detail on what the long term strategy for the restored quarry will be; exactly what habitats will be created and what species are being targeted for conservation, where these will be located and how these will be achieved and managed on a long term basis (i.e. greater than five years). Furthermore, how the ecological enhancements will contribute to the Government’s landscape scale approach to conservation and ecological networks, as set out in ‘Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for ’s wildlife and ecosystem services’, and contribute to the UK BAP targets.

The ecological enhancements should be complemented by the need to retain geological recording and observation on some former quarry faces, as well as the need to promote greater public access within and around the site for the long term. The current conditions appear to give much weight to a continuing industrial use on the site for concrete operations and offer no long term sustainable solution for the maintenance of the restored quarry.

Successful mineral site restoration for the benefit of biodiversity and increased public access has taken place in England for decades. There are many examples of best practice to draw and build upon, yet this is not being utilised for this quarry.

It is not acceptable that a set of sub-standard conditions exist for such an important site in the AONB with excellent restoration opportunities. This periodic review should provide the opportunity to improve the restoration and after-care conditions and to invest in the long term future of the site and the surrounding AONB. Regardless of the fact that the quarry is currently in full operation, without up to date approved conditions the continuing operation of the quarry would cease to have permission.

The County Council have acknowledged that the operations are EIA development and as such the Periodic Review of Conditions required the submission of an Environmental Statement. It is questionable whether the submitted Environmental Statement adequately assesses the impact on the AONB and ecology, having had regard to the existing conditions and whether these provide sufficient mitigation, compensation, restoration and after-care.

Regards

Kerys Witton