Shiel Dykes Quarry

1 Wardell Armstrong LLP Shiel Dykes Quarry

Non Technical Summary 2 Wardell Armstrong LLP Introduction Site Location Planning permission is being sought for a new quarry at Shiel Dykes, north of Newton on the Moor in central Northumberland. The quarry will principally extract whinstone, a hard basalt rock that is used in the construction industry, principally for building roads. 5 million tonnes of rock will be extracted over a 25 year period and distributed via an existing access road that joins up with the A1. No lorries will pass through any local villages. As the quarry is worked it will be progressively restored broadly back to existing ground levels using imported inert construction and demolition arisings and overburden from the site, leaving a site that will be returned to upland agricultural grazing. Once all of the rock has been extracted infilling with the imported arisings will continue for another five years, so the total time period for the operation will be 30 years. The planning application is submitted jointly by Northumberland Estates (as landowner) and by North East Concrete (as future operator of the quarry). Northumberland Estates is the private company that represents the business interests of the Duke of Northumberland and the Percy family. North East Concrete is a family-owned business with a substantial share of the quarrying, concrete and asphalt production sectors in Tyneside and Northumberland. The company has a strong prior legacy of safe working and sensitive restoration from its other quarries, including at Caistron at Rothbury, Hedgeley and Wooperton Quarries at Powburn. An Environmental Statement (ES) has been prepared to accompany the submission made to Northumberland County Council. The ES describes the proposed operation of the quarry and its environmental impact through a process known as Environmental Impact Assessment. This determines if potential impacts have significant effects for which mitigation will be required. This Non Technical Summary provides an overview of what is being proposed and summarises the findings of the ES in non-technical language. 3 Wardell Armstrong LLP Site Description Site location and setting The proposed quarry will be located approximately 5.3km south of Alnwick, 2km to the west of the A1 trunk road and 2km north-west of Newton on the Moor. The extraction area lies within the boundary of Denwick Parish Council but the access route to the A1 falls within the boundary of Shilbottle parish. The area of the application site is 46.2 hectares, of which only 19 hectares will actually be extracted, with the

A1 remaining areas used for processing, soil storage, water management and traffic circulation. The site is currently predominantly under grassland, in five arable and grazing fields. There is also a small apple orchard and some farm access tracks. The field boundaries are a mixture of dry stone walls, stock proof fencing and rows of trees. The site is on the south and south-east facing hillside above the Newton Burn to the south over a long view. The highest point is at the north-west, sloping down towards the south-east. A track runs through the site but will be permanently diverted round the western boundary of the site at the start of the development. Bridleways and footpaths to the south-east of the site towards Newton on the Moor and to the north at Freemans Hill will be unaffected. The moorland to the west is open access land. There are no records of protected flora or fauna within or near the site. 4 Wardell Armstrong LLP Surrounding Uses The former Harecrag landfill site lies immediately to the north of the proposed quarry. The landfill was originally a hard rock quarry, which was subsequently infilled with household, commercial and industrial waste. Infilling operations were completed in 2003 and the site has been grazed ever since. The primary land use of the surrounding area is agriculture with some small blocks of coniferous forestry. The field pattern gives way to more open grassy Approximate extent of the site moorland in the west with larger blocks of forestry. The A1 trunk road is located 2km to the east, with scattered properties and small settlements in the surrounding landscape. The settlements surrounding the proposed extraction area are Newton on the Moor, Alnwick, Swarland and Shilbottle. The nearest occupied buildings are Shiel Dykes Farm to the south and Freemans Hill to the north. Northumberland Estates are planning to plant nearly 300ha of mixed woodland and forestry on land to the north and west of the site. This planting will start in the north in the winter of 2020/2021 and be completed in the south in the following winter.

5 Wardell Armstrong LLP

135

175

135 DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING

180 180 135 140 170 170 140 KEY 155 KEY 155

145 160

160 145 150 150

165 Project Description 165 Application Boundary Application Boundary

Extraction Phasing Extraction Phasing 0 100 200 Direction of working 0 100 200 Direction of working metres metres

Existing ExistingFive million tonnes of rock will be extracted over a 25 year period at

180 Existing vegetation Existing vegetation 180

Trees Trees 4.5m 140 4.5m

2.5m 2.5m 140 a rate of approximately 200,000 tonnes per year. Inert construction

Hedgerow Hedgerow

180 Agricultural land 180 Agricultural land

185

RH RH andWater body demolition arisings will be imported to allow the quarry to

Water body

185 140 2m 3m 2m 3m 140 Refer to Figure 3.7 for Fence / gate Refer to Figure 3.7 for Fence / gate detail of compound area detail of compound area Partial restoration of Phase 1 4m Issues Stone wall 4m Issues beStone wall progressively restored to level together with overburden from 170 2.5m 2.5m

175 ED Bdy Proposed 175 ED Bdy Proposed

2.5m 150 2.5m 160 150 185

RH 5m RH Quarry floor

180 3.5m Quarry floor 155 3.5m

185 155 145 165 145 185 the site. Some of the imported material will be recycled for reuse 1.5m 1.5m

170 Site compound and access tracks 180 150 Site compound and access tracks 165 4m 4m 180 170 Phase 1 Topsoil storage mound Phase 1 Topsoil storage mound 180

160 155 160 150 and sale. The progressive restoration of the quarry will return it 3.5m 3.5m 140 Subsoil storage mound

155 Subsoil storage mound

160

145 150 160 135 140 165 Def Def Overburden storage mound 2m Overburden storage 2mmound 125130 3m 120 180 180 185 115

Water treatment area 150 180 to broadly existing ground levels, with existing soils replaced and

Water treatment area

155 150

Edge protection bund RH 155

160 165 15m 15m Realigned by-way 170 3m Realigned by-way

150 126.8 155 Phase 1 Restoration 165 the site returned to agricultural and valuable low-nutrient whin Def

155

175 165 Rough pasture / grassland

165

Phase 2 175 Phase 2

3m 160 173.1m 170 110 Track Track 13m grassland.Whin grassland Once all of the mineral has been extracted infilling will

165 Agricultural land 155 155

160 155 160 Proposed trees along fenceline 3m

160 165 continue for a further five years to complete the restoration of the 165 Proposed fence

165 Phase 3 10m Phase 3 160 10m 145

145 Field gate 165 3m RH RH site.Proposed woodland 155 150 175 160 150

170

170 REVISION DETAILS DATE DRAWN CHK'D APP'D REVISION DETAILS DATE DRAWN CHK'D APP'D

Phase 4 CLIENT Phase 4 CLIENT Trough160 The site will be worked in four phases, from north to south using Trough 155 NORTH EAST CONCRETE LTD 165 NORTH EAST CONCRETE LTD AND NORTHUMBERLAND165 ESTATES Advanced woodland AND NORTHUMBERLAND ESTATES 155 screen planting 140 160 140 PROJECT PROJECT ED Bdy the standard quarrying extraction techniques of soil stripping ED Bdy 145 145 150 155 SHIEL DYKES QUARRY 150 SHIEL DYKES QUARRY

155 and storing, overburden removal, rock blasting, and crushing and DRAWING TITLE DRAWING TITLE Swineleas FIGURE 3.1 Swineleas FIGURE 3.2 PHASE 1 PHASE 2 135 135 150 150 processing into suitable sized aggregates. The aggregates will then DRG No. REV DRG No. REV 145 NT14060/FIGURE 3.2 145 NT14060/FIGURE 3.1 - 140 - Pond Pond 140 DRG SIZE SCALE DATE DRG SIZE SCALE 145 DATE 145 A2 1:2500 JULY 2020 A2 1:2500 03/07/2020JULY 2020 DRAWN BY beCHECKED stockpiled BY APPROVED BY from which lorries will then be loaded for distribution Existing by-way DRAWN BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY Existing by-way AB AC NB AB AC NB

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | TEL 0191 232 0943 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | TEL 0191 232 0943 WWW.WARDELL-ARMSTRONG.COM WWW.WARDELL-ARMSTRONG.COM 130 BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW 130 BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW 135 BOLTON LEEDS 135 BOLTON LEEDS 140 off-site. Blasting will take place between the hours of 10.00 and CARDIFF LONDON 140 CARDIFF LONDON Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Maps CARLISLE MANCHESTER Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Maps c CARLISLE140 MANCHESTER  Crown Copyright All Rights Reserved c  Crown Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright Reserved Licence No. 0100031673 EDINBURGH STOKE ON TRENT CopyrightPhase Reserved 1140 Licence No. 0100031673 Phase EDINBURGH2 STOKE ON TRENT N:\NT\NT14060 - SHIEL DYKES PLANNING AND EIA\03 - DESIGN\AUTOCAD\NT14060 FIGURE 3.2 PHASE 2.DWG

N:\NT\NT14060 - SHIEL DYKES PLANNING AND EIA\03 - DESIGN\AUTOCAD\NT14060 FIGURE 3.1 PHASE 1.DWG 16.00 Monday to Friday in accordance with a scheme to be agreed 135

135 by the mineral planning authority. It is anticipated that blasting will

175 DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING

180 135 180 135

KEY KEY

170 140 155 170 140

145 155 160 150 145 Application Boundary 160 150 takeApplication Boundary place a maximum of once or twice per week. 165 165 Extraction Phasing Extraction Phasing

Direction of working Direction of working 0 100 200 0 100 200 Existing Existing metres metres

Existing vegetation Topsoil,Existing vegetation subsoil and overburden will be stripped and stored in Trees 180 Trees

4.5m

140 Hedgerow 4.5m 2.5m 140 2.5m separateHedgerow stockpiles around the perimeter of the site. These mounds

Agricultural land Agricultural land 180

Water body 180 RH Water body RH

185 will be grass seeded and used for restoring the site. A block of

Fence / gate 185

2m 3m 140 Fence / gate 2m 3m 140 Refer to Figure 3.7 for Refer to Figure 3.7 for detail of compound area Stone wall detail of compound area Stone wall

4m Issues

Complete restoration of Phase 1 4m Issues

180 180 mixed woodland will be planted in the south-eastern corner of the Proposed Proposed ED Bdy Quarry floor ED Bdy 165

165 Quarry floor 5m RH 5m RH

175

175 145 145

1.5m 170 155 Site compound and access tracks

185 170 155 Site compound and access tracks

185 site to help screen operations in this part of the site. 1.5m

185 185

160 160

180 Topsoil storage mound

4m 150 Topsoil storage mound 4m 150 Phase 1 Phase 1 180 Subsoil storage mound 180 3.5m Subsoil storage mound 3.5m

180 Overburden storage mound Overburden storage mound 2m Access to the site will be via the existing haul road that was used 5m Water treatment area 5m Partial restoration of Phase 2 Water treatment area Complete restoration of Phase 2 Realigned by-way forRealigned by-way the former Harecrag landfill site, to the north and east of the Phase 1-2 Restoration Phase 1-3 Restoration 165 160 Rough pasture / grassland Rough pasture / grassland Phase 2 150 Phase 2 145 Whin grassland site.Whin grassland This joins the A1 northbound carriageway at the site of the old 135 Track 130 125 155 Track

180 120

155 110115 Agricultural field 4m 140

170 4m Agricultural field 155 175 150 Proposed trees along fenceline

160 Partial restoration of Phase 3 publicProposed trees along fenceline weighbridge. Some improvements to this junction area will

180 Proposed fence Proposed fence 140

165 160 155 145 150 170 145

Phase 3 145 Proposed gate 175 140

9m Phase 3 135 160 145 Proposed gate 145 130

4m 125

180 120 be required. 165

140 Proposed woodland 175

RH 6m 150 155 135 115 RH Proposed woodland

150

120 150

130 Proposed hedgerow 160 125 Proposed hedgerow 3m 110 Operations will be limited to the following hours: 170

165 155 REVISION DETAILS DATE DRAWN CHK'D APP'D 155 REVISION DETAILS DATE DRAWN CHK'D APP'D 3m 155 CLIENT Phase 4 Phase 4 CLIENT Trough160 NORTH EAST CONCRETE LTD •NORTH EAST 07.00 CONCRETE LTD to 18.00 Monday to Friday; and 160 Advanced woodland AND NORTHUMBERLAND ESTATES Advanced woodland AND NORTHUMBERLAND ESTATES screen planting 3m 165 140 screen planting 140

150

155 PROJECT ED Bdy 150 PROJECT ED Bdy • 07.00 to 13.00 Saturdays 145 145 150 150 SHIEL DYKES155 QUARRY SHIEL DYKES QUARRY

4m 5m 155 155 150 DRAWING TITLE DRAWING TITLE Swineleas FIGURE 3.3 Swineleas FIGURE 3.4 PHASE 3 OutsidePHASE 4 of these hours essential maintenance of plant and 135 135 150

DRG No. REV DRG No. REV 145 NT14060/FIGURE 3.3 - 145 140 140 NT14060/FIGURE 3.4 - Pond DRG SIZE SCALE DATE Pond 145 DRG SIZE machinerySCALE DATE may take place if needed. No operations would take 145 A2 1:2500 JULY 2020 A2 1:2500 JULY 2020 DRAWN BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY Existing by-way Existing by-way DRAWN BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY AB AC NB AB AC NB

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | TEL 0191 232 0943 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | TEL 0191 232 0943 WWW.WARDELL-ARMSTRONG.COM place onWWW.WARDELL-ARMSTRONG.COM Sundays, Bank or other public holidays, except in case of 130 130 135 BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW 135 BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW BOLTON LEEDS 140 140 BOLTON LEEDS CARDIFF LONDON CARDIFF LONDON Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Maps CARLISLE MANCHESTER Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Maps c  Crown Copyright All Rights Reserved CARLISLE MANCHESTER 140  Crown Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright Reserved Licence No. 0100031673 c EDINBURGH140 STOKE ON TRENT Copyright Reserved Licence No. 0100031673 emergency.EDINBURGH STOKE ON TRENT N:\NT\NT14060 - SHIEL DYKES PLANNING AND EIA\03 - DESIGN\AUTOCAD\NT14060 FIGURE 3.3 PHASE 3.DWG Phase 3 N:\NT\NT14060Phase - SHIEL DYKES PLANNING AND EIA\03 - DESIGN\AUTOCAD\NT14060 4 FIGURE 3.4 PHASE 4.DWG The proposed development will provide direct employment for up to ten persons, with approximately an additional 10 haulage jobs and 5 contractors reliant on the operation of the site. It is anticipated that the quarry workers and the majority of hauliers will likely live within the surrounding area.

6 Wardell Armstrong LLP

135 175 DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING

180 135 Restoration

170 140 155 KEY 160 150 145 165 ByApplication bringing Boundary in inert materials and reusing overburden the site will Existing be able to be progressively restored throughout the extraction life. 0 100 200 Existing vegetation metres The materials will allow the original ground levels to be reinstated, Trees

andHedgerow the stored soils replaced on top, producing agricultural fields 180

definedAgricultural land by hedges, stone walls and lines of trees. Some of the fields 140

willWater body be of improved agricultural standard, and others left as rough pasture.Fence / gate Part of the site will be returned to a low nutrient whin RH Stone wall

140 grassland, a key habitat of the Northumberland Biodiversity Action Proposed restoration Issues Plan and of high biodiversity interest. Trees planted at the start ofRough works pasture grassland to help screen the site will, by the end of extraction, be ED Bdy Whin grassland

165 RH

175 mature and represent another block of woodland along this broad

145 Agricultural land 170 155

160 hillsideTrees along fenceline when viewed from afar. Eighteen oaks will be planted during 150

theFence progressive restoration to replace those being removed.

135 Field gate

175 DO NOT SCALE FROM THIS DRAWING

180 Woodland 180 135 Hedgerow

170 140 155 KEY 160 150 145 Realigned by-way 165 Application Boundary

Existing

Track 0 100 200 Existing vegetation metres Trees

Hedgerow

180 145

Agricultural land RH 140

150 160 Water body

170 Fence / gate

RH REVISION DETAILS DATE DRAWN CHK'D APP'D

CLIENT

165 Stone wall 140 NORTH EAST CONCRETE LTD AND NORTHUMBERLAND ESTATES 155 Woodland planting retained 140 160 Proposed restoration Issues PROJECT ED Bdy 145 Rough pasture grassland 150 SHIEL DYKES QUARRY ED Bdy Whin grassland 150 155 165 RH DRAWING TITLE

175 Swineleas FIGURE 3.5 145 Agricultural land

170 155 RESTORATION

135 160 Trees along fenceline

150 DRG No. REV 145 140 NT14060/FIGURE 3.5 - Pond DRG SIZE SCALEFence DATE 145 A2 1:2500 JULY 2020 Existing by-way DRAWN BY CHECKEDField BY gate APPROVED BY AB AC NB

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | TEL 0191 232 0943 WWW.WARDELL-ARMSTRONG.COM 180 130 Woodland 135 BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW 140 BOLTON LEEDS CARDIFF LONDON Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Maps HedgerowCARLISLE MANCHESTER c 140  Crown Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright Reserved Licence No. 0100031673 EDINBURGH STOKE ON TRENT

N:\NT\NT14060 - SHIEL DYKES PLANNING AND EIA\03 - DESIGN\AUTOCAD\NT14060 FIGURE 3.5 FINAL RESTORATION PLAN.DWG Realigned by-way

Track

145

150 160

170

REVISION DETAILS DATE DRAWN CHK'D APP'D

CLIENT 165 NORTH EAST CONCRETE LTD AND NORTHUMBERLAND ESTATES 155 Woodland planting retained 140 160

PROJECT ED Bdy 145 150 SHIEL DYKES QUARRY

155 150 DRAWING TITLE Swineleas FIGURE 3.5 RESTORATION 135

DRG No. REV 145 140 NT14060/FIGURE 3.5 - Pond DRG SIZE SCALE DATE 145 A2 1:2500 JULY 2020 Existing by-way DRAWN BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY AB AC NB

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE | TEL 0191 232 0943 WWW.WARDELL-ARMSTRONG.COM 130 135 BIRMINGHAM GLASGOW 140 BOLTON LEEDS CARDIFF LONDON Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Maps CARLISLE MANCHESTER c 140  Crown Copyright All Rights Reserved Copyright Reserved Licence No. 0100031673 EDINBURGH STOKE ON TRENT

N:\NT\NT14060 - SHIEL DYKES PLANNING AND EIA\03 - DESIGN\AUTOCAD\NT14060 FIGURE 3.5 FINAL RESTORATION PLAN.DWG 7 Wardell Armstrong LLP Traffic The quarry will use the existing priority access onto the A1 as the sole vehicular access. Local residents will know this as the point where the public weighbridge and the prominent ComVert advertisement is located. Alterations to the junction will be made, including providing space for lorries to decelerate to safely enter the site from the south. The quarry will be gated for security. On leaving the site all larger lorries will head north. If they need to head south towards Tyneside they will exit the A1 at the next available junction at the Willowburn junction and travel back on the southbound carriageway. Only vehicles under 7.5m in length will be permitted to turn right onto the A1 directly from the quarry, using the existing separator island in the middle of A1 Northbound Future Deceleration the lanes. Carriageway Lane and Taper Appropriate signage will be placed to warn drivers of the quarry but overall the quarry will generate very little increase in traffic on the A1 compared to existing numbers of vehicles using the road.

Site Access Road

Ecology There will be no effect on sites designated for nature conservation in the vicinity of the proposed quarry. Some low value habitats within the site will be lost during the quarry operations but replaced on restoration. The most significant of these losses is the line of mature trees in the centre of the site. This loss will be compensated for in the long term with the planting of 18 oak trees as well as 1ha of new broadleaved woodland. The creation of an area of whin grassland will be a significant biodiversity gain. Whin grassland is a key target habitat of Northumberland County Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan. Species losses within the site will be mitigated, particularly by precautionary measures for bats and for nesting birds, and will be compensated for by the restoration of habitats similar to those affected. 8 Wardell Armstrong LLP Cultural Heritage The Environmental Statement assesses the impact of the quarry on historic buildings in the vicinity of the site which are protected by law. Because of their distance from the site, their setting or the lack of visibility between them and the quarry, the ES concludes that the workings will have no impact on them or the way they are appreciated.

Initial archaeologicalon behalf of investigations have revealed evidence of Northumberlandmedieval ridge and furrowEstates field systems, common in this area. A plan of excavation,and recording and preservation of any archaeological featuresNorth found once East the soils have been stripped from the site is being proposed.Concrete This will enableLtd the past activity on the site to be thoroughly understood and the results made publicly available. Our knowledge of Shiel Dyke Newton-on-the-Moorthe local area’s past will increase and because of this benefit the overall Northumberlandeffect of the scheme on heritage will be small.

archaeological desk-based assessment reportLandscape 4975 and Visual Impact

FigureThis 6:will Extract be afrom new Christopher quarry introduced into this rural landscape to the Greenwood'snorth-west Map of Newtonof Northumberland, on the Moor. It will temporarily change the 1828landform, land cover, land use and management of the site for the duration of the operation. The formationnot to scaleof soil and overburden storage mounds on the perimeter of the site, the grass seeding of these mounds, woodland planting in the south-eastern corner of the site and the backfilling and progressive restorationapproximate of the site quarrylocation void will minimise impacts. There willbe some prominent changes to the landscape character of the site and the area within approximately 2.5km to the south and south-east of the site. There would also be prominent changes to views experienced by residents of this area and people travelling through this area on the road and rights of way network. These are shown and assessed in the Environmental Statement. The woodland and forestry being planted by Northumberland Estates in 2020 to 2022 to the north and west of the site will greatly limit the Extract from Greenwood’s Map of Northumberland, 1828 perception of the landscape change and views of the development from these areas. The restoration of the site will return the landform to the existing levels and landcover will be restored similar to how it is now but with added biodiversity benefits resulting from the creation of a species rich whin grassland field. 9 Wardell Armstrong LLP Soils and Agriculture The soils within the site are predominantly heavy clay soils which are prone to waterlogging and are not considered to be of “Best and Most Versatile” quality. The proposed hard rock extraction at Shiel Dykes would result in approximately 38.7 ha of non- BMV agricultural land undergoing a temporary land-use, prior to being returned to agricultural use. A further 1.1 ha of agricultural land will be restored to woodland. The area on non- agricultural land will remain non-agricultural (3.8 ha). The remaining 2.5 ha will not be returned to agricultural use. The use of best practice methods will ensure soils are protected from damage during soil handling, storage and restoration activities.

Water Resources Quarrying will require the pumping out of water from the quarry void in order to keep it dry for working. Water will be pumped into settlement lagoons to be constructed on the site where sediment will settle and waterflows will be regulated before discharging into the Newton Burn and a tributary of the Hampeth Burn broadly to the east of the site. Both burns eventually flow into the River Coquet. Extensive monitoring of existing surface and groundwater flows has been undertaken and modelling of the impact of the quarry in the future. This has been undertaken in conjunction with dialogue with the Environment Agency and is fully assessed in the Environmental Statement which concludes that impacts on water resources will be minor. Private water supplies and nearby abstraction points (for farming) have been assessed and no impact is foreseen on these supplies. The site is with an area classed by the Environment Agency as at very low risk of flooding (an annual probability of less than 1 in 1000 chance in any year) and the site is unlikely to cause any change to this. 10 Wardell Armstrong LLP Key Noise Key Site Boundary An assessment has been carried out to predict the noise levels Existing Buildings that couldSite Boundary be experienced at the existing sensitive receptors as a Line source result Existingof the Buildings operations at Shiel Dykes. Background noise levels are Point source exceptionallyLine source low due to the area’s rural setting, however the level of Receiver noise Pointarising source from the proposed operation will also be low. Therefore Line the overallReceiver impact on these dwellings will be negligible. Line Daytime LAeq dB

<= 40.0 Daytime LAeq dB 40.0 - 45.0 Air Quality 45.0 - 50.0 An air quality<= 40.0 assessment has been undertaken to determine the 50.0 - 55.0 40.0 - 45.0 55.0 - 60.0 significance45.0 - 50.0 of dust and fine particulate matter impacts as a result of 60.0 - 65.0 50.0 - 55.0 > 65.0 operations on site. 55.0 - 60.0 The60.0 assessment- 65.0 has been undertaken in accordance with national guidance > and65.0 has taken into consideration representative meteorological conditions. The guidance provides a screening criterion

CLIENT: of 400m for determining whether a sensitive receptor is at risk. There is North East Concrete Ltd no receptor within 400m, however at the request of Northumberland

PROJECT: County Council, a hypothetical receptor was selected to provide an Shiel Dykes QuarryCLIENT: indicationNorth of East potential Concrete risk Ltd downwind of the site.

TITLE: For fine particulate matter, the potential effects can be screened out Figure 13.2 - PROJECT: Temporary Operations because backgroundShiel Dykes Quarry levels at this location are sufficiently low. The fine particulate matter impact of Shiel Dykes Quarry is, therefore, DRG NO: REV: NT14060/002 TITLE: consideredA to be negligible and not significant. Likewise, the assessment forFigure disamenity 13.2 - dust concludes that, with dust control DRG SIZE: SCALE: DATE: Temporary Operations A3 1:4500 17/07/2020measures in place, the effect at existing sensitive receptors is negligible. DRG NO: REV: DRAWN BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY NT14060/002 A LW

DRG SIZE: SCALE: DATE:

REV: A3 1:4500 17/07/2020

SCALE: DATE 1:19481 DRAWN17/07/2020 BY CHECKED BY APPROVED BY LW

SCALE: DATE 1:19481 17/07/2020

DRAWN BY APPROVED BY 0 50 100 150 200 Contains Ordnance Survey data. Plan showing noisem impact from operations © Crown Copyright and database EF right 2020 11 Wardell Armstrong LLP Vibration Alternatives Considered All quarry blasting, even the most efficient, must necessarily generate a certain amount of Alternatives to the proposal have been considered in this application and have been discounted. ground and airborne vibration although it is very much in the operator’s interest to always These include: reduce such vibration to the minimum possible in that this substantially increases the efficiency and hence the economy of blasting operations. • The option to do nothing; This vibration will spread out from the blast in all directions and, although it will decay very This would result in the sterilisation of five million tonnes of otherwise workable known rapidly it may still be at a perceptible level once it crosses the site boundary and hence be whinstone (dolerite) for which there is a clear market in Northumberland and Tyneside. Doing noticed at adjacent properties and structures. Accordingly, in order to reassure neighbours, all nothing would also not address the geographical imbalance of whinstone in Northumberland, blasts are very strictly controlled in terms of allowable vibration levels at any adjacent vibration as well as loss of the provision of employment opportunities. By not being transported to the sensitive locations. Such control is by means of vibration limits set in line with International site, inert materials may not be used for recovery and recycling purposes, but rather other and British Standard guidance that forms the basis of HM Government planning advice to local outcomes, such as being sent to landfill. planning authorities. • The option to do find an alternative site; The vibration assessment concludes that the recommended vibration criterion for adjacent properties, which is in turn in line with planning guidance, can be attained throughout the Finding another site to locate the proposal is largely restricted due to the nature of the geology. working area. It is therefore concluded that any adverse comment arising from blast vibrations A large number of whinstone extraction operations are located in south west Northumberland, are expected to be minimal throughout the lifetime of the quarry. whereas there are only a small number of such operations in the north. The site is located to the south west of Alnwick within an area of lesser disturbed igneous rock than other northern sites which are located to the north east of Alnwick. The site is considered to be in a sustainable Climate Change location where transport and amenity impacts, as well as any cumulative impacts, can be minimised. The impact of the proposal on climate change has been informed by the developer’s predicted monthly fuel consumption. The proposed development will have a neutral and non-significant • The option to extend at an existing site; impact. This is due to there being no improvements beyond that of the practices that are Extensions to other quarries along the whin sill have been granted over recent years and it is considered to meet industry standards. It is recognised that the proposed development will unlikely that any other individual site has the potential for further extension over what has been emit large amounts of green-house gases, which will contribute to climate change. However, it currently been permitted, particularly for the high volumes of mineral that would be generated is assumed that there is a need for the material to be produced and therefore if the proposed at Shiel Dykes. quarry were not to take place then another quarry with a similar output will still need to be built elsewhere to meet the demand. In addition, the quarry is assessed as posing low risk to human health through adverse contributions to climate change. Risks are assessed relating to increased flooding, dust generation and slope failure but mitigation measures are proposed to reduce these risks to acceptable levels. 12 Wardell Armstrong LLP Conclusion Next steps The proposal will enable the extraction of high-quality rock together with a sensitive restoration The planning application comprises an application form and land ownership certificates, drawings, scheme that is in keeping with key biodiversity objectives. The environmental effects are shown an Environmental Impact Assessment report and this Non Technical Summary in the assessment to be controllable and able to be mitigated to meet acceptable standards Copies of this summary are available free of charge. Copies of the application are available for £50 under the requirements of planning and environmental policy and guidance. from: Nicholas Beale Wardell Armstrong LLP City Quadrant 11 Waterloo Square NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE1 4DP Tel: 0191 232 0943 Email: [email protected]

The address for consultation responses is: Specialist Planning Services Northumberland County Council County Hall MORPETH NE61 2EF WARDELL ARMSTRONG LLP City Quadrant 11 Waterloo Square Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4DP [email protected]