Inspector’s Report ABP-301385-18 Development Permission for continued use of the previously permitted developments including the existing quarry, stone extraction and processing and related ancillary buildings and facilities including the concrete batching and block making facilities; Permission for a small lateral extension of c.1.8 ha from the existing quarry area to give an overall extraction footprint of c.16.8 ha; Permission for the deepening of the extraction area in part, by 2 no. benches; Realignment of the existing internal access road, with relocation of the existing weighbridge and office; Permission for an overburden storage area along the eastern site boundary covering an area of c.1.1 ha; Permission for a construction and demolition waste recovery facility which provides for the importation, storage, processing and recovery of waste concrete arising from concrete plants on a 3.9 ha site within the existing quarry and provision for a hardstanding area for stockpiling and crushing of waste materials and a waste inspection/quarantine shed; Restoration of the site to a combination of beneficial ecological and agricultural after-use; All associated site works within an overall application area of 49.4 ha and all for a period of 21 years. ABP-301385-18 Inspector’s Report Page 1 of 76 Location Castletown Quarry, Tromman Townland, Rathmolyon, Co. Meath Planning Authority Meath County Council Planning Authority Reg. TA170519 Ref. Applicant(s) Kilsaran Concrete Type of Application Permission Planning Authority Grant Decision Type of Appeal First and Third Party Appellant(s) 1. Kilsaran Concrete 2. Eco Advocacy CLG Observer(s) 1. An Taisce 2. Meath Environmental Protection Alliance Date of Site Inspection 14th November 2018 Inspector Niall Haverty ABP-301385-18 Inspector’s Report Page 2 of 76 Contents 1.0 Site Location and Description .............................................................................. 6 2.0 Proposed Development ....................................................................................... 6 3.0 Planning Authority Decision ................................................................................. 8 3.1. Decision ........................................................................................................ 8 3.2. Planning Authority Reports ......................................................................... 10 3.3. Other Technical Reports ............................................................................. 11 3.4. Prescribed Bodies ....................................................................................... 11 3.5. Third Party Observations ............................................................................ 12 4.0 Planning History ................................................................................................. 12 4.1. Appeal Site .................................................................................................. 12 4.2. Surrounding Area ........................................................................................ 14 5.0 Policy Context .................................................................................................... 15 5.1. National Planning Framework (Project Ireland 2040) and National Development Plan 2018-2027 .............................................................................. 15 5.2. Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Eastern and Midlands Region 2019-2031 ................................................................................................ 15 5.3. Eastern-Midlands Region Waste Management Plan 2015-2021 ................. 15 5.4. Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019.............................................. 16 5.5. Quarries and Ancillary Activities: Guidelines for Planning Authorities ......... 20 5.6. Other Guidelines ......................................................................................... 21 5.7. Natural Heritage Designations .................................................................... 22 6.0 The Appeals ...................................................................................................... 22 6.1. First Party Grounds of Appeal ..................................................................... 22 6.2. Third Party Grounds of Appeal .................................................................... 24 ABP-301385-18 Inspector’s Report Page 3 of 76 6.3. First Party Response to Third Party Appeal ................................................ 26 6.4. Third Party Response to First Party Appeal ................................................ 31 6.5. Planning Authority Response ...................................................................... 32 6.6. Further Responses ...................................................................................... 32 6.7. Observations ............................................................................................... 33 7.0 Planning Assessment ........................................................................................ 33 7.2. Principle of Proposed Development ............................................................ 34 7.3. Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology ....................................................... 37 7.4. Removal of Mature Trees ............................................................................ 43 7.5. Noise and Vibration ..................................................................................... 47 7.6. Dust and Air Quality .................................................................................... 50 7.7. Landscape and Visual Impact ..................................................................... 54 7.8. Traffic and Transportation ........................................................................... 56 7.9. Quarry Restoration ...................................................................................... 59 7.10. Architectural and Archaeological Heritage ............................................... 60 7.11. First Party Appeal .................................................................................... 61 7.12. Other Issues ............................................................................................ 65 7.13. Appropriate Assessment .......................................................................... 65 8.0 Environmental Impact Assessment .................................................................... 69 8.1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 69 8.2. Consideration of Alternatives ...................................................................... 70 8.3. Environmental Impact Assessment ............................................................. 71 8.4. Human Beings, Flora and Fauna ................................................................ 71 8.5. Soil, Water, Air, Climate and Landscape ..................................................... 72 8.6. Material Assets and Cultural Heritage ......................................................... 74 ABP-301385-18 Inspector’s Report Page 4 of 76 8.7. The Interactions of the Above ..................................................................... 74 8.8. Summary ..................................................................................................... 75 9.0 Recommendation ............................................................................................... 75 10.0 Reasons and Considerations ...................................................................... 75 ABP-301385-18 Inspector’s Report Page 5 of 76 1.0 Site Location and Description 1.1. The appeal site, which has a stated area of 49.4 ha, is located in the townland of Tromman, c. 2km west of the village of Rathmolyon and c. 6km south west of Trim in County Meath. 1.2. The site comprises an existing operational limestone quarry and associated lands, which is referred to as Castletown Quarry. It abuts a second operational quarry to the east, which is referred to as Trammon Quarry, and which is under separate ownership/operation (Keegan Quarries). The applicant owns further lands to the east and north of Trammon Quarry, with a total landholding of c. 94.5 ha. 1.3. The site is accessed from the R156 Regional Road to the south, via a c.400m long private roadway with recessed gated entrance. It is bounded by the R156 and residential/agriculture properties to the south, by the Keegan quarry to the east, by the Rathmolyon/Moynasboy stream and agricultural lands to the north and by further agricultural lands to the west. 1.4. There are numerous mature trees within the appeal site, primarily along the haul road, with more recent screening-type planting and embankments along the public road. In addition to the extraction area, the site includes weighbridge, offices, wheelwash, car parking areas, stockpile storage, concrete batching plant, concrete block plant and yard, water treatment facilities and associated development. 1.5. The surrounding area is rural in character and is characterised by rolling agricultural fields with well-defined field boundaries comprising hedgerows and trees. Significant one-off ribbon development has occurred along the regional and local roads in the vicinity of the site, with the closest residential dwellings located c. 100m from the southern site boundary, along the R156. I note that aerial photography indicates that there are a considerable number of quarries and sand and gravel pits