NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 14 14.0 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY CONTENTS Non technical summary ................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Site Setting and Description ......................................................................................... 2 Proposed Development ................................................................................................ 3 Planning Policy ............................................................................................................. 4 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment .................................................................. 5 Restoration ................................................................................................................... 6 Soils .............................................................................................................................. 7 Air Quality .....................................................................................................................7 Ecology .........................................................................................................................8 Noise............................................................................................................................. 9 Transport .................................................................................................................... 10 Hydrology and Hydrogeology...................................................................................... 10 Cultural Heritage......................................................................................................... 11 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 14 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY Introduction 14.1 Aggregate Industries operate Uttoxeter Quarry, an established Sand and Gravel quarry in Staffordshire which has been operational since November 2001. Aggregate Industries propose to extend the existing quarry in a north westerly direction over an area of some 9.3 hectares to release approximately 200,000 tons of high quality sand and gravel. 14.2 Following extraction of the available mineral, overburden from within the proposed extension site would be used to infill the quarry void in order to restore the site to a cricket pitch and a small area of agricultural land. As a result, this proposed north westerly extension is referred to by many as the ‘cricket pitch’ extension. 14.3 Staffordshire County Council have determined that the application to extend the quarry should be accompanied by an Environmental Statement and provided a Scoping Opinion dated 23rd July 2008 following the initial submission of a planning statement in April 2008. 14.4 Consequently, SLR Consulting has been instructed by Aggregate Industries to produce an Environmental Statement to address the issues raised by Staffordshire County Council in their Scoping Opinion from July 2008. 14.5 The proposed quarry extension would provide further mineral reserves for the operation of the quarry over a six month period. Mineral extraction in the proposed extension area would take place following depletion of mineral reserves within the main quarry, and would serve as an operational area whilst planning permission is sought for a larger northerly extension referred to as the ‘Dove’ extension. 14.6 The existing quarry operation currently covers an area of some 100 hectares, of which some 60 hectares are the subject of mineral extraction which operates at an output capacity of 400,000 tonnes per annum. The proposed extension covers an area of some 9.3 hectares, and would contain mineral reserves in the region of 200,000 tonnes. This extension is therefore relatively small in comparison to the currently permitted mineral extraction operation. 14.7 The proposed extension of the existing quarry operation would maintain a supply of high quality sand and gravel as well as retaining 9 full time and 2 part time employees at Uttoxeter Quarry the quarry is a significant contributor to the local economy and other direct and indirect employment opportunities. It is estimated that the quarry contributes in excess of £750,000 to the local economy each year. 14.8 This Environmental Statement is submitted on behalf of the applicant Aggregate Industries UK Limited, part of Aggregate Industries Limited an international aggregates, construction and building materials group and a member of Holcim Limited. Holcim is on of the world’s leading suppliers of Uttoxeter Quarry North Western Extension 14-1 SLR Consulting Ltd NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 14 cement, aggregates, concrete and construction related services with operations in 70 countries on all continents. Site Setting and Description The Application Site 14.9 The application site covers an area of some 9.3hectares and extends across two agricultural fields bisected by a track running in an east westerly direction. The site also incorporates a small part of an adjacent field along the western boundary and it is this area that would be utilised for soil storage during the proposed operation. The application site is centred on grid reference SK094355 and it’s location is shown on Drawing 1870/103A. 14.10 The land within the application site is relatively flat, lying at an elevation between 80-82mAOD. There are no watercourses passing through the application site it’s self, however the southern extent of the site is marked by a tributary of the River Tean. The Northern and north eastern extent of the application site is marked by existing ditches, whilst part of the western boundary is marked by a public footpath and hedgerow field boundary. The Surrounding Area 14.11 The site is separated from the existing quarry by the northern arm of the River Tean. The existing quarry operation is situated to the south east of the application site. The existing plant site, which would be used to process sand and gravel extracted from the extension site is situated adjacent to the south western side of the application site. Along the north and north east sides, the application site is bordered by fields. A small coppice of trees is present along the north eastern side of the application site. Drawing 1870/111 shows the extent of the application site within the ownership boundary and it’s surrounding environ. 14.12 In terms of residential properties the nearest privately owned dwelling is Riversmede, a single residential property which is located approximately 120 metres to the west of the application site along the B5030. Spath Farmhouse and Spath Cottage are also situated along the B5030 and these properties lay approximately 210 and 280 metres to the south west of the application site respectively. 14.13 Further afield a second property also known as Spath Farm is situated on the opposite side of the B5030 some 525metres to the south west of the application site. A residential property known as Leasows Farm is situated some 315metres to the south of the application site. This property is situated along the southern side of the existing quarry operation and so is separated from the application site by the existing quarry operation. 14.14 With regards to the existing quarry operation, Sand and Gravel extraction is currently taking place in an area to the south east of the application site. The currently permitted area of mineral extract spans an area of some 60hectares. Uttoxeter Quarry North Western Extension 14-2 SLR Consulting Ltd NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 14 14.15 The existing plant site would be utilised to process minerals arising from the proposed extension site and this is situated immediately to the west of the application site. Access into Uttoxeter Quarry is gained from the B5030 via a dedicated haul road. This haul road swings around Spath Farm which is enclosed by a landscaped bund which screens views of the quarry from the Farm. 14.16 The general area surrounding the application site is rural in nature. The land comprises of fields with vegetated boundaries. The topography of this land varies slightly to produce slightly undulating hills. Proposed Development 14.17 The development proposal is an extension to Uttoxeter Quarry to extract approximately 200,000 tonnes of sand and gravel with restoration to a community recreational use (cricket ground facility) using indigenous soils/overburden. 14.18 The Applicant is currently in discussions with Uttoxeter Cricket Club regarding the establishment of a new cricket ground facility on land owned by Aggregate Industries at Uttoxeter Quarry. This new facility would replace the Club’s existing facility adjacent to Uttoxeter Racecourse which has been identified for future re-development. 14.19 It is proposed that the extension would be worked in four phases, with the first phase of extraction works taking place in the north west of the site and progressing in a clockwise direction through the application site. Drawing 1870/104B shows the proposed phasing for mineral extraction and restorations works within the application site. 14.20 Drawing 1870/112 also shows the proposed phasing and soils movements between phases and storage area present in an area along the western edge of the application site. The proposed soil storage would take place in an existing field which would be returned to a farming use rather than a recreational afteruse. The soils storage bund would provide visual and acoustic screening for the proposed extension. Details of soils, overburden