SCOPING OPINION REQUEST IN SUPPORT OF A PLANNING APPLICATION FOR A 21 HECTARE EXTENSION TO PASSENHAM QUARRY WITH RESTORATION TO AGRICULTURE USING IMPORTED INERT MATERIALS PREPARED BY: DAVID L WALKER LIMITED JULY 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry CONTENTS SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION SECTION 2 BASELINE SETTING AND PROPOSED OPERATIONS 2.1 General 2.2 Ecology 2.3 Landscape Setting 2.4 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 2.5 Hydrology 2.6 Highways and Traffic SECTION 3 PROPOSED ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS 3.1 General 3.2 Soils and Agricultural Land Quality 3.3 Ecology 3.4 Landscape Setting 3.5 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 3.6 Hydrology and Hydrogeology 3.7 Matters Proposed to be Scoped Out 3.8 Other Considerations SECTION 4 SUMMARY 2 Prepared by David L Walker Limited July 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry LIST OF PLANS P14/SR14/01 LOCATION PLAN P14/SR14/02 SITE PLAN <<<<<<<>>>>>>> LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 Copy of Planning Consent 12/00025/MIN APPENDIX 2 Archaeology Desk Based Assessment dated April 2013 3 Prepared by David L Walker Limited July 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 GRS Roadstone Limited (“the applicant”) is the operator of Passenham Quarry (“the site”), an established sand and gravel mineral working located approximately 6 km south-west of Milton Keynes and 400 m south-west of the village of Passenham. 1.2 Mineral extraction operations and progressive restoration are ongoing in a phased manner. However the mineral resources are nearing exhaustion. At current rates of production, there are approximately 14 months of consented reserves remaining. 1.3 In order to ensure the continuity of working at the site, an extension is necessary and the applicant has developed proposals for a 21 hectare extension to the existing workings (refer to Plan P14/SR14/01). 1.4 The 21 hectare extension area is proven to contain approximately 0.6 million tonnes of saleable sand and gravel reserves which will be recovered at a similar rate to current operations at between 80,000 to 120,000 tonnes per annum. 1.5 It is proposed that the extension is to be progressively restored to agriculture to near original ground levels, with agricultural land use and hedgerow enhancement. This is consistent with the ongoing restoration of the existing consented workings. 1.6 By virtue of the size of the application area (which will include the existing plant site), the proposals fall within Schedule 1 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (“the EIA Regulations”), and any planning application would need to be accompanied by an Environmental Statement. 1.7 Central government advice encourages developers proposing projects to engage in full and early consultation with both the planning authority and other bodies which have an interest, and it is recommended that they are invited to participate in defining the terms of reference for the Environmental Assessment. 1.8 In accordance with guidance, a formal Scoping Opinion under Section 13 of the EIA Regulations is being sought from the MPA and the information detailed in this submission is provided to assist the MPA in the formulation of their Opinion. 4 Prepared by David L Walker Limited July 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry SECTION 2 BASELINE SETTING AND PROPOSED OPERATIONS 2.1 General 2.1.1 The operations at the site are well established, and comprise the extraction of high quality sand and gravel deposits, with restoration using imported inert materials. The consented area extends across approximately 32 hectares (approximately 13 hectares of which is situated within Northamptonshire), with current landuses within the area comprising the following elements: plant site and ancillary operations area (including recycling activities); areas undergoing mineral extraction; areas awaiting mineral extraction; water storage and silt lagoons; restored areas of mineral extraction; and areas currently being restored. The current location of these landuses across the existing site is illustrated on Plan P14/SR14/02. 2.1.2 These consented operations are located east of the A422, in proximity to the village of Passenham, with the plant site to the west and mineral extraction to the east of the River Great Ouse. 2.1.3 The proposed extension is situated in a primarily rural setting, and comprises open fields in agricultural use surrounded by a comprehensive network of drainage ditches. The extension will be directly south of the plant site. 2.1.4 The proposals envisage an extension across two (see plan P14/SR14/02) separate extraction areas. Owing to the distance of the extension to the plant site, it is proposed that the mineral would be worked with dump trucks used to transport as dug sand and gravel to the plant site in the same manner as existing. 2.1.5 All of the processing operations will be concentrated in the existing plant site, which is regulated under the provisions of planning consent 12/00025/MIN issued by the MPA (refer Appendix 1). 2.1.6 It is anticipated that the 0.6 mt reserve would be recovered over a period of 6 years. 5 Prepared by David L Walker Limited July 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry 2.1.7 The restoration of the site would seek to reinstate agricultural use with woodland planting and hedgerow enhancement in accordance with local planning policy. 2.1.8 This will be achieved with the use of imported inert restoration materials (circa 360,000 m3), to facilitate the return of the land to close to original levels. 2.2 Ecology 2.2.1 There are no ecologically-related statutory designated sites within or immediately adjacent to the site or the proposed extension area. There are however known protected species occurrences in proximity. 2.2.2 The proposed extension comprises arable fields enclosed by an extensive hedgerow network and ditches, both of which may have some ecological value. 2.3 Landscape Setting 2.3.1 The site is located on the urban fringe of Milton Keynes in a landscape controlled by the historic development of the Great River Ouse, and thus characterised by gently undulating topography and broad shallow valleys. 2.3.2 The closest residential development is at Passenham Village, with Deanshanger, Calverton, and Stoney Stratford all in proximity to the site. The proposed extension envelops the Kingfisher Country Club, itself a restored area of historic mineral working. 2.3.3 The site is located in a context of small scale arable field units, delineated by strong hedgerows and meandering drains, with some woodland compartments. 2.3.4 The small village of Passenham to the north-east of the application site contains several attractive traditional stone buildings and is semi-enclosed by mature garden and park-type tree planting. This area forms a pocket of high landscape quality and interest. 2.3.5 The River Ouse, winding past the application area and flowing north- eastwards into Milton Keynes, forms an attractive corridor feature, semi- enclosed by mature willows and other riverside trees, both as individual specimens and small groves. This landscape type is of a high landscape quality and visual interest. 6 Prepared by David L Walker Limited July 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry 2.3.6 The area around the site is generally of moderate landscape quality, with more open field and a lesser degree of mature hedgerow cover. The land appears as a typical area of mixed pastoral and arable infill between the River Ouse and the A422. 2.3.7 Noise disturbance due to fast-flowing traffic on the A422(T) and the A5(T) can create a busy atmosphere for the general area at times. In visual terms, what has been built along the A422 tends to detract from the overall landscape quality. 2.3.8 Although bisected by two road corridors, the area has not become totally fragmented. The undulating nature of the local landform, the meandering River Ouse corridor and the degree of mature hedgerow and drainline cover create a landscape with a good degree of semi-enclosure and is still best described as rural. 2.4 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 2.4.1 The operations at the existing site have been subject to a number of phases of investigation, including desk-based and intrusive investigations. 2.4.2 These investigations have identified the presence of numerous features of historic significance across a wide range of time (Iron Age to modern), the results of which have been recorded. The archaeological potential of the extension area is known, and a detailed assessment of this will be undertaken. 2.4.3 A desk based assessment of the extension area has already been undertaken and can be found reproduced at Appendix 2. This confirms moderate potential for remains to be found. 2.5 Hydrology 2.5.1 The site is partially located within the functional floodplain of the River Great Ouse. The river forms the eastern edge of the proposed extension. The river is fed by a number of tributary drains which bisect the application site. 2.5.2 The sand and gravel resource is classified as a minor aquifer in direct continuity with the hydrological system of the River Great Ouse. 7 Prepared by David L Walker Limited July 2014 GRS (Roadstone) Limited Scoping Opinion Request In support of an Extension to Passenham Quarry 2.6 Highways and Traffic 2.6.1 The existing site has the benefit of an established access off Deanshanger Road via a roundabout on to the A422.