A MASSIVE quarry extension which will see 1.2 million tonnes of sand and gravel extracted from South Derbyshire farmland looks set to be approved by planners.
Derbyshire County Council officers have recommended granting permission to cement giant Cemex for an 82-acre extension to its 133-acre Willington Quarry site, off The Castle Way, between Willington and Egginton.
Ian Stephenson, the council’s strategic director for environmental services, said while the development would occupy land not earmarked for mineral extraction, the positives of the scheme — including the proposed restoration of the land with a new nature reserve — would outweigh the negatives.
He said: “In considering the environmental acceptability of the current proposals, it is clear that while the development would have some short-term negative impacts, in the long term, it would have significant benefits in terms of biodiversity gain and the enhancement of the existing landscape.
“The proposals would be of a highquality, purpose-designed for nature conservation.
“I am satisfied that the proposals would not have a detrimental impact on visual amenity.”
The extension would occupy a site south west of Willington on land east of Highbridge Lane and bounded by agricultural land to the south and Egginton Brook to the east.
The minerals would be extracted in five phases, beginning in the west of the site and progressing anti-clockwise, finishing adjacent to the northern boundary, with the land being progressively restored as the sand and gravel was removed.
The hours of operation would be unchanged while vehicle movements in and out of the site would remain at their current levels — around 86 movements a day, with HGVs using the existing access and egress route via the A5132 and the A38.
Mr Stephenson recommended the scheme be approved with conditions including a requirement for work to begin within three years and be completed within seven years.
Members of the council’s planning committee will rule on the scheme at their next meeting on Monday, January 9 after a site visit.
