Aggregate Industries must have a Standing Order with DCC for planning application extensions.
Remember, the idea is to 'front-load' planning applications; to engage in discussions and work out what information is required prior to lodging a planning application - not, as in AI’s case, afterwards.
It’s not as though AI hasn't had the time; it bought the farm back in 1965, and has applied for planning permission twice before the latest application in March 2017. Last month we posted Three years on and yet more delays, and this week AI duly agreed yet another extension of the determination date:
... from 30th April 2018 to 1st August 2018
Will this be the last one? Who knows? AI is no doubt hoping to at least hit the DMC date of 25 July, but still has work to do. Last month, DCC said that information was still outstanding on ecology, hydrogeology and highways. On the latter, DCC has requested a new Transport Assessment to deal with, amongst other things, junction designs and cattle crossings:
We have advised the applicant that they should submit a revised TA rather than another amendment to ensure that the TA is clear and up to date.
Will AI bother to count the traffic this time, after the previous work of fiction? Again, who knows? The last traffic count on this stretch of the B3174 was commissioned by Highways England back in 2015, and excludes traffic from the extensive new housing that has subsequently been built in Ottery St Mary.
On hydrogeology, DCC and the EA are still awaiting information requested in February. Boreholes around the site will be read again towards the end of this month. Results may be interesting given that:
and given that a month or two earlier:
