We have previously posted about Aggregate Industries’ unsuccessful attempts to extend its quarry at Chard Junction, a development that would have caused considerable harm to the Dorset AONB for the sake of a relatively small amount of decorative stone. The NPPF affords the highest level of landscape protection to AONBs, where exceptional circumstances are required for major development.
The application WD/D/19/000451 to extend the quarry was thrown out by Dorset Council last year.
The company reapplied with application P/FUL/2022/00109 for some 830,000 tonnes – here’s the non-technical summary – with what many thought was essentially the same proposal. It raised the same concerns. CPRE said:
Exactly as before, CPRE vigorously opposes this application for a new large quarry at Westford Park Farm. There is no significant change to the previous application which was refused. Apparently the material to be extracted has somehow magically changed from decorative sand to gravel for building purposes.
This is not an ‘extension’, as billed in the application, but a new quarry with a road for haulage. There is a distinct space between the old and new quarry which includes a road. It is again of the greatest importance that this application is for a major development (of a quarry) in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Aggregate Industries has now withdrawn the revised application.
A smaller application P/FUL/2022/01971 for 50,000 tonnes at the same site has also been withdrawn.
EDIT 23.8.22 Aggregate Industries appeals refusal of WD/D/19/000451.
