Brett Aggregates Ltd have submitted plans to establish a new quarry on land at the former Hatfield Aerodrome, including new access onto the A1057, aggregate processing plant and other ancillary facilities, together with the importation of inert fill material to restore the mineral workings, SADC Ref: 5/2023/1745; HCC Ref: PL/0232/21.
The proposals would involve the winning and working, together with processing for sale, of some 8 million tonnes of sand and gravel over a period of around 32 years.
This week, St Albans City & District Council lodged their objection to the plans to Herts County Council.
Why is this interesting?
It was only last year – following a nine-day public inquiry – that the Planning Inspectorate refused the company’s previous application to quarry the site, citing harm to the Green Belt, character, appearance and amenity of the area. Naturally, campaigners welcomed the decision.
In their objection, SADC wrote:
St Albans City and District Council previously expressed concerns over the proposal for a quarry at this site and the further information provided is not considered to have addressed these concerns. Having noted the changes within the current proposals, it is not considered that the concerns of the Council have been overcome, and as such the Council raises formal objections in respect of this application.
One of these objections related to non-compliance of a S106 agreement:
1. Section 106: The need for the original Section 106 to be complied with and for the Ellenbrook Country Park – outstanding for more than a decade – to be established.
Clearly, it’s not just Aggregate Industries that fails to comply with S106 agreements.
