Restoration work at an Isle of Wight quarry with tens of thousands of tonnes of fill material will continue for two more years following a council decision.
County Hall has approved a planning application by construction and building materials supplier, Wight Building Materials, seeking more time to carry out land restoration at Hale Manor Quarry, a site previously used for mineral extraction.
The firm already has prior approval to restore the land to the south of Arreton with chemically inactive fill material – waste taken from Island building projects.
In an Officer Report justifying its decision, the council said:
“The submitted information states that the downturn in the economy caused by rising interest rates and the cost of living over 2022/23 has caused the slowing rate of restoration for the quarry.
“Therefore, the restoration scheme cannot be completed by the 2024 deadline.
“The planning authority notes the issues put forward by the applicant and is aware that the rate of development on the Island has slowed, reducing the potential for infill material to restore the quarry to approved land levels.
“As the restoration scheme has been previously approved, and to ensure the site is restored in accordance with approved plans, it is considered that this extension to the timescale of the restoration scheme would be acceptable, resulting in no further effects to the surrounding area, albeit extending the temporary visual impact of the restoration works.”
County Hall attached eight conditions to its approval including that restoration work is carried out according to approved plans and prior conditions, it is completed before October 22, 2026, a hedgerow planting scheme is implemented and waste material imported to the site is chemically inactive.
Other stipulations involve weekly time restrictions on when work can be carried out, plans for restricting the spread of dust are adhered to and copies of approved plans and permission are displayed in site offices for operators and contractors to refer to.
Lastly, the council has required a concrete and brick structure relating to a former World War Two military camp and radar station be retained in situ and reburied to preserve it in the long-term.
The conditions were justified on the basis of looking after the site’s appearance, ensuring land is properly restored with operators and contractors being familiar with plans and permission, avoiding groundwater pollution and protecting amenities and heritage assets.
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