Aggregates Recovery Facility

Town Planning, Environmental Permitting and SAB Services for a High Capacity Wash Plant at an Operational Quarry

Client: Quarry Operator and Mineral Products Supplier

Service Provided: Town Planning, Environmental Permitting and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Project Overview

Technia Environment and Planning Limited was appointed by a long-standing plant hire business following their acquisition of an operational limestone quarry. As part of a strategic expansion into quarrying and mineral product supply, the client sought to develop an aggregates recycling facility on-site.

We undertook a detailed feasibility study and identified the opportunity to deliver a modern aggregates recycling facility, centered around the installation of a high-capacity wash plant. The plant would allow the client to:

• Process up to 200,000 tonnes per annum of construction, demolition and excavation waste; and
• Recover and process up to 1 million tonnes of previously discarded quarry material.

We managed the entire planning lifecycle, including pre-application advice, statutory Pre-Application Consultation (PAC), full application submission and committee representation. The application process was complex, politically sensitive and met with substantial public objection, much of it fuelled by misinformation and speculation.

Getting this project across the line required coordination of a wide team of technical consultants, including the delivery of additional assessments and updated reports in response to evolving planning authority and community feedback. TEPL led the process throughout, acting as the single point of contact and ensuring consistent progress across all planning and environmental workstreams.

Despite an initial refusal at committee, against officer recommendation for approval, the application was later resolved to be approved, subject to the completion of a legal agreement. We are now progressing the Environmental Permit and SAB approval, continuing to support the client through the regulatory requirements.

Our Approach

TEPL led a comprehensive approach that balanced the client’s commercial goals with planning, environmental and community considerations. Key elements of our approach included:

• Opportunity Identification: Recognised potential for a recycling facility through feasibility studies and strategic site review.
• Integrated Design and Layout: Coordinated a practical and regulation-compliant design that optimised operations while managing environmental impacts.
• Full Planning Service: Delivered the complete planning lifecycle, including pre-app, PAC, submission, supplementary documentation and post-submission support.
• Drainage Design: Designing a SAB-compliant drainage strategy appropriate for the quarry’s topography and hydrology
• Public Engagement and Communication: Managed responses to community objections, misinformation and political scrutiny with transparency and evidence-based reporting
• Regulatory Continuity: Ensured seamless transition into the Environmental Permitting and SAB stages post-consent.

Key Challenges and Solutions

1. Limited Accessible Planning History and Absence of ROMP

   Challenge: Uncertainty over the site’s planning status as planning history was not readily accessible. Additionally, no formal Review of Old Mineral Permissions (ROMP) had been undertaken, complicating clarity around permitted operations.

   Solution: We conducted a detailed review of both online and physical historic planning records and engaged with regulatory authorities to clarify the site’s planning baseline. This provided certainty and informed a compliant, practical approach to progressing the development.

2. Presence of Discarded Quarry Material

   Challenge: Approximately 1 million tonnes of discarded quarry material from historic operations was present on site, representing a legacy management issue that needed addressing in the development plans.

   Solution: We identified the opportunity to recover valuable minerals from this material through the proposed aggregates recycling facility, adding commercial benefits to the project for the client.

3. Community Objection and Misinformation

   Challenge: The proposal attracted significant objection, driven by social media campaigns and misrepresented facts.

   Solution: Submitted additional technical evidence, engaged with stakeholders and supported the client through political and committee scrutiny to achieve approval.

4. Minimising Noise Impact on Nearby Sensitive Receptors

   Challenge: The site is located close to residential properties, requiring careful management of noise-generating activities to prevent potential disturbance.

   Solution: We proactively designed the site layout to minimise noise from the most significant operations. Acoustic bunds and barriers were incorporated to reduce noise emissions, ensuring that impacts on nearby receptors would be appropriately managed.

5. Ecology and Site Constraints

   Challenge: Protected species were present on-site, requiring design-led mitigation.

   Solution: Integrated habitat features, green corridors, and species-specific enhancements (e.g. bat boxes) into the landscaping and green infrastructure strategy.

Outcome

Planning permission was resolved to be secured after a lengthy and complex process, including extensive coordination of additional assessments and responding to significant community interest and misinformation.

This approval supports the client’s strategic expansion into aggregates recycling and mineral recovery, unlocking the potential to process up to 200,000 tonnes per annum of construction and demolition waste, alongside the recovery of valuable legacy quarry material.

Technia Environment and Planning Limited continues to provide full regulatory support, progressing the Environmental Permit and SAB approvals to ensure the project moves smoothly toward construction and operation.

Looking to Expand Into Aggregates Recycling?

Looking to expand your operations or diversify into aggregates recycling? We support clients from initial feasibility through to planning consent, environmental permitting, and SAB approvals.

Technia Environment and Planning Limited provides expert town planning, permitting, and drainage services tailored to complex quarry and recycling developments.

Get in touch today to see how we can support your next project.