Planning Application Filed for New Quarry Site Near Leicestershire Village

An extensive planning application has been lodged concerning the establishment of a new quarry within Leicestershire. Should it receive approval, this proposed sand and gravel extraction site, situated close to Misterton, would encompass approximately 275 acres. Its purpose is to take over from the existing Shawell Quarry, located near Lutterworth, which is scheduled for closure within the upcoming years. Apprehensions emerged regarding the potential for the project to “decimate” the local landscape when Tarmac Ltd first indicated its interest in utilizing the land in 2022. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has indicated that if Leicestershire County Council grants permission, the new quarry is projected to operate for approximately 20 years. In 2022, Tarmac previously submitted a preliminary scoping report to assess the potential impacts and associated issues of the proposed development. According to Tarmac, after five decades of extraction, the reserves at Shawell Quarry are “nearing exhaustion.” The current site is anticipated to cease operations within the next couple of years, following the completion of restoration efforts. Tarmac stated that the proposed quarry would maintain operational procedures and hours consistent with Shawell. Work is scheduled from 07:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, and from 07:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays. It would remain closed on Sundays and during public holidays. An estimated 400,000 tonnes of sand and gravel are projected for annual extraction, with a dedicated processing plant also planned for the site to handle these materials. Tarmac indicated that, owing to the site’s proximity to Junction 20 of the M1, up to 17 Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) are expected to travel to and from the location hourly during peak periods. Following the submission of the scoping report in 2022, Alberto Costa, the Member of Parliament for South Leicestershire, commented: “I am quite concerned as to what have I seen so far, especially given the sheer size of the proposals which would decimate existing green land and would significantly add a huge number of HGVs to what is already a congested local road network.” The company further stated that once material extraction concludes at the site, it would undergo restoration. This process is intended to return a substantial portion of the land to agricultural use, with additional proposals for the creation of ponds and woodland areas. For updates, follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or by WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.