Environmental planning and landscape architecture news
Monday, 2 March 2009
Submission of Planning Application and Minerals and Waste Development Framework Representation for Cardewmires Quarry on behalf of Tarmac Ltd

The application for the continued operation of Cardewmires Quarry to 2026 was submitted today. The current planning permission for the operation of the quarry expires at the end of this year, but some 1.7 million tonnes of reserve have yet to be extracted. Tarmac Ltd appointed Stephenson Halliday last year to prepare a planning application and accompanying Environmental Statement to secure the continued operation of the site to allow extraction of all the remaining reserves. We now look forward to working with Cumbria County Council to secure the expeditious handling of the application.

Earlier this year we made representations to Cumbria County Council to include within the site allocations of the Cumbria Minerals and Waste Development Framework an area to the south of the existing quarry. The submission seeks the allocation of this 23 Ha area as a preferred site for future sand and gravel extraction.

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Monday, 20 October 2008
Overby Quarry Planning Permissions Issued

Stephenson Halliday is delighted to announce that the planning permissions for the lateral extensions to, and continued operation of, Overby Quarry have been issued today. These permissions secure the long term future of the quarry with permitted reserves of 4.5 million tonnes.

The planning and landscape teams at Stephenson Halliday have been working closely with our clients Thomas Armstrong (Aggregates) Ltd, Burnetts Solicitors and Cumbria County Council to expedite the completion of the legal agreements on which the issue of the permissions was dependant.

The legal agreements required the development of an innovative strategy for the long term management of six mineral sites owned by Thomas Armstrong to create a habitat network within West Cumbria. The strategy considers the restoration of the sites in a holistic manner, focusing upon enhancing the connectivity between habitats, increasing biodiversity and strengthening links to localised wildlife sites. Further habitat creation and improved land management form part of the network proposals which respond the Cumbria and UK Biodiversity Action Plans. The legal agreement also provides for road improvements on the route to Overby Quarry and the creation of additional footpaths in the surrounding area.

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Friday, 11 April 2008
Overby Ridge Habitat Network

Stephenson Halliday is currently developing an innovative strategy for the long term management of six mineral sites to create a habitat network within West Cumbria. The strategy considers the restoration of the sites in a holistic manner, focusing upon enhancing the connectivity between habitats, increasing biodiversity and strengthening links to localised wildlife sites. Further habitat creation and improved land management form part of the network proposals which respond the Cumbria and UK Biodiversity Action Plans.
When completed the habitat strategy will form part of a legal agreement between Cumbria County Council and Thomas Armstrong Ltd. The legal agreement also provides for road improvements on the route to Overby Quarry and additional footpaths in the surrounding area. The completion of the agreement will allow the planning permission for the extensions to the quarry to be issued. Two lateral extensions to the quarry have been approved which will secure the long term future for the quarry with combined permitted reserves of 4.5 million tonnes.

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Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Presentation to the Institute of Quarries, Lancashire Branch

Peter Stephenson (Director) and David Forsythe (Landscape Architect) gave a presentation to the Institute of Quarries Lancashire Branch on Quarry Restoration and Planning. The presentation focused upon planning policy in relation to restoration, as well as the role of restoration within the quarry development process. Other key topics included the design of quarry restoration schemes and the implementation of restoration and aftercare. Please follow this link to access the presentation.

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Thursday, 31 May 2007
Snowhill Farm Quarry Planning Approval

The practice submitted an application for an extension to this building stone quarry in March 2007. The extension was designed to provide an additional 120 000 tonnes of reserve whilst minimising the visual impact of the proposals given the site location close to the boundary of the Lake District National Park. The proposals received planning permission on 31st May 2007.

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Thursday, 28 September 2006
Blaze Fell Planning Approval

Cumbria County Planning and Development Committee have approved the application for the opening of a quarry some 0.5 hectares as an extension to an adjacent disused quarry worked up until the 1920’s near Armathwaite, north of Penrith. We produced the supporting statement to accompany a planning application for the small sandstone quarry. The siting, design and restoration proposals for the quarry were carried out in response to the ecology of the site, which includes Great Crested Newts. The approved scheme provides enhanced woodland planting with the restoration proposals returning the site to lowland heathland.

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