Haddiscoe quarry plan turned down by Norfolk County Council

The hugely controversial proposal for Haddiscoe - which would see a quarry the size of 25 football pitches in the village - was refused planning permission by Norfolk County Council's planning committee.

To the delight of opponents, councillors rejected the scheme, saying they were not convinced by proposed measures to prevent villagers suffering due to dust and noise.

Villagers in Haddiscoe opposed the quarry plans (Image: Sonya Duncan/Newsquest)

It means concrete and cement suppliers Breedon will not be allowed to extract 650,000 tonnes of gravel and 510,000 tonnes of sand from a site at Manor Farm, next to Crab Apple Lane.

County Hall had received 383 objections to the proposals, including from parish councils in Haddiscoe and nearby Toft Monks.

Dust, noise, extra traffic and the impact of the quarry on nearby St Mary's Church, a Grade I-listed building were among the reasons objectors wanted the scheme to be rejected.

St Mary's Church in Haddiscoe (Image: James Weeds)

Villagers formed action group Stopit2, representing more than 250 people who live in Haddiscoe, and commissioned consultants to draw up a report which questioned the company's claims about dust.

The group also highlighted how the location is not currently allocated as a minerals site in a council blueprint for where such developments would be acceptable.

Poppy Simister-Thomas (South Norfolk Conservative parliamentary candidate) centre, with campaigners Sari Kelsey (left), Ollie Beatwell, Daryl Packer and Marcus Aldren at Crab Apple Lane. (Image: James Weeds)

A previous proposal for a quarry in Haddiscoe by a different applicant was rejected a decade ago.

Sari Kelsey, a Haddiscoe parish councillor and member of Stopit2, said: "We raise significant areas of concern. Haddiscoe is fighting for the wellbeing of its residents, the wellbeing of its land and national heritage.

"Homes that are 100 metres from the proposed site and beyond are threatened by dust and the particulate matter 2.5, which embeds itself directly into lung, causing significant damage.

"Quarrying in this field would only serve to whip up dust and roll it over the village."

She said the plan would "despoil" the setting of St Mary's Church, a concern shared by Historic England.

Lewis Williams, on behalf of Breedon, said mitigation was proposed to deal with issues around dust and noise, including a dust management plan which would see work stop if it wind was blowing it towards homes.

He added South Norfolk Council's environmental health team had not raised concerns.

Barry Stone (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Conservative county councillor Barry Stone, who represents Clavering, urged the planning committee to turn down the scheme.

His Tory colleague Graham Carpenter said: "It's a beautiful area. This appears to be a blot on the landscape, if it was granted. I am not convinced from what I've heard that the dust will be dealt with. It will be an issue.

Liberal Democrat Rob Colwell said: "We have heard lots of things which have concerned me".

He also highlighted his fears about the impact on the church.

The location is not allocated for a quarry in a current blueprint on where such sites are acceptable, but could be in a revised version of that strategy which is being developed.

Mr Colwell said it should not be included in that.

Liberal Democrat Rob Colwell (Image: Rob Colwell)

Conservative Mark Kiddle Morris said: "What you are going to be left with is a hole of dust because the site which is being extracted is going to be open.

"On a long weekend, you have a gale with no rain you are going to get dust and that's without any working going on.

"This application lacks any clarity on how the amenity of the residents is going to be addressed.

"I also have a problem with the proximity of the church. The amenity of the church will be harmed by this particular application."

Labour councillor Mike Sands said he was concerned the proposed quarry was so close to the village.

He said: "The whole process really does raise some concerns".

Officers at County Hall had recommended councillors grant permission, but councillors put forward a counter proposal that it should be rejected.

READ MORE: Sand martins at Mangreen Quarry on A140 to be protected

The committee then voted unanimously to turn it down.

The grounds were that the applicant had not demonstrated sufficient measures to mitigate the impact on heritage assets or to reduce the impact on the amenity of residents to acceptable levels.