Agenda item

Deepen and extend Windy Ridge Quarry; increase the number of HGV movements permitted; excavate former landfill to recover recyclable materials (retrospective); temporarily store soils on part of the previously restored quarry area (retrospective); form new access; restore the site by infill with construction, demolition and excavation wastes; and recycle imported construction demolition and excavation wastes - Windy Ridge Quarry, Cartworth Moor Road, Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth

Contact: Farzana Tabasum, Planning Services

Ward(s) affected: Holme Valley South

Application refused.

The Committee considered Application 2022/93230 to deepen and extend Windy Ridge Quarry; increase the number of HGV movements permitted; excavate former landfill to recover recyclable materials (retrospective); temporarily store soils on part of the previously restored quarry area (retrospective); form new access; restore the site by infill with construction, demolition and excavation wastes; and recycle imported construction demolition and excavation wastes at Windy Ridge Quarry, Cartworth Moor Road, Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth.

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 37, the Committee received a representation from Chris Ballam (on behalf of the applicant).

Resolved –

That the application be refused for the following reasons:

1.             The proposals through the construction of a new access road will result in the encroachment of urban development into the countryside. This together with its use as proposed would constitute inappropriate development failing to preserve the openness of the green belt and would conflict with the purpose of including the land within the green belt. Very special circumstances (which clearly outweigh this inappropriateness and other harm) has not been sufficiently demonstrated. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies LP32 and LP36, Part 2 (a) of the Kirklees Local Plan and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.             The proposals will result in an intensified use in HGV movements on the surrounding highway network including Cartworth Moor Road. Consequently, this will result in the further structural failure of the unsealed, maintained in character only, section of Cartworth Moor Road, which in its current condition is considered unsuitable to serve the proposed intensified HGV movements. Cartworth Moor Road in part forms a core walking and cycling network. The intensified HGV’s movements is likely to result in significant highway safety concerns from conflicts between HGV and other road users including vehicular, equestrian, cyclists and pedestrians, failing to safeguard and undermine the safety of all other users. The proposals as such are contrary to guidance in the NPPF and Kirklees Local Plan Policies LP21, LP23, and LP36 Part 2 (points c, d and f).

3.             The carrying out of the proposals will result in unacceptable noise nuisance to the occupants of the nearest noise sensitive receptor known as Moorfield Farm. It has not sufficiently been demonstrated how the detrimental impact from noise nuisance on the occupiers of Moorfield Farm can be mitigated against adequately. The proposals as such fail to comply with Kirklees Local Plan Policies LP36, Part 2(c) and LP52 and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

4.             The submitted information fails to demonstrate sufficiently how the proposals would avoid causing potential detrimental effects on the existing private water supplies serving a number of properties in the vicinity of the application site, to accord with Kirklees Local Plan policies LP34, LP36 Part 1 (c) and Part 2 (e) and guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

A recorded vote was taken, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 42 (5), as follows;

For: Councillors Armer, Hall, Hawkins, Pattison, Sokhal and Thompson         (6 votes)

Against: Councillor Pinnock (1 vote)