Lea Castle Quarry

This section summarises the Updated Phased Working and Progressive Restoration associated with the change to the proposed mineral processing plant to one of a smaller size, and with a reduced operational acoustic volume, compared to that proposed and assessed within the original application scheme. This has allowed for the reduction in the number, height and / or duration of temporary soil storage / screening bunds and minimising the time when quarry operational land is required.

The following drawings have been produced to both clarify opportunities for phased restoration, minimising the time when quarry operational land is required and allowing for the reduction in the number, height and / or duration of temporary soil storage / screening bunds.

• Drawing No. E2370-SGA-001: Original Plant Proposal;
• Drawing No. E2370-SGA-002: Revised Plant Layout;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_001: Updated Temporary Soil Attenuation Mitigation Bunds;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_004: Initial Works;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_005: Phase 1 – Working & Restoration;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_006: Phase 2 – Working & Restoration;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_007: Phase 3 – Working & Restoration;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_008 - Phase 4 – Working & Restoration;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_009 - Phase 5 – Working & Restoration;
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_010 - Final Works; and
• Drawing No. 01-LEACF-INQ_012 - Plant Site.

The ability to make changes emanating from confirmation by NRS (the Applicant and Operator) to change the proposed mineral processing plant to one of a smaller size, and with a reduced operational acoustic volume, compared to that proposed and assessed within the original application scheme.

The use of the quieter operating plant of ~ 6.334m in height will be located a minimum of 7m below existing ground levels.

On a direct comparison between the originally submitted scheme and the revised scheme, the changes are:

• Reduction in Processing Plant height (from 12m to 6.334m),
• Reduction in Processing Plant footprint (reduced from 2,752m³ to 451m³)
• Reduction in noise levels from the Processing Plant

Quarry plant and infrastructure has evolved over the course of the 5-6 years since the proposed development was first conceived. Whilst this change does not affect the appeal proposal per se, it does enable a change to the mitigation, and particularly to the height and duration of the bunds.

The processing plant as originally proposed is be located a minimum of 7m below adjacent ground levels and contained, therefore, this new plant would not require the same level of bund placement. Noise calculations indicate that these changes would allow the bunding to be reduced in height to 3 metres apart from in the vicinity of the McDonald's Bungalow, where the bund (Bund 7) will need to be 4 metres between the property and the works in Phase 1 (extraction and infilling).

There will be no change to the overall site Concept Restoration Scheme in respect of levels or landform.  The only change in land use associated with the progressive restoration being the placement of a stretch of hedgerow / hedgerow trees adjacent to the eastern margin of Phase 4, which would now take place during the Initial Works Phase (Year 1) as opposed to as part of Final Works (Year 10).  There would also be no changes in the length of mineral extraction, its cessation and the final restoration of the site.