Chieveley Quarry public consultation
Welcome
On behalf of Grundon Sand & Gravel, welcome to our online public consultation into our proposed development for mineral extraction and restoration of the land near Chieveley Services, which is an allocated site in the West Berkshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.
We hope this will explain the background to our proposals, the need for the mineral, the necessary operational and environmental controls and how we would work and restore the site.
We have nearly completed our site investigations and surveys and are in a position to offer you more detailed information about our proposals.
The consultation gives you the opportunity to ask questions, make comments and for us to respond to these and consider them in our proposal.
Site Address:
Land adjacent to M4/A34 Chieveley Services, Oxford Road Newbury.
Centre Grid Ref:
SU4827 7232
Parish:
Chieveley
Extraction:
Extraction of between 400,000 and 670,000 tonnes of soft sand.
Restoration:
Restoration proposed as agriculture to existing levels using inert infill with areas of ecological enhancement.
Site Area:
22.3ha
Site Allocation Plan Mineral and Waste Local Plan (2022 – 2037)
Background
West Berkshire Council is the relevant planning authority for minerals and waste development. The Council has a formal responsibility to make sure its plans deliver the right minerals, at the right time to where they are most needed. The West Berkshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan provides the planning framework for minerals and waste development in West Berkshire to 2037.
The area of land known as Chieveley Services has already been allocated in the Minerals and Waste Local Plan as the best option for continuing a local supply of soft sand (also known as building sand) to support infrastructure and development projects.
In line with best practice, the operation of the quarry would be the working of small areas of land – known as phases – one at a time. Land not being used for extraction would remain in its current agricultural use
Once the sand has been extracted, that phase would be restored in line with the agreed restoration plan.
The restoration scheme will be developed to reflect the results of the ecological and landscape and visual impact assessment investigations we are carrying out as part of the planning application submission and as per the requirements of West Berkshire Council. The Minerals and Waste Local Plan currently suggests that the site should be returned to existing levels using inert infill (excavation materials such as clays and subsoils) and put back to agriculture.
About our proposals
The proposed site is located immediately to the east of the Chieveley Motorway Services Area off junction 13 of the M4 motorway and the A34 road. The site is approximately 1 km south of the village of Chieveley and approximately 0.5km southeast from the village of Curridge. The development area covers approximately 12 hectares (29 acres) and comprises a field of mainly arable land.
It is proposed to extract circa 500,000 tonnes of soft sand over a period of 10 years on a phased basis and to restore the site to agriculture at original ground level using inert materials including soils and clays from foundation works at construction sites.
Historically, since late 90s to approximately 2013, Grundon extracted mineral from the site located almost immediately to the north-east of the proposed new quarry. The former quarry site, referred to as Old Kiln Quarry, has been restored and formally signed off the aftercare period in December 2021.
About GSG
Founded in 1929, Grundon Sand & Gravel is a family-owned company, that provides a wide range of aggregates to the building, construction, landscaping, decorative and leisure markets, We are committed to providing a quality of service, innovation and technical progress, together with a genuine and demonstrable concern for the environment (see www.grundonquarries.com).
We are proud to be certified members of the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and British Aggregates Association (BAA). Our employees are trained to the highest NVQ standards within the industry.