FAQs

The proposed scheme would be designed to minimise any impact on residents’ and other sensitive properties and make sure the local environment is not adversely affected by the extraction or restoration operations.

Our proposed working scheme includes an exclusion zone from all residential properties of 100m from the edge of the proposed extraction area. In some cases, this may be increased as part of the detailed application process.

The area within the exclusion zone can be used to reduce the impacts of any scheme through landscaping, or bunds to screen properties. Soil bunds are mounds that would be made from the topsoil or subsoil from the excavation work prior to extraction so as to provide an effective screen. These bunds would be designed to blend into the environment and can be up to 5m high, where required. They would be seeded to minimise visual impact.

Sand and gravel quarries, such as Broom Quarry in Bedfordshire, are generally much shallower than hard rock quarries and, importantly, no blasting is required to extract the aggregate. They are usually worked and restored in phases as this minimises the area exposed at any time and limits the time that the land is out of use for other productive purposes.

Sand and gravel are commonly extracted by a mobile excavator and transported to a processing plant using either a conveyor or dump truck, where it is washed to remove fine sand and clay (silt). Sand separated during this process is then dried and stockpiled.

The gravel extracted in this process is passed over a series of screens that sift the material into different sizes. The gravels are then placed into separate stockpiles. The plant site is always in proximity to freshwater and silt lagoons that are created as a source of water to wash the sand and to dispose of the silt. The finished aggregate products are then loaded onto trucks for delivery to customers or can be used on-site in the manufacturing of ready mixed concrete, or bagged aggregate products.

At each site, we strive to ensure that rights of way are protected where possible, and subject to landowner approval we try to enhance accessibility through our restoration schemes.

There are a number of rights of way within the site. If the site is confirmed as a Preferred Site and planning permission is granted, we would not remove any rights of way completely. We would only apply to have rights of way diverted on a temporary basis if they were in areas of extraction or the movement of quarry vehicles posed a potential danger to the rights of way users.

If the scheme progresses, it may involve the diversion of the bridleway which runs north-south through the site and forms part of the Harcamlow Way, with a route provided around the periphery of the site to the east to ensure that users can continue to cross the farm. This would require approval under planning and rights of way legislation, after appropriate consultation with neighbours, members of the public, and other interested parties.

If allocated, we would seek to provide permissive rights of way linked into existing rights of way across the site, particularly east to west, as part of our conceptual restoration plans. We would consult with neighbours and rights of way users in order to inform the development of these plans.

The exact details of the processing plant are yet to be determined. However, a typical modular system is envisaged that has the advantage of being relatively low level, with high levels of energy and water efficiency.

In addition to the processing plant, the site would require site management infrastructure including a weighbridge; site offices; messroom; and wheel wash. We may also consider the inclusion of an aggregate bagging plant and / or ready mixed concrete plant to increase the sustainability of the site.

The processing area will be located within an engineered area at a lower level than the surrounding landscape in order to further reduce the visual profile of any plant and equipment.

Our proposed working scheme is based around progressive extraction and restoration such that only a proportion of the land would be out of agricultural use at any one time. At this early stage, we are exploring the potential to reinstate the farmland associated with Olives Farm, using on-site materials to bring the land back up to near original levels. This means that there would only be a temporary loss of productivity at the farm, which is typical of a sand and gravel operation.

We recognise that there may be an opportunity for a future quarry to deliver some of the construction materials required to build out the developments nearby. Whilst it will depend on the phasing of those developments, we are having conversations at this early stage to establish whether we could align our plans to minimise disruption for the local community during the construction phases for these housing developments.

It is proposed that all traffic would exit the site onto the B181 southbound before heading onto the A414 towards Harlow. No heavy vehicles would be permitted to pass through Stanstead Abbotts and Stanstead St Margaret's. The only exception to this would be the extremely rare circumstance that there would be a delivery to a local business or resident in one of the villages. There are no proposals to route any HGVs north up the B181, nor will the site use any access off the B180. Similarly, apart from local deliveries, there is no aspiration to use the B181 south to go through Roydon. A planning obligation (part of a Section 106 agreement that would accompany a Decision Notice) would be put in place to manage the movements of HGVs to ensure that they only use permitted routes. As a responsible operator, we would carefully monitor HGV movements, for example by installing CCTV cameras at the quarry entrance.

It is proposed that all traffic would exit the site onto the B181 southbound before heading onto the A414 towards Harlow. No heavy vehicles would be permitted to pass through Stanstead Abbotts, Stanstead St Margaret's, Hunsdon – or any other local villages. The only exception to this would be the extremely rare circumstance that there would be a delivery to a local business or resident in one of the villages. A planning obligation (part of a Section 106 agreement that would accompany a Decision Notice) would be put in place to manage the movements of HGVs to ensure that they only use permitted routes. As a responsible operator, we would carefully monitor HGV movements, for example by installing CCTV cameras at the quarry entrance.

At our other quarries we urge residents to report any incidents to us as quickly as possible, and act swiftly to resolve them. We would also set up a Quarry Liaison Group which would act as a formal mechanism through which to keep in regular contact with the community. These groups help to ensure that any issues at our other sites are dealt with quickly and effectively.

Our intention is for the quarry to primarily serve the market in the east of the county using the proposed access on the B181 (Roydon Road). HCC has requested we undertake an appraisal to consider the potential options available for westbound access. These options include an improved junction at Church Lane and the potential reactivation of the slip roads to the west of the site. This work is ongoing, and we will update stakeholders and residents as matters progress. Should the site be taken forward by the Council, an independent highways consultant would assess the design of any proposed access to ensure it meets the safety standards set out by the Council’s highways officers.

Based on our operations at other similar sites, we would manage this issue in two ways. Firstly, the access and haul road into the site would be surfaced (with concrete or asphalt). This would ensure that any materials or mud would be deposited on-site, and not on the public highway. Secondly, we would also install a wheel wash through which all HGVs would have to pass through to clean the wheels and the vehicle chassis.

We would also use a road sweeper as a backup measure at the site manager’s discretion. However, the need for this should be negligible with the appropriate design and installation of the above measures.

During extraction, the sand and gravel would be damp so there would be limited scope for dust. Dust can be created during the stripping and moving of soils which is similar to that of agricultural operations, such as ploughing fields.

There would be a 100m exclusion zone between the edge of the extraction area and neighbouring properties. The level of dust in the air decreases considerably over distance, meaning that beyond 100m the levels are significantly reduced.

If we were to progress with a planning application for the site, we would undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment which would include appointing a specialist air quality consultant who would look at the potential for dust to be created and will also identify a range of appropriate mitigation measures.

The potential for adverse impacts will be further mitigated through the operation of site activities in accordance with a Dust Management Scheme, to be agreed in advance with the Local Authority and in accordance with the latest Institute of Air Quality Management guidance. This will consider aspects such as bund creation and seeding, and cessation of any activities, particularly on dry dusty days, that may result in off-site dust emissions.

There would be no scope for vibration being generated by the proposals.

Were we to prepare and submit a planning application for the site, we would design the scheme to ensure noise is minimised and is within acceptable levels. This would be achieved by leaving an appropriate distance from our operations to nearby buildings (known as standoffs), the design and use of soil screening bunds, and the selection and management of appropriate plant and equipment. Hours of working would also be limited.

With these measures in place, it is anticipated that the level of impact would be well within acceptable levels as defined in best practice guidance. If planning consent was granted, a noise monitoring plan could be included through any planning conditions to monitor the effectiveness of the above measures.

Our Quarry Liaison Group would provide a channel through which to keep in regular contact with the community. At our other sites, these groups help to ensure that any issues are dealt with quickly and effectively.

There would be no blasting operations, as no materials on site need such treatment to enable them to be moved or extracted. All materials would be moved using hydraulic excavators and other mobile plant and equipment.

It is recognised that the site is located in a sensitive setting in proximity to a scheduled monument, ancient woodlands, listed buildings and registered parks and gardens. We have considerable experience in carefully managing our operations to ensure that they do not negatively impact sensitive sites.

A Heritage Impact Assessment would be produced as part of any planning application and this would evaluate the historic assets and inform the need for any specific management and/or mitigation measures to safeguard these assets. For example, for the purposes of the draft working scheme, we have included a 20m stand-off from Lords Wood to protect it. A heritage conservation management plan would be provided for the duration of the scheme should the site be allocated and get planning permission.

Our preliminary ecological appraisal concludes that it is unlikely that there are rare or protected species on site. While we will undertake more extensive surveys, we believe that any impacts can be suitably managed through appropriate planning conditions and species licensing controls.

The development of a quarry often leads to a greater diversity of habitats and species both in its operational phase and post-restoration. This is because there is the opportunity to create new habitats during working and restoration, such as bare ground, and wetland, which attracts a different range of plants and animal species. We currently propose that, as part of our restoration scheme, nature conservation would be supported by a management plan to provide aftercare for a period of 15-years.

Our restoration schemes also often involve the development of nature conservation habitats. In fact, we have had involvement in a number of award-winning restoration schemes some of which have led to the designation of restored quarries as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and other sites of wildlife value.

We have already started conducting extensive archaeological investigations to understand the character of the site. Following several initial desk-based studies and ongoing conversations with Historic England, we made several changes to the initial boundaries of the site as we learnt more about the setting of nearby heritage assets, the scope and content of local records.

This included the removal of the field to the west of Olives Farm to safeguard potential archaeological remains and maintain the historic setting of the landscape to the west of Olives Farm. We also changed the boundary to the north east of the site, south of Olives Farm, to increase the standoffs to nearby heritage assets.

Building on this work, we excavated 25 trial trenches in areas of highest known archaeological potential (plus some controls). The locations of the trenches were identified based as areas of highest known archaeological potential.

The investigations concluded the site has low-status Roman remains in parts of the site, likely to relate to scattered short-lived farmsteads in the hinterland of the Olives Farm Roman Villa. Notably the villa site itself (largely excavated in the 1960s and 70s) is outside of the area for proposed quarrying. Within the site there was no evidence of any Roman buildings, just ditches, gullies and pits relating to past agricultural-based activities. The identified archaeology was very common for the area: Roman pottery, animal bone, some fired clay and the odd small find (including a copper brooch).

This is no more than would be expected in the wider hinterland of a rural Roman agricultural-based landscape. It has satisfied the Council that the site is suitable for being identified as a Preferred Area in the emerging Plan, pending further archaeological investigations should we proceed towards a full planning application. If further areas of high importance for archaeology are identified through these further investigations, they will be excluded from the scheme.

If we were to receive planning consent, a team of experienced archaeologists would supervise any archaeological investigations that may be required in advance of extraction. Any archaeology would be appropriately investigated and catalogued in accordance with best practice guidance. This process is known as preservation by record. Usually this is just low-level archaeological artefacts. In the rare instance something of archaeological significance was unearthed it would be preserved in situ. As such, our operations provide an opportunity to unearth archaeological remains that would otherwise remain in the earth or be damaged by agricultural operations that are not required to undertake this work.

We understand the local interest in this work and will continue to be transparent. For example, we took members of the parish council’s historical society on-site to see the work that was being undertaken. Further work is ongoing to look at other aspects and we will carry on working closely with Historic England and the County Council’s own specialists as we continue to refine the scheme.

Were we to progress with a planning application, we would ensure that the scheme is designed so that it had a minimum impact on the local landscape. Our initial landscape and visual appraisal have concluded that any visual effects arising from the site would be limited. We would propose to reduce any negative impact with advance tree planting and soil mounds (known as bunds) that provide effective natural screening. For example, our current working scheme includes a 15m wide belt of advance planting along the northern edge of the site which will provide a screen to all neighbouring properties.

The potential impacts upon volumes and quality of groundwater and surface water resources would be fully examined as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment, which would be undertaken were we to progress with a planning application. Any potential impacts would have to be mitigated to a level that was acceptable to the Environment Agency prior to the granting of planning permission.

Our preliminary assessments do not suggest the presence of any particular sensitivity that differentiates it from numerous other sand and gravel quarries throughout the region or the sites being promoted through the Minerals Local Plan. In fact as the groundwater table is very low in the sand and gravel deposit the scope for impact is actually lower. The scope for direct disturbance of groundwater levels within the sand and gravel, or any features dependent upon the level of that groundwater (i.e. wells, springs, seepage to surface watercourses), would therefore be negligible.[LJ1]

In common with other quarrying operations, the only potential sources of water pollution associated with our proposed operations would be limited to the storage of hydrocarbons (fuel, lubricating and hydraulic oils) used in fixed and mobile plant. This risk would be managed by preventative measures that would reduce the risk of spillages as well as “clean-up” measures for the management of such spillages should they occur. These measures would be in accordance with strict Environment Agency guidelines and regulations.

The potential impacts of the importation of inert material upon groundwater and surface water quality would need to be fully examined as part of a Hydrogeological Risk Assessment.