Consultation on future of quarry applications in County Durham

A strategy which will help determine future planning applications for quarrying and waste management facilities in County Durham is out for consultation.

Durham County Council is asking the public to give views on the final version of its Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document.

This document aims to ensure mineral or waste developments, such as quarries or recycling centres, do not have adverse impacts on the environment, local communities, or people’s health.

It will be used to influence future planning application decisions, with consideration being given to factors such as such as noise, air quality and dust, blasting vibration, and traffic and transport.

The document also contains policies for extracting economically important minerals, such as lithium, and policies on the recovery and disposal of waste.

It also contains proposals for two new sand and limestone quarrying sites, and two new sites for waste disposal, with all four located within or adjacent to existing quarries in the county.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “This consultation is the final stage in the development of our Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document, which has been prepared through multiple stages of consultation.

“The document will complement the existing County Durham Plan, outlining a series of requirements for future planning applications to ensure any new developments are in the best interests of, and do not adversely affect, our communities and the environment.”

Members of the public have until Friday, January 13, to give feedback on the document, which can be viewed and commented on at www.durham.gov.uk/consultation

Residents can also use this link to register to attend an online information event on Wednesday, December 7, for further details on the consultation.

Alternatively, documents are available to view in all council libraries and Customer Access Points, and residents can comment by emailing [email protected], or writing to the team’s Freepost address – Freepost Spatial Policy.

Following the consultation, the document will be submitted to Government in May 2023.