Why council planners change their mind over quarry

Cemex is proposing to extract 1.7 million tonnes of sand and gravel

A council has explained why planners changed their mind about a planning application for a quarry.

Hampshire County Council's regulatory committee refused planning permission in May 2024 for Cemex's Hamble Airfield proposal due to flood risks, highway mitigation issues, and a late objection from Natural England over air quality.

All three reasons for refusal were based on the applicant's insufficient information at that time.

During a recent session of the ongoing Cemex appeal, the head of development management, Lisa Kirby-Hawke, gave reasons why many of these concerns had since been addressed.

Ms Kirby-Hawke said during the appeal, Cemex was able to provide additional information and resolve the issues raised over flood risk and air quality.

She said: "We essentially had a position in front of us that we could no longer resist the appeal because the evidence was showing us that the reason for the refusal had been addressed."

However, the council's concerns over highway mitigation were still outstanding when the council published its statement of case.

Many residents had questioned why the council's stance on the Cemex application had changed from refusal to no longer maintaining the reasons for refusal.

The planning manager clarified that the regulatory committee's role ended on the day of the decision and there is no constitutional requirement to report back to the committee.

Councillor Prad Bains highlighted residents' anxiety over the potential green light for the quarry and their disappointment with the council's handling of the situation.

He said: "The overwhelming unanimous consensus from local residents remains as clear today as it was during the first conversation I had about this application, that this quarry is not in the right place."

The appeal will hear the closing submission on Friday 4 July and a decision is expected in the autumn.