Grundon Sand & Gravel has submitted its planning application to develop a building sand quarry, on land known as Purple Haze, South of Verwood.
Following public consultations in July 2019 and July 2020 into its options to develop the proposed site, Grundon has received feedback on its proposals from Hampshire County Council (HCC) (as the relevant Minerals and Waste Planning Authority), including its views on potential effects of the development and the main topics on which the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should focus.
The EIA is submitted as an Environmental Statement (ES) alongside the planning application and other supporting documents – and provides details of the development, any significant impacts it may have and planned measures to offset those impacts. It is accompanied by a Non-Technical Summary.
Following the public consultation – and feedback from HCC – the site surveys and assessments have been completed and incorporated into the Environmental Statement and planning application – and the application has now been submitted.
The Council has validated the application and will seek feedback from the public and other interested parties. The consultation expiry date is 21 May 2021. The application details can be found on the HCC website.
Once the Council has received feedback and comments, it may ask Grundon further questions about the development. Only when HCC is satisfied it has sufficient information will the application be determined.
Stewart Mitchell, Grundon’s Estates Manager, believes the application and the supporting documents provide a comprehensive package of information on all the relevant aspects necessary for the development of a building sand quarry:
“Producing a full planning application – and the associated Environmental Statement – is a complex and time consuming task – as our application has been prepared in accordance with the site allocation in the Hampshire CC Minerals and Waste Local Plan. Following our online public consultation, HCC will carry out its own public consultation, carefully considering both our application and the Environmental Statement.
“When dealing with large applications, Planning Authorities regularly refer back to the applicant for further explanations, or clarification about the information submitted, before making any decision.
“We will continue to keep the public informed as the application progresses. If HCC does grant planning permission – and before work starts on site – we would form a local Liaison Group. This would include representatives from the local community, special interest groups and Grundon Sand & Gravel. We will provide further information about this proposal as we move through the planning process.”
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