Home / Environment / Oxfordshire Quarry Stays Open Decades Past Plan
Oxfordshire Quarry Stays Open Decades Past Plan
25 May
Summary
- Quarry extensions have kept a site open a decade longer than planned.
- Residents face no end in sight due to repeated planning permission changes.
- National demand for aggregates fuels pressure to extend quarry operations.
Residents in Oxfordshire are expressing frustration over repeated extensions granted to the Bridge Farm quarry near Didcot, which will now remain operational until at least 2030. This marks a decade longer than initially planned, leaving villagers in Appleford with a sense of perpetual disruption.
Oxfordshire County Council, responsible for granting permissions, stated that extensions are considered on their merits. The council must also ensure a steady supply of minerals, a target they are currently not meeting. National demand for aggregates, driven by government housing targets, increases pressure to keep quarries open longer.
Heidelberg Materials UK, the current operator, has applied for a new extraction permit. They argue it is necessary for projects like Local Housing Infrastructure Fund 1, which includes road construction. The company also highlighted potential use of the site for landfill and restoration into wetland areas.
Similar situations are occurring elsewhere, with a Cholsley quarry gaining a five-year extension. Nationally, former quarry sites are being repurposed for various uses, including solar farms, nature reserves, housing, and even science parks.
