KILBLANE QUARRY

PLANNING APPLICATION FOR THE

WESTERN EXTENSION TO SITE

WELCOME

Welcome to the community consultation website for the proposed Kilblane Quarry extension.

Kilblane Sand and Gravel Quarry is located approximately 1km north of the village of Locharbriggs in Dumfries and Galloway. 

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If approved, the extension will cover a site approximately 8 hectares and provide continued mineral resources for up to 10 years.

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The quarry directly employs 10 members of staff full time and a further 5 hauliers indirectly and provides an important source of sands and gravels to Dumfries and the surrounding area providing the local construction industry with indigenous supplies of construction materials.

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The proposal is being developed by Johnston Poole & Bloomer Ltd for Hoddam Contracting Co. Ltd.

PROPOSAL

Background

Mineral extraction at the site currently predominantly takes place under planning permission 14/P/3/0343.  However, the majority of the minerals to be extracted under this consent are below the water table and require some blending with dry sand and gravel to maximise the reserve.

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It is therefore proposed to prepare and submit a planning application for a further extension to the quarry to facilitate this. 

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The application site is contained within the existing quarry permission boundary and includes the current quarry access road. 

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It is also proposed to extend the period of operations under planning planning permission reference 14/P/3/0343 from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2031 to allow all site operations to continue to this date.  A separate planning application will be submitted in this respect. 

Proposed Development

The proposed application site comprising approximately 8 hectares of land will yield circa 1 million tonnes of sand and gravel providing sufficient mineral resources to facilitate continued extraction for approximately 10 years at current output levels.

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The proposal also provides for the relocation of the quarry access road to the south of this land and the erection of a ready mix concrete plant to replace the existing plant within the site.

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Extraction and processing will take place using the same method as is employed in dry extraction at the quarry at present. 

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• The sand and gravel will be extracted by an excavator and transported by dump truck to a stockpile alongside the plant within the existing site for subsequent processing.

• This sand and gravel will then processed into finished sand and aggregate products using the existing washing, crushing and screening plant.

Mineral extraction will take place in two phases each of approximately 5 years duration allowing the site worked and restored progressively with soils stripped from Phase 2 being used directly in the restoration of phase 1 as operations progress.​

PLANS OF THE DEVELOPMENT

Click the image to zoom into details!

Existing Site Topography

Phase 1 Development

Phase 2 Development

Restoration Scheme

Restoration is focused on habitat creation along the peripheral slopes with restoration to agricultural grazing on the former quarry floor. The site would be assimilated with adjoining lands to contribute to regional biodiversity with steeper slopes accommodating species rich grassland. Restoration would be applied progressively on site with areas restored to their proposed afteruse as they become available.  

Environmental Review

Initial consultation has been undertaken with Dumfries and Galloway Council and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion provided.

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This confirmed that a formal EIA is not required.

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A number of studies will or have been completed to inform the site design and confirm the environmental acceptability of the development.  

Ecology

An extended Phase I habitat survey has been undertaken by Acorna Ecology. The extended Phase I Habitat survey considered not only habitats and species of plant present but also the potential presence of relevant protected species including bats, otters, badgers, red squirrels and water voles.

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The site includes open agricultural land, scrub, scattered trees, and an area of marshy ground as well as a minor watercourse and active quarry area set in a wooded pastoral landscape to north, west, and south.

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No notable species of plants were found and most of the habitats present were of little ecological interest.

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The site has nil value for roosting bats, and water vole and red squirrel will not be impacted. Potential impacts in respect of otters, badgers, and breeding birds are negligible provided good practice measures are observed.

Noise

Potential noise impacts resulting from the proposals have been assessed by independent specialists Vibrock Limited.

Noise modelling has been undertaken in order to predict the worst-case noise levels. The noise modelling results show that the predicted noise levels will accord with appropriate limits for noise from mineral workings at residential properties as detailed within Scottish Government guidance.

Dust

A Dust Management Plan will be prepared for the site incorporating industry good practice in the minimisation and control of emissions.

It is anticipated that with good practice control measures any impacts will be localised and will not have significant adverse effects.

Archaeology

Prior to any mineral extraction commencing on site an archaeological evaluation of the site will be undertaken in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation approved by Dumfries and Galloway Council Archaeological Department.

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Further mitigation will be determined in by the findings of the archaeological evaluation and undertaken as necessary.This will ensure that any impacts are appropriately mitigated.

Water

An Outline Hydrological Impact Assessment and Water Management Plan has been prepared by Envirocentre. In this regard:

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• The proposed design and in built mitigation will provide for mineral extraction to take place above the water table. 

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• Mitigation has been outlined to ensure protection of the water environment including the provision of a Surface Water Management Plan.

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• Subject to the implementation of these measures all potential effects are assessed as negligible or low magnitude and potential effects on identified receptors are considered to be unlikely.

Landscape and Visual Assessment

A full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) will be undertaken as part of the final submission, however from initial investigation it is expected that the proposals will generate a compact visual envelope - i.e. predominantly within 2km.

This is supported by the initial Zone of Theoretical Visibility Impact (ZTVI) analysis. 

Through a combination of existing topography and extensive tree cover, the visual influence of the proposal is not expected to generate significant landscape and visual impact. The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment will fully consider the extent of potential impacts to the character of the landscape, and identify a number of key viewpoints within the ZTVI from which visual impact will be considered.

What happens now?

An online consultation event will be held  on Monday 31st August between 4pm and 7pm

To access the consultation event please contact Tom Lewis of Johnson Poole & Bloomer:

• in writing - Johnson Poole & Bloomer, 50 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow G4 9TH 

• by email -

• or call - 01413311456

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Comments to the applicant can be made now.

Comments can be made:

• using the message box, please include your full name and location in the message section; 

•  by email to ; or

• in writing to Tom Lewis at Johnson Poole & Bloomer, 50 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH

Following the online consultation event any further questions can be answered by contacting Tom Lewis on 0141 3311456.

All comments must be received no later than Tuesday 22nd September 2020.

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​All comments received will be considered in the preparation of the final proposals and a formal planning application will be submitted in due course. 

Please note, comments made to the prospective applicant do not constitute representations to the Planning Authority.  The opportunity to make representations to Dumfries and Galloway Council will be available following formal submission of the planning application.