9 August 2011 · Council of Ministers
Stoney Mountain Quarry, Stoney Mountain Road, Eairy, Isle Of Man, IM4 3hj
The Department of Transport sought permission to extend the existing Stoney Mountain Quarry westward by 3.6 hectares (total extraction area c.11.4 hectares within 13.5 hectare site), maintaining annual extraction up to 120,000 tonnes of igneous granite for government and private use, with mobile crushing/screening, ove…
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Strategic need for igneous granite aggregates outweighed countryside protection under GP3, EP1, MP1 as reserves at Stoney Mountain are 'strategically important' to balance Island supply, prevent accel…
General Policy 3
Permits location-dependent mineral working or overriding national need where no reasonable alternative. Officer found strategic aggregate need justifies countryside development as no alternatives without greater harm elsewhere.
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside unless overriding national need/no alternative. Strategic mineral supply outweighed protection; mitigation addressed adverse effects.
Environment Policy 4
Prohibits harm to national/international habitats/species. Wet heath/raptors affected but EP5 mitigation (heath creation, fencing, monitoring) applied exceptionally.
Environment Policy 5 - Mitigation against damage to or loss of habitats
Requires minimisation/conservation/mitigation for EP4 sites. Conditions enforce disturbance minimisation, habitat replacement via phased restoration, monitoring.
Environment Policy 24
Requires EIA for significant impacts. Full ES submitted/assessed covering ecology, traffic, noise, visuals, water.
Environment Policy 27
Seeks quarry restoration/enhancement. Phased scheme restores to heath, removes eyesores.
Minerals Policy 1
Permits winning where need proven/no secondary alternative, no unacceptable amenity/landscape/ecology/highway effects, phased restoration, no sterilisation. All tests passed via evidence/mitigation; national need exceptionally overrides residuals.
Transport Policy 4
Requires safe highway capacity. Existing route adequate with proposed safety scheme/signage.
Time limit for commencement
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
20-year permission period
This permission is for a period of 20 years from the date of this notice.
Approved plans
This permission relates to the extension of Stoney Mountain Quarry and associated drainage and landscaping works as shown in Drawings 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09 and 10 and the Environment Statement all submitted on 21st September, 2009 and the document dated 15th December 2010 with Drawing reference 07B received on 20th December 2010. The excavation and all works shall take place in accordance with the contents of these plans and documents.
Haul road access only
All access to the quarry extension area for the purposes of stripping overburden and excavation shall be taken from haul roads within the quarry.
Working hours
The working hours of the operations on the site shall be restricted to Monday - Friday 0800-1700hrs, Saturday 0800-1200 hrs. The site shall not be operated on Sundays and Bank or Public Holidays. For the purposes of this condition, operations include drilling, blasting, movement, crushing and screening of rock and grading of overburden.
Road safety improvements
A scheme for the improvement of Stoney Mountain Road for road safety purposes shall be submitted to, and approved by, the Planning Authority before any works are undertaken within the quarry to implement any part of this approval. The scheme shall include a programme for the implementation of the works which shall not exceed 18 months from the date of this notice. The approved works shall be maintained during the period of extraction of rock from the quarry.
Remove redundant plant
All plant and equipment which has no further use in the quarry shall be removed from the site.
Progressive landscaping
The landscape and mitigation works hereby approved shall be implemented progressively in accordance with Drawing 07B.
Final restoration and aftercare
After completion of the rock extraction hereby approved, the landscape and mitigation works undertaken as a part of this approval shall be completed within 6 months and maintained, and where necessary replaced, for a period of 24 months after the completion of the rock extraction.
supports as strategically important reserves maintain balanced aggregate supply; refusal would accelerate depletion elsewhere with environmental impacts
no objection subject to electronic signage/road widening for safety on narrow stretches
supports application
do not oppose
Wildlife and Conservation Division objects unless overriding national need is demonstrated due to loss of rare wet heath and protected bird species; DTI supports extension for strategic mineral supply needs; Highways Division has no objection subject to electronic signage conditi…
Key concern: loss of rare wet heath habitat of European importance and protected bird species unless overriding national need demonstrated
Wildlife and Conservation Division
ObjectionWe therefore object to the proposal if it is not deemed to be an overriding national need; the DLGE must therefore consider whether the application demonstrates 'an over-riding national need' and if there is a 'reasonable and acceptable alternative' in relation to its policies in the Strategic Plan (see EP1); a minimum two year period of monitoring and possible remediation works may be necessary
Conditions requested: mitigation undertaken by planning condition, planning agreement or tenancy agreement with clear scheme of works and time schedule with compensatory works ahead of destructive works where possible; liaison group of DAFF, DLGE, MNH and DoT to oversee works; minimum two year period of monitoring and possible remediation works for quarry return; stripping and scraping for pool production in Management Zone 2 on trial basis first; management areas where trees cleared monitored with conifer seedlings and exotic species removed
Department of Trade and Industry
Supportthe DTI supports the validity of the Department of Transport in making an application to extend the existing quarry operations at Stoney Mountain at this time; they can be considered as being of Strategic importance; Need for the development has to be examined in accordance with the criteria as set out in Mineral Policy 1 within the Isle of Man Strategic Plan
Highways Division
Conditional No Objectionsubject to the imposition of a suitable planning condition requiring the installation of electronic signage... the Highways Division do not oppose the planning application; minimum width of carriageway to permit two heavy goods vehicles to pass is 5.5 metres
Conditions requested: imposition of suitable planning condition requiring installation of electronic signage to detect approaching traffic and warn others to wait until narrow section cleared
Manx National Heritage
Conditional No ObjectionMNH supports the setting of conditions attached to approval... which ensure the mitigation scheme is implemented; the resulting development will lead to a regrettable loss of high quality heath
Conditions requested: conditions ensuring mitigation scheme implemented in accordance with Environmental Statement and agreement of DAFF Wildlife and Conservation Division; five yearly reviews of Heathland Management Plan to account for potential further extensions
DEFA Biodiversity Officer
Objectionstill hold that from the wildlife perspective alone, the development would be damaging; It would be better for the wildlife if the quarry were not extended. If it were to be, then it is important that mitigation is undertaken; Future extensions are of course unresolved/able
Conditions requested: mitigation undertaken if extension proceeds
The original application (09/01544/B) for a 3.6 hectare extension to the existing quarry, continuation of operations, and ancillary works was assessed under written representations following refusal implied by the appeal process. Key arguments from the appellant (Department of Infrastructure) focused on strategic need for aggregates, environmental mitigation, and no increase in traffic or operations beyond existing levels. The planning officer highlighted policy conflicts under GP3, EP1, MP1, and others, questioning if strategic importance outweighed countryside protection, visual, and ecological harms. The inspector found a demonstrated need for the mineral supply, acceptable visual impact due to distance and mitigation, and sufficient ecological mitigation despite habitat loss, balancing in favour of approval. Permission was recommended for 20 years with conditions for progressive landscaping, road safety improvements, and aftercare.
Precedent Value
Establishes that 'strategic importance' (not just national need) can outweigh countryside policies for quarry extensions if need evidenced, impacts distant/controllable, and robust progressive mitigation via conditions/EIS provided; future applicants should prioritise DED endorsements, site-specific alternatives analysis, and DEFA-engaged amendments.
Inspector: John S. Turner
