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
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
