Needingworth Quarry is one of the largest sand and gravel sites in the UK extending to 977 hectares. This project is a joint venture that was developed by Hanson and the RSPB (https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/ouse-fen) with the quarry recently having changed hands, joining Brice Aggregates.
The restoration scheme is over 50% complete and has been way more successful than had been hoped, with wildlife flocking to the site, despite the presence of the adjacent quarry.
We have been involved with the operation of this site since the mid 1990s and now provide a number of support functions, from providing planning input, restoration advice, preparation of working and restoration plans, public access plans in consultation with the operator, RSPB and the local authorities, and highway diversion applications.
The overall aim of this project is to develop and internationally important wetland habitat, by excavating sand and gravel from fenland arable feildsand leaving behind a series of large reedbeds.
Over the years, the understanding of how reedbeds operate and how to design a restoration landform that maximises nature conservation potential, has resulted in a need to vary the restoration scheme. The initial designs provided a regimented grid for reed cells but it is now thought that a smaller number of larger reed cells, with longer but narrower undulating belts of reeds, provides habitat that is more attractive to wildlife.
Over our time working with this project, the changes to the restoration accumulated and so we were asked to prepare a planning application to regularise the changes to both the phasing and the restoration scheme. We undertook pre-application consultation, undertook EIA screening, and prepared and pursued and application to regularise these matters and also address other changes, such as vehicle routing. Planning permission was granted which was critical to the subsequent sale of the site from Hanson to the new owner.
