Breedon, the operator of Freemans Quarry near Bristol, has submitted a planning application to North Somerset Council seeking a 20-year extension for the continued operation of a ready-mixed concrete (RMX) batching plant within their limestone quarry. The RMX plant was originally approved in January 2024 however the latest application seeks to extend the operational timeframe, alongside the continuation of quarrying activities.
The application maintains limestone extraction at Freemans Quarry has progressed more slowly than originally anticipated, leaving substantial permitted mineral reserves still available for extraction. As a result, Breedon are seeking to retain the RMX plant for a longer period of time to support the ongoing quarry operation and enable continued on-site concrete production. The recent planning application highlights the operational benefits of integrating concrete production within the quarry helping to reduce the need to transport aggregates for processing off site. If approved, the RMX plant would continue operating as part of the wider quarry infrastructure until extraction activities are completed. After this time, the plant and associated infrastructure would be removed as part of the final quarry restoration programme.
This is one of many concrete and associated planning schemes identified last month by BDS as part of its regular monitoring of all 400+ planning authorities in Great Britain. For those interested in other detailed planning information and resources associated with Concrete or Cement developments, the BDS Planning Portal service offers comprehensive access, review and monitoring of related planning schemes. Access to this information is available by annual subscription to the BDS Planning Portal. For more information on subscribing to the Portal or BDS research services and published reports, email: contact@bdsmarketing.co.uk or visit www.bdsmarketing.co.uk