Planning permission sought for quarry in the Slieve Blooms in Laois

The Irish branch of an international construction materials company has applied for planning permission for a quarry in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. 

Breedon Materials Limited (trading as Breedon Ireland) is seeking permission to extract sand and gravel at an existing quarry at the townlands of Mounthall and Cummer, Camross. 

The site doesn’t have existing planning permission for sand or gravel extraction but it is registered as a quarry under Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The existing gravel pit measures 1.2 hectares and Breedon wants to extend the area to cover around eighth hectares of the 12 hectare site.   

Breedon Materials Ltd has applied to Laois County Council for permission to develop the site to include a mobile processing plant, weighbridge and portacabin. 

They are seeking “continued use and extension to existing permitted sand and gravel pit registered under Section 261 of the Planning & Development Act 2000, as amended (site ref. QY05/10) within an overall application area of c. 12.2 hectares; 2)Extraction of sand and gravel (dry working) over an area of c. 8 hectares with processing and washing of material on site (closed loop water recycling system with associated silt storage lagoons 1,952.25m2), and all ancillary works and structures.”

The plan also seeks to build  “site facilities consisting of mobile processing plant, portacabin site office (6.25m²), portacabin welfare facility (18.9m²), serviced portaloo toilet, bunded fuel storage and refuelling pad with hydrocarbon interceptor, weighbridge, wheelwash, water supply borehole, perimeter berms, vegetation planting and fencing; 4) Access to the site will be via the existing sand & gravel pit entrance; 5) Restoration of the site to agricultural lands; and 6)The proposed extraction operational period is for 10 years plus one year to complete restoration (total duration sought 11 years).” 

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Assessment (NIS) were submitted with the planning application which was lodged with Laois County Council on September 19.

The council is expected to decide on the application by November 13, 2024.