Quarry decision 'failed to assess climate effects'

Plans to build a quarry are in doubt after a council conceded to a legal challenge over how it assessed its possible impact on the environment.

Last year, Northumberland County Council approved a proposal to excavate dolerite - used to produce concrete - near Kirkwhelpington, which would see almost three million tonnes of material extracted over 20 years.

Law firm Leigh Day said the authority agreed to concede to a claim it "failed to assess the likely climate effects of the development" relating to soil disturbance, meaning the grant of planning permission could be quashed.

The local authority declined to comment.

Those behind the quarry said it would create 20 long-term jobs.

At the time, dozens of locals opposed saying the wind would blow noise, debris and grime into the village of Kirkwhelpington.

The proposals were approved in November.

Campaigner John Winslow, represented by Leigh Day and supported by the Environmental Law Foundation, challenged the application in February.

As a result, the council told Leigh Day it would concede that it did not comply with its obligations under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 by failing to assess the likely climate effects of the application.

Ricardo Gama, from Leigh Day, said: "The council will now need to assess those impacts and reconsider its decision to grant planning permission."

Leigh Day said it was unlikely the legal challenge would be heard in court because of the concession.

The developers North East Concrete have been approached from comment.

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