Walleys Landfill Quarry: Planning Frequently asked questions
When was planning permission issued?
What are the key conditions of the planning permission relevant to the landfill operations?
Who monitors the site operations?
Can the planning permission be revised?
Useful Links
Planning permission for the quarrying of clay and restoration using waste was first issued in 1948. In the 1990’s, following the introduction of new legislation, a review to update the conditions of the permission was carried out by the County Council. The operator appealed against the review, which included a condition to limit the types of waste that could be imported to restore the site. After considering the appeal Inspector’s Report, the Secretary of State approved the updated conditions in 1997 (ref. IDO/N/1).
A further review of the 1997 conditions of the permission was carried out in 2016 (ref. N.12/09/216 MW).
A more detailed overview of the planning history of the site (and the surrounding housing development) can be found in Section 3 of the Report of the Task and Finish Working Group (March 2021).
a) The planning permission restricts the hours of operation for most activities to 07:00 to 19:00 Mondays to Fridays, 07:00 to 13:00 Saturdays and no operations on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays (Condition 10).
b) The planning permission allows the importation of inert waste, non-hazardous industrial and commercial wastes and stable non-reactive hazardous wastes (Condition 8).
c) The planning permission allows up to 880 HGV movements per full working week (440 in and 440 out) (Condition 15).
d) HGVs are permitted to travel from the site to the A34 via three approved routes (Church Lane/Lower Milehouse Lane, Silverdale Road/Knutton Lane, or Cemetery Road/Keele Road) or they can use the A525 Keele Road if travelling west of the site (ref. IDO/N/1 216 MW D4).
e) The planning permission allows the landfill operation to continue until 2042 but only inert waste can be deposited after 31 December 2026 (Condition 2).
f) The planning permission requires the site to be progressively restored to agriculture, conservation grassland and woodland in accordance with the approved Final Restoration Plan (dwg no. W31/ROMP/12/04B) (Condition 37)
g) Conditions 6 and 38 require reviews of the approved working and restoration plans to be submitted for approval. A Progress Report and review of the restoration plan has been submitted but has not yet been approved (ref. N.12/09/216 MW D2).
h) A legal agreement accompanies the planning permission which requires the current owner to:
i. require vehicles carrying waste to use the wheel wash and vehicles carrying waste to the site to be sheeted or otherwise contained
ii. review the final restoration plan in consultation with the liaison committee
iii. carry out extended aftercare for a period of 15 years
iv. arrange a liaison committee in accordance with terms of reference
i) There are also separate planning permissions for the landfill gas utilisation plant (ref N.09/01/216 MW and N.13/04/216 MW) and an approval for the leachate treatment plant (N.13/02/216 MW).
The County Council’s Planning Regulation Team monitors compliance with the conditions of the planning permission by carrying out site inspections and follow up actions as appropriate.
The Environment Agency monitors compliance with the Environmental Permit (EP) which controls the day-to-day landfill operations. The EP places detailed restrictions on the landfill operations and the waste types.
Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council’s Environmental Protection Team monitors air quality and statutory nuisance, including from noise and vibration, dust, odours and insects.
The UK Health Security Agency monitors the risk to public health.
A Strategic Coordinating Group, chaired by Staffordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Simon Tweats, has been established to help the various agencies coordinate their activities.
In accordance with a legal agreement (Schedules 6 and 7), the Walleys Quarry Landfill Liaison Committee has been established to act as a forum to discuss the site operations. The Committee is made up of representatives on behalf of the operator, the County, Borough and Parish Councils, the Environment Agency, and local residents.
The operator can apply to the County Council to make changes to the planning permission e.g. a planning application has recently been submitted to address a lorry parking problem before the site is open in a morning.
Environment Agency’s Walleys Quarry Community Information
Environment Agency’s Latest Update
Environment Agency’s FAQs
Environment Agency’s Environmental Permit ref. DP3734DC
Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council’s Walleys Quarry web page
Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council’s FAQs
Staffordshire County Council’s Public Health web page
UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) - Health Risk Assessment of air quality monitoring results
Walleys Quarry Limited (the landfill operator’s web page which includes a tour of the site, latest information, details about the Environmental Permit, and minutes of the Walleys Quarry Landfill Liaison Committee meetings.