Posted on March 5, 2026
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Planning and Rights of Way Committee is set to consider four linked planning applications relating to a proposed southern extension to Cromwell Quarry near Newark, including an Environmental Impact Assessment application for new extraction phases and three applications to vary existing conditions.
The applications, submitted by Cemex UK Operations Ltd, relate to land at Ness Farm and Cromwell Quarry, off the Great North Road at Cromwell.
The main proposal seeks permission to extract approximately 575,000 tonnes of sand and gravel from two new phases, known as 11C and 11D, over a period of around two years, followed by restoration to nature conservation use.
The three accompanying Section 73 applications would amend existing permissions to allow the continued use of the plant site, haul road, access and silt lagoons, adjust working plans and restoration schemes, and extend time limits to reflect delays caused in part by flooding and the sequencing of the proposed extension.
Cromwell Quarry lies around 7km north of Newark, close to the A1 and the River Trent.
Mineral extraction has taken place in the area for decades.
The current quarry operates under permissions granted and varied between 2016 and 2023, with earlier permissions dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. The site is worked in phases and currently comprises 11 consented phases.
Phase 11B is nearing exhaustion, and the report states the quarry is at risk of being mothballed if further reserves are not brought forward. Earlier southern extensions were approved in 2020 and 2023, and a proposal for a separate new quarry to the north was withdrawn in 2023.
The proposed extension would cover around 8.5 hectares of agricultural land at Ness Farm, currently in arable use. Sand and gravel deposits are recorded at depths between 4.5m and 9.3m. Extraction would take place in campaigns of around three months, two or three times a year, with material transported by dumper along the existing haul road, crossing Cromwell Footpath 5 at an established crossing point before being processed on site and exported by HGV via established routes onto the A1. The applicant states that output levels and vehicle movements would not exceed those already permitted.
Restoration proposals include the creation of open water, ponds, wetlands, reed margins, neutral grassland meadow and wet woodland.
The scheme is intended to provide habitats for species including waders, wildfowl, farmland birds and bats, and to complement existing restored sites in the Trent Valley, including nearby RSPB-managed land at Langford Lowfields.
An updated biodiversity metric submitted as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment indicates net gains of 16.62% for habitat units, 22.09% for hedgerow units and 14.74% for watercourse units. Nottinghamshire County Council’s nature conservation officers have raised no objection, subject to conditions securing a Construction Environmental Management Plan and long-term habitat management.
The site lies within Flood Zone 3. The Environmental Statement includes a Flood Risk Assessment, Drainage Assessment and Hydrogeological Impact Assessment. The Environment Agency requested additional modelling and confirmation of stand-off distances from the River Trent.
Following revised submissions under Regulation 25 of the EIA Regulations, the extraction boundary has been adjusted to maintain a 40m distance from the flood embankment. The Agency has raised no objection, subject to conditions to secure compliance with the Flood Risk Assessment and monitoring arrangements. The report concludes that the development would not increase flood risk elsewhere and that groundwater impacts can be managed through monitoring and mitigation.
Heritage impacts have been assessed in detail. There are no designated heritage assets within the application boundary, but nearby assets include the Scheduled Monument of the Rectangular Barrows at North Muskham, the Cromwell Roman Villa Scheduled Monument, the Grade I listed Church of St Giles in Cromwell, three Grade II listed buildings within the village, and the site of an early medieval bridge.
The Environmental Statement concludes that impacts on the setting of these assets would amount to less than substantial harm.
Officers consider that, although there would be permanent change to the landscape character following restoration, the key relationship between the barrows and the River Trent would remain legible, and the wider rural setting of the Roman villa and listed buildings would continue to be understood.
The report concludes that the identified harm would be outweighed by the public benefits of mineral extraction, including economic benefits, retention of employment, use of existing infrastructure and avoidance of sterilising mineral reserves. Archaeological investigation and mitigation would be secured by condition through an agreed Written Scheme of Investigation.
In policy terms, the site is not allocated for extraction in the Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan. However, policies allow for extensions to existing quarries and for development on non-allocated sites where need can be demonstrated.
The report notes that Nottinghamshire’s sand and gravel landbank exceeds the minimum seven-year requirement set out in national policy, but that this is a minimum rather than a ceiling. It also highlights that some permitted and allocated sites elsewhere in the county are not yet operational. The extension would increase permitted reserves and extend the life of Cromwell Quarry to around 2029, helping to maintain continuity of supply while other sites come forward.
No objections have been received from Newark and Sherwood District Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Historic England, National Highways, the County Council’s highways, landscape, archaeology or flood risk officers, or North Muskham Parish Council. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has objected in principle to extensions on unallocated sites and raised concerns about ecological impacts and biodiversity calculations, although officers consider that these matters have been addressed through additional information and conditions. No representations have been received from members of the public.
The committee report concludes that the proposal accords with the development plan, including policies on mineral provision, flood risk, biodiversity, heritage, landscape and cumulative impact, and recommends that planning permission be granted for all four applications subject to conditions. Councillors will consider the applications at their meeting on 10 March.
