Sand and gravel quarry at Land At Middleton Farm, Potterton

What was proposed

Full permission was sought for a sand and gravel quarry, with extraction, loading, HGV transport and progressive restoration over about six years and nine months.

“The proposal would form a quarry for extraction of sand and gravel and have an operational lifespan of circa 5 years and 9 months, with up to a further year to complete site restoration of the site. The site has undergone geological investigation confirming a resource of circa 400,000 tonnes of gravel and sand present at the site, with 70,000 tonnes proposed to be extracted and sold per year.”

“The applicants have stated that their proposed hours of operation are to be Monday to Friday 0800-1700 with no weekend working. Sand and gravel would be excavated from the working face by a wheeled loading shovel and loaded onto HGV’s for transport to Loch Hills Quarry for processing where it would be washed and screened to produce a range of sand and gravel products.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 11.14-hectare grassland site lies west of Potterton, within the Green Belt, with roads, fields, woodland and nearby homes around it.

“The 11.14 hectare site is located 255m to the west of the Potterton settlement boundary, whilst the unclassified road (U17c) runs along the northern boundary of the site and a non-adopted road to the west. There are fields to the east and woodland to the south. The site is undulating; however, it does generally slope to the south and the east and at the time of the report it was made up of grassland pasture.”

“The site is located within the Aberdeenshire Green Belt as designated within the 2023 Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan. There are also a number of Local Nature Conservation Sites within the area, the closest of which is Red Moss Parkhill located to the northwest of the site at a distance of 236m and which is elevated to the application site. Overall, the general nature of the site is characterised by open fields.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier submissions covered environmental impact screening, a proposal notice and pre-application advice; a neighbouring battery storage scheme was granted in July 2025.

“ENQ/2025/0376 – Proposal of Application Notice (POAN) for Extraction of Sand and Gravel. The details with the POAN were agreed and response sent 1st July 2025”

“Neighbouring Site APP/2025/0313 – Full Planning Permission (Major) for Installation of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with an Installed Capacity of 49.9MW and Associated Infrastructure. Granted July 2025”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the quarry appropriately sited, compliant with planning policies, needed for mineral reserves, and capable of managing landscape, roads, drainage, ecology, noise and dust impacts.

“This proposal is seeking full planning permission for the formation and operation of a sand and gravel quarry for extraction only. The key planning considerations are the principle of the proposal and potential impacts on the local roads network, landscape and surrounding area, sensitive species, hydrology, noise and dust nuisance. Principle of Development…”

“The principle of the application is to be assessed against Policies 8 and 33 of NPF4 and Policies R3 and R1 of the ALDP 2023. Policy 33 of the NPF4 states that development proposals for the sustainable extraction of minerals will only be supported where they will not result in significant adverse impacts on biodiversity, geodiversity and the natural environment, sensitive habitats and the historic environment, as well as landscape and visual impacts; provide an…”

Officer report

What people said

Seventy-seven objections raised concerns about consultation, roads, HGVs, dust, noise, health, pollution, wildlife, landscape, agriculture and the Green Belt, while consultees generally accepted the proposal with conditions.

“Inadequate community consultation; • No benefit to local community; • No local employment opportunities or investment in local infrastructure; • Proposal prioritises private commercial gain over public interest; • Lack of evidence of required minerals in the geological surveys of this area; • Operating hours; • Conflict with Policy; • On prime agricultural land; • Noise and vibrations from blasting, excavation, and heavy vehicle traffic; • Impact on health; • Impact on…”

“HGV’s should only travel in westerly direction with a daily limit in journey (ideally less than the current projected 28). HGV every 20mins (28 trips over 9 hours); • Roads not suitable for heavy traffic; • Poor visibility; • Impact on wildlife; • Timescale of Planting; • EIA not carried out; • Land should be protected for growing crops; • Future uses of site; • Land zoned as Greenbelt should be conditional to company providing road surface treatment during winter times; •…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Senior Planner introduced the application, and the committee heard from the applicant’s representative and two objectors.

How members voted

The refusal motion and approval amendment each received five votes, after which the Chair used a casting vote for the approval amendment.

“Councillor Davidson, seconded by Councillor Forsyth, moved as an amendment that the application be approved in line with the recommendations within the report, subject to a condition requesting the submission of a satisfactory Traffic Management Plan; and further discussion and satisfactory agreement with the applicant on the most appropriate tree species to be planted.”

“The Chair exercised his casting vote in favour of the Amendment and therefore authority to grant Full Planning Permission was delegated to the Head of Planning and Economy subject to:”

Minutes

The final decision

Authority was delegated to grant permission, subject to the road levy, a satisfactory traffic management plan, agreement on tree species and the listed conditions.

“1) The conclusion of the Section 75 relating to Road Levy, 2) A condition that a satisfactory Traffic Management Plan be submitted, 3) Further discussion and satisfactory agreement with the applicant on the most appropriate tree species to be planted, and 4) The conditions detailed below.”

Minutes