The Denbighshire Council Planning Committee met on Wednesday 3 September 2025, and voted to refuse an application to continue development at Burley Hill Quarry, and to approve a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) near the White Waters Hotel. Councillors refused the application for continued development at Burley Hill Quarry due to the unacceptable effect on the tranquillity of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). They approved the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) near the White Waters Hotel to protect trees of considerable amenity value.

Burley Hill Quarry

Councillors voted to refuse application 21/2021/1194/PS, a Section 73 application to continue development at Burley Hill Quarry, Pant Du Eryrys, Mold. The motion to refuse the application, contrary to officer recommendation, was carried by 15 votes to 3. The reason given for the refusal was the unacceptable effect on the tranquillity of the AONB¹.

Tiffany Cox, the applicant, spoke in favour of the application, explaining that it did not propose any changes to the permitted quarry boundaries or seek to extract additional mineral reserves, but was an extension of time to extract limestone already permitted. She argued that the limestone at Burley Hill Quarry already formed part of the landbank², and if the application was refused, the landbank would need to be replenished by extensions of other sites or through the approval of entirely new greenfield quarries.

Councillor Allan Morgans, Chair of Llanferres Community Council, spoke against the application, stating that mineral development should not take place in AONBs save in exceptional circumstances, according to MTAN1³, section 51. He also stated that there was no need to permit proposals in an AONB, given the potential aggregate resources available in Wales.

Councillor David Coggins Cogan, a Flintshire County Council Councillor, also spoke against the application, stating that the exceptional circumstance test had not been met, and that the regional need for aggregate could be met elsewhere. He said that the quarry would adversely impact local tourism, and that the application was inconsistent with Welsh Government guidance, which required the elimination of future primarily mineral extraction from dormant quarries.

The Minerals and Waste Planning Manager clarified that the application was to extend the time limits for a further 15 years to allow the extraction of 3.8 million tonnes of unextracted mineral within the landbank. The proposal included 52 proposed conditions and a phased method for restoration, with an average extraction rate of 300,000 tonnes annually, limited to 6 blasts per year.

Councillor Terry Mendies, stated he could not support the application as the community was not in support, and that the main concern was the ecological impact on the AONB. Councillor Chris Evans raised concerns about the negative impact of large goods vehicles (HGVs) on the area, as the access roads were not built for the current size of HGVs.

Councillor Alan James proposed granting the application in line with officer recommendation, being content with the conditions and provisions imposed. Councillor Ellie Chard seconded the proposal.

The Development Manager stated that officers had taken a professional perspective on the sub regional need for the mineral, and emphasised that any reason to refuse the application had to be clear and evidence-based.

Councillor Terry Mendies proposed that the application be refused against officer recommendation, based on concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regarding the unacceptable impact on the tranquillity of the AONB. Councillor Peter Scott seconded the refusal.

The Legal Advisor suggested that the unacceptable impact on the AONB and its tranquillity would be a more subjective reason to refuse, as opposed to a factual and evidential reason.

Land opposite White Waters Hotel, Llangollen

Councillors voted to grant application PREAPP/2024/101, confirming Tree Preservation Order (TPO) No. 7 (2025) at land opposite the White Waters Hotel, Llangollen.

Councillor Karen Edwards proposed that the application be granted in accordance with officer recommendation, to confirm the Tree Preservation Order be imposed. Councillor Andrea Tomlin seconded the proposal, which was then carried by 18 votes to 0.

Councillor Karen Edwards stated that the trees were of considerable amenity value, and that there was a potential impact to the trees if the site is developed, as the site has been included as a proposed candidate site within the Local Development Plan (LDP). She stressed that trees often become vulnerable and damaged as a direct result of development, and therefore it was imperative they were protected.

Land Adjacent to Bryn Derw, Llanbedr

The committee were scheduled to consider application 16/2023/0755 for the erection of 4 dwellings including the formation of access, landscaping, and associated works at Land Adjacent to Bryn Derw, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Ruthin. However, there is no record of a discussion or vote on this application in the minutes.