The Planning Committee of Gloucestershire Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 7 May 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a discussion on proposed variations to conditions for Barnhill Quarry, concerning changes to its saw shed and operating hours. Additionally, the committee is set to review a performance report for planning development management and monitoring & enforcement.

Barnhill Quarry: Variation of Conditions

A significant item on the agenda involves the consideration of a proposal to vary conditions 4 and 9 of a planning consent for Barnhill Quarry¹, located at Speech House Road, Broadwell, GL16 7EG. The application, reference 24/0068/FDS73M, seeks to amend the working programme, specifically regarding changes to the saw shed and other ancillary structures, and to alter the hours of operation for the saw shed.

The report pack indicates that the proposal aims to regularise the as-built form of the saw shed and associated ancillary development, including welfare cabins and a water recycling system. While the original approved saw shed was L-shaped, the constructed building is rectangular with a reduced footprint and lower ridge height. The application also seeks to revise the operating hours of the saw shed, potentially allowing for up to 24-hour operation on certain days. This is proposed alongside the installation of an acoustic roller shutter door and an earth bund to mitigate noise.

The report pack highlights that the site is located within the Core Sustenance Zone of a lesser horseshoe bat hibernation site, which is functionally linked to the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites Special Area of Conservation (SAC)². This ecological sensitivity necessitates a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) to ensure no adverse effects on the SAC. The report indicates that an updated shadow HRA has been submitted and reviewed, with a screening conclusion forwarded to Natural England for consultation.

Concerns have been raised by local residents and parish councils regarding noise and disturbance from extended operating hours, particularly during evening and night-time periods. However, technical assessments by the County Council's noise impact consultant and Forest of Dean District Council's Environmental Health Officer suggest that with the proposed mitigation measures in place, noise impacts would be low and acceptable, provided these measures are implemented and maintained.

The report also details the planning history of Barnhill Quarry, outlining previous permissions related to extraction, ancillary development, and extensions. It reviews relevant planning policies from the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, the Forest of Dean Core Strategy, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with particular attention paid to policies concerning amenity, biodiversity, and protected species.

Performance Report for Planning Development Management and Monitoring & Enforcement

The committee is also scheduled to receive a performance report concerning planning development management and monitoring & enforcement. This report is expected to provide an update on the council's activities in these areas.