The Development Control and Regulatory Board of Leicestershire County Council met on Thursday, 19 March 2026, and approved a variation to the working scheme for Cloud Hill Quarry. The Board also noted reports on delegated planning decisions, enforcement notices, and tree preservation order decisions made between July and December 2025.

Cloud Hill Quarry Variation Approved

The Board granted permission for Breedon Trading Ltd to vary condition 4 of planning permission 96/0139/07, allowing for the revision of the working scheme at Cloud Hill Quarry, near Stocking Lane, DE73 8AN. This variation permits the deepening of the existing quarry void to a depth of -145 AOD, which will release an estimated 14.4 million tonnes of limestone. This extension is projected to provide approximately 9.6 years of operation at current extraction rates.

The decision was made subject to 60 conditions, as detailed in Appendix A of the addendum report, and the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement. This agreement will secure the operation of a quarry liaison committee.

The proposal was considered to be in accordance with national and local planning policies, including Policy M4 of the Leicestershire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (LMWLP), which requires a steady and adequate supply of crushed rock. The report highlighted that Leicestershire's crushed rock landbank was below the required 10-year supply at the end of 2024, and Cloud Hill Quarry accounts for 75% of the county's productive capacity for this mineral type. Without the proposed deepening, the county would be unable to meet its supply obligations.

Technical assessments, including Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments, Ecological Appraisals, and Hydrogeological Impact Assessments, indicated no significant detrimental effects from the deepening operations. Concerns raised by a local resident regarding notification, proximity to properties, loss of woodland, increased noise, blasting impacts, traffic, dust, and broader village issues were addressed in the assessment. The report concluded that the proposed extension would be contained within the existing quarry footprint, with no lateral expansion, and would not bring operations closer to residential properties or affect surrounding woodland and footpaths. Existing planning controls, environmental mitigation, and monitoring regimes remain in place.

Noted Reports

The Board noted the contents of the following reports:

• Delegated Planning Decisions Schedule July 2025 - December 2025: This report listed planning decisions made by officers under delegated powers during the specified period.
• Delegated Enforcement Notices Schedule July 2025 - December 2025: This report detailed enforcement notices issued by officers under delegated powers between July and December 2025.
• List of Delegated Tree Preservation Order Decisions July 2025 to December 2025: This report outlined decisions made by officers under delegated powers regarding works to trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders between July and December 2025.