Laigh Plewland Extension

Bankend Quarry

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A very recent drone image of Laigh Plewland showing the anticipated application area in red and the extraction area in orange

The proposed Laigh Plewland extension would maintain a long-term, sustainable source of local construction materials from an established source of coarse and fine sand and gravel.

Everything about how we currently operate the quarry would stay the same: the same number of vehicles, the same extraction methods, the same rate of production and extraction, and the same number of staff. The quarry at Snabe would also retain the existing site infrastructure, access routes, plant, and machinery.

Proposals

We have drafted our proposals for the Laigh Plewland extension in four phases based on a number of design factors:
  • Connection with the conveyor and minimising turnings which need more machinery;
  • Minimising fuel use and carbon footprint;
  • Leaving the most visible phase in the east until the end to reduce the amount of time it will be visible from the road.
  • Maximising direct placement restoration and minimising soil handling.

We have looked at a number of different locations for connections with the conveyer and propose to extend south of the existing quarry area and then bridge across the Woollen burn. This would lead to a new feed hopper in the centre of this site, where material is fed onto the conveyor.

The derelict Laigh Plewland Farmhouse, which sits within Phase 3 of the phasing scheme, will need to be demolished as part of the extraction proposals.

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Draft Phasing Plan
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An Excavator loading a dump truck with sand and gravel to be transported to the conveyor

Hours of operation would remain as they currently are, with the site working:

  • 07.00 - 17.30 hrs Mondays to Fridays;
  • 07.00 - 12.00 hrs Saturdays;
  • No Sunday working, except for essential maintenance.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Planning Application is being prepared for the proposed extension and is expected to be submitted to South Lanarkshire Council by the end of 2021. Should the application be successful, we would hope to begin work on the new development by 2023, with extraction and restoration being completed by 2033/35.