Ministers overturn council’s rejection of Blairgowrie quarry expansion plan

Laird Aggregates had applied to expand its quarry on land immediately north of Marlee Quarry in Blairgowrie.The proposal was for quarried material to be hauled from the new extraction area 750 metres north east and across the road from Marlee Quarry and processed at the existing quarry which sits just south of the B947.While the application was initially recommended for approval by Perth and Kinross Council officers, it drew strong local opposition – receiving more than 100 objections.Reasons cited for the objections included the potential adverse visual impact of the project, the scale of the development, noise, road safety, loss of agricultural land and the potential adverse impact on neighbouring residents’ health from inhaling crystalline silica, which can be found within dust.Councillors on the planning and placemaking committee considered the plans in November last year and unanimously voted to refuse the proposal.However, the developer subsequently lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government and approval has been granted subject to 30 conditions being met and a legal agreement being reached.Jamie Laird, a director with the developers, said: “As it had been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the statutory consultees that the proposal could be undertaken without any significant environmental or amenity impacts, and the head of planning and development’s report of handling recommended approval – and confirmed that the proposal accorded with the development plan – we were disappointed at the committee’s decision to refuse the application.“The DPEA’S notice of intention to grant the appeal upholds the findings of the report of handling.“We will now work with Perth and Kinross Council to conclude the legal agreement and hope to commence operations in early 2024.”