County Hall will decide on whether to allow a new route to a controversial quarry from a busy roundabout on the outskirts of Norwich this week. 

Plans for the new Spixworth Quarry access, with vehicles getting to and from the site via a route off the NDR roundabout, near the airport, will be discussed by Norfolk County Council.

Norwich Evening News: The NDR roundabout junction, right, near Norwich Airport which is set to be used for access to Spixworth QuarryThe NDR roundabout junction, right, near Norwich Airport which is set to be used for access to Spixworth Quarry (Image: Google)

Tarmac Trading Ltd wants temporary permission for the new route to its sand and gravel quarry at Church Lane.

Since the site became operational in the early 2000s, HGVs have used Newton St Faith and Frettenham to get to the A140.

Tarmac has applied to prolong the use of the quarry until December 2026, so it can be restored.

Norwich Evening News: Spixworth QuarrySpixworth Quarry (Image: Google Maps)

But as part of that, tonnes of material will need to be brought by lorry to fill in the quarry, so the plans include the new access off the NDR.

Officers are recommending that members of the county council’s planning committee give the proposals the go-ahead.

Officers state, in the report which will come before councillors, that the new route would use a small section of an existing public rights of way and cause "a degree of disamenity" to cyclists, walkers and horse riders.

But they said: "No objections or representations have been received to this proposal on this basis including from either the Norwich Cycling Campaign or the Ramblers Association.

"Greater weight is given in the planning balance to the clear benefit of the removal of these vehicles from the historic routing arrangement along the more rural minor road network.

"It is considered that both the extension of time for existing quarry and plant site, and the proposed new access, is acceptable with regards to impacts on amenity, the landscape, the local highway network, ecology, flood risk and in all other respects."

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The planning committee had previously approved plans in 2022, but legal agreements could not be completed in time, so Tarmac has had to apply again.

Tarmac intends to restore the quarry site so it can be used for agriculture.