Mick George get go-ahead for Leicester Quarry restoration
Permission for quarry site restoration secures ecological benefits, production and new jobs
MICK George Group have been given the green light by Leicestershire County Council over their planning permission for the restoration of Leicester Quarry.
Following the successful completion by Mick George of the initial stages of the Ellistown clay pit site restoration, where Ibstock Brick operate to extract clay for their brick production process, the recent planning consent is the second restoration project in the vicinity involving the prestigious Leicester Quarry, which could create 14 new employment opportunities.
The original consent previously granted for the extraction of clay was for a large void occupied by deep water, constituting a permanent, unnatural landscape. Following agreement with Ibstock Brick to submit a revised application, Mick George will now be restoring the quarry site to its former levels and previous use.
The restoration work will see the company infill the quarry using inert soils, allowing the land to be restored close to pre-development ground levels, whilst contributing towards wider landscape improvement objectives and policies set out by Leicestershire County Council and The National Forest.
The intention is to start importing suitable materials at the south west of the quarry site, progressively working northwards towards Leicester Road and reinstating land sequentially ahead of the latter phases in the east and south of the site.
A series of ecological and conservation benefits are set to be gained through the restoration project, most notably the introduction of grassland, broadleaf woodlands, wetlands and species-rich hedgerows; forming valuable habitat corridors, consistent with local biodiversity plans and National Forest strategic objectives.
Leicester Quarry also marks a landmark 20th quarry site to be operated by the Mick George Group.
The business has extensive experience fulfilling restoration programmes in live working environments, ensuring little disruption to the local community.
This has been particularly evident at the nearby Ellistown Quarry, in Leicestershire, where the company has managed to considerably reduce the first phase of infill from seven years to within four years – another project in collaboration with Ibstock Brick.
Since expanding their operating region into the Leicestershire area, the beneficiaries have been felt far beyond the primary construction market for Mick George. A handful of local groups have taken advantage of the dedicated community fund that the company has made available which, to date, has supported in excess of 120 separate initiatives, totalling more than £4 million.
Jon Stump, joint chief executive officer of Mick George Group, said: ‘We’re very pleased to have been granted planning to undertake the restoration of Leicester Quarry. It is testament to the quality works that the business has delivered beforehand.
‘Perhaps of more importance, it provides the Group with our third long-term base in the Leicestershire county, allowing us to continue to build strong relationships with our customers in the area and the local community.
‘These include some high profile and established corporations such as Leicester City Football Club and Leicester City Council, among others.’
