Staffordshire quarry set for extended hours to support HS2 works

Pyford Brook Quarry near Alrewas was granted planning permission in 2022 and primarily provides concrete for the high speed railway.

Operating hours have been limited to between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. But site operator Cemex says it now needs to work outside these hours, up to March 31, in order to support weekend, evening and night-time works taking place on HS2, near Streethay.

Cemex has asked Staffordshire County Council for prior approval for the extended hours, in line with a condition of the original planning consent. Members of the council’s planning committee will consider the request at their meeting on January 9.

Concrete from Pyford Brook is being used for the construction of the South Staffordshire Line Overbridge, the A38 Southbound Slip Road Overbridge, and the A38 Rykneld Street Overbridge.

Cemex says that if the site cannot provide concrete for the HS2 works in a ‘timely manner’, HGV deliveries will be needed from further afield, causing increased carbon emissions. The company also says that Pyford Brook could potentially end up operating longer than anticipated if concrete cannot be supplied in time.

Lichfield District Council has objected to the application, claiming that Cemex need only extend the operating hours to 7am to midnight on weekdays, and 7am to 7pm on weekends.

Planning officers have recommended that councillors grant the request for extended hours. The report to the planning committee states that there would be a requirement that for any use of the concrete plant between 7pm and midnight, the plant should be used no more than nine days in any 15 consecutive days, and 40 days in total, until the end of March.

HGV movements would be limited to 170 within a 24-hour period, Monday to Friday, 86 on Saturdays and 17 during each evening and night-time period.

Alrewas Parish Council has asked to be given prior notice of the actual out-of-hours working at least seven days in advance, so that it can pass the information on to residents. 

Cemex says this would not be possible, due to the short notice given to the company by the main contractor of HS2. 

But Cemex says that it will try to give as much notice as it can.