A large-scale development project to extract Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) from former ash disposal lagoons near Retford, Nottinghamshire, has sparked environmental concerns.
Documents released ahead of a Nottinghamshire County Council Planning and Rights of Way Committee meeting on 17 September provide some detail.
The matter will be further discussed by councillors at the meeting.
The proposal, submitted by Lound Hive Limited, aims to extract, process, and export up to 6.5 million tonnes of PFA over 22 to 25 years. This material, left over from coal burning at Cottam Power Station, is seen as crucial for decarbonising the cement industry.
The extraction project covers a sprawling 113.55 hectares ( 158 football fields ), largely composed of former lagoons now used for sheep grazing. The PFA is expected to be processed at a newly constructed facility within the Bellmoor Industrial Estate, with the ash transported via a conveyor system. At full production, up to 300,000 tonnes of PFA would be extracted annually, generating significant HGV traffic through the area.
Environmental and Biodiversity Concerns
The site is close to areas of high ecological importance, including the Sutton and Lound Gravel Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, which is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Concerns have been raised about potential impacts on biodiversity, with local councils, conservation groups, and environmental bodies cautioning about disruption to local wildlife and habitats.
The extraction process will involve working behind existing embankments to minimise visual impact, but concerns about dust, noise, and water contamination remain. Several consultees, including Natural England, highlighted the risk of noise disturbing sensitive bird species within the SSSI. Levels of noise above 55dB, which could disturb breeding and wintering birds, are expected in some parts of the site.
To mitigate these effects, the company has proposed a micro-phasing approach, extracting less than 1 hectare of land at a time and progressively restoring each area to a mix of wetlands and grazing land. The restoration is expected to achieve a 43% biodiversity net gain, with plans to establish low-lying wetlands, species-rich grassland, and new permissive pathways for visitors.
Health and Safety Concerns
Bassetlaw District Council and local parish councils have raised concerns about the potential health impacts of dust generated during the extraction process, particularly the risk of asbestos being present in the ash. Hive Aggregates has conducted testing to ensure that there are no harmful contaminants in the PFA, but further assessments are requested to safeguard residents. Additional concerns about traffic, road safety, and noise from increased HGV movements have also been raised.
HGV traffic is expected to increase by 37 trips per day, with peak times seeing up to 4 vehicles passing per hour. The local infrastructure, particularly the A638, is expected to handle the bulk of this traffic, though concerns about potential traffic through nearby villages have been voiced.
Economic Benefits
Despite the opposition, the project is expected to generate 20 to 30 permanent jobs, along with indirect employment opportunities through local haulage and supply chains. The applicant emphasises that the PFA extraction is essential for reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry, with the project potentially saving over 5 million tonnes of carbon emissions compared to traditional cement production methods.
