NLP was expert witness at a major planning inquiry against opencast mining proposals in the Shropshire countryside on behalf of Telford and Wrekin Council.
The proposed development site, which covered over 90 hectares, included a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a wooded Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The application sought planning permission for the washing of 90,000 tonnes of coal and potentially 250,000 tonnes of fireclay, with excavation reaching depths of 34 metres.
NLP’s evidence at the six week inquiry addressed issues as varied as the impact of the development upon The Wrekin, a prominent local landmark, to the economic consequences of the development in terms of the international coal market. Other issues covered within the planning evidence included dust and air quality, mineral waste, visual intrusion and landscape character, archaeological and heritage features, recreation, traffic and transportation, groundwater and surface water and land stability.