The Regulatory Committee of Warwickshire Council met on Tuesday 1 September 2026. The meeting primarily focused on a planning application for sand and gravel extraction at Haunch Lane, Lea Marston, which was approved subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement. The committee also noted a report on delegated decisions made since the previous meeting and reviewed appointments to external organisations.

Sand and Gravel Extraction at Haunch Lane, Lea Marston

The committee considered a significant planning application for sand and gravel extraction at Land to the west of Haunch Lane and east of Reindeer Park, Lea Marston. The proposal, submitted by Willshee's Aggregates Ltd, involves extracting approximately 587,000 tonnes of sand and gravel over an eight-year period, followed by restoration of the site.

The principle of development was established as the majority of the site is allocated for mineral extraction in the adopted Warwickshire Minerals Local Plan 2018-2032. While the site is within the West Midlands Green Belt, mineral extraction is considered an exempt activity under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), provided its temporary nature and restoration are secured.

Concerns were raised by local residents and North Warwickshire Borough Council regarding potential impacts on residential amenity, landscape, biodiversity, flood risk, highway safety, and rights of way. Specifically, objectors highlighted issues such as noise, dust, traffic, and the cumulative impact of development in the area, including ongoing HS2 works and a proposed noise bund for the adjacent Lea Marston Shooting Club.

Officer Neil Simpson presented the application, detailing the proposed phased extraction, restoration plans, and mitigation measures. He noted that the applicant had amended the plans to exclude an overlapping area with the proposed shooting club bund.

During the discussion, councillors sought assurances on dust suppression, traffic management, and the enforcement of any Section 106 agreement. Councillor Dale Bridgewater, Vice-Chair of the Regulatory Committee, expressed concerns about vehicles being kept to routing plans and the restoration of the site. Councillor Edward Harris raised questions about potential damage to highways and traffic calming measures caused by HGVs.

The committee was informed that a Section 106 agreement would be negotiated to cover routing plans, biodiversity net gain, and provisions to prevent lorry queuing. Conditions were also proposed to address noise, dust, archaeology, contaminated land, and the protection of trees and biodiversity. The application was recommended for approval subject to these conditions and the Section 106 agreement.

The committee ultimately authorised the grant of planning permission for the sand and gravel extraction, subject to the agreed conditions and the finalisation of a Section 106 agreement. This decision was made after extensive discussion and consideration of the potential impacts and mitigation strategies.

Delegated Decisions

The committee noted a report detailing applications that had been determined under delegated powers since the last meeting. These included approvals for:

• Erection of lightning protection equipment at Coleshill Anaerobic Digestion Facility.
• Installation of new kiosks at Milcote Sewage Works.
• Retention of a teaching block at Warton Nethersole C Of E Primary School.
• A Certificate of Lawful Development for a SEMH building at St John's Primary School.
• Retention of a concrete batching plant at Ling Hall Quarry.
• Variation of a condition to extend the retention of a roadstone coating plant at Ling Hall Quarry.
• Erection of a modular SEND building at North Leamington School.
• Relocation of a classroom building for special educational needs at Outwoods Primary School.

These decisions were made by officers under delegated authority, meaning they did not require a full committee hearing.

Review of Appointments to External Organisations

The committee reviewed and agreed to changes in the allocation of places and proposed appointments to various external organisations and partnerships. This review was necessary due to changes in council membership and the disbandment of some organisations, such as Rugby First. The report outlined criteria for council representation, including strategic purpose and partnership agreements, and aimed to achieve a degree of political proportionality in the appointments.