Extension Proposed For Keady Quarry Near Limavady

Plans have been put forward for a 1.4-hectare extension to Keady Quarry near Limavady, which the operator says could release an additional 900,000 tonnes of basalt.

The application relates to the existing quarry at 121 Broad Road and includes landscaping, native species planting and restoration once extraction has finished.

Ardstraw Quarries Ltd, which has operated the site since 2014, is seeking to extend the extraction area northwards into land adjoining the current workings.

A planning statement prepared by Six-West Ltd says the additional reserves could extend the quarry’s operational life by around seven years at maximum output.

Together with remaining reserves covered by the existing permission, the applicant anticipates extraction could continue for approximately 15 to 20 years, depending on demand.

The quarry lies about four kilometres east of Limavady, on the western slopes of Keady Mountain. Basalt extracted there is processed into crushed aggregates for use in construction.

According to the statement, the proposal would retain the existing maximum extraction rate of 135,000 tonnes a year. The applicant says it is seeking to extend the life of the quarry rather than increase production, with no additional daily traffic beyond currently permitted levels.

Existing access arrangements and operating hours would remain unchanged. These allow work between 7am and 5pm on weekdays and between 7am and 1pm on Saturdays, with no working on Sundays or public holidays.

Extraction would continue using drilling and blasting, followed by crushing and screening. Dust control measures would include dampening roadways and continued use of the site’s wheel-washing facility.

The applicant argues that the extension would help maintain supplies of locally sourced construction materials and support employment at the quarry and in the wider supply chain.

The statement also identifies environmental and heritage considerations. Watercourses connected to the site ultimately drain towards the River Roe and Lough Foyle, which include protected habitats.

The applicant refers to environmental assessments undertaken for an earlier permission and argues that mitigation measures would protect those sites. Those conclusions concern the previous proposal and form part of the case being made for the new extension.

A scheduled archaeological monument lies in the south-eastern part of the wider site. The statement says mineral extraction would remain at least 50 metres away.

Once quarrying ends, a five-year restoration scheme is proposed, using materials retained on site to help reshape the worked areas and encourage vegetation to become established.

The applicant describes the extension as the final realistic opportunity to expand within its current landholding, saying any further expansion would depend on acquiring neighbouring land.