Quarry could be used for digger development
JCB HOPES TO USE THE SITE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES
A STAFFORDSHIRE quarry could be set for a massive expansion as JCB signals its intent to invest £1.4 million in the facility.
The digger giants own the Wardlow/ W redon Quarry sites off Ashbourne Road in Cauldon Low, having bought them from Lafarge Tarmac in 2013 with Tarmac retaining rights as part of the deal.
And now JCB has applied to expand the site’s research and development facility - including re-grading the access point - and build new yards.
If Staffordshire Moorlands District Council accepts JCB’S planning application, £1.4 million will be invested in the site.
JMI Planning Limited prepared the application’s design and access statement. It reads: “The JCB operations maintain the integrity and security of the site and creates employment for more than 50 people, on sites that would otherwise be left dormant, and supports the research and development of a major international manufacturing company based in Staffordshire, employing approximately 6,000 in the UK, and 11,000 worldwide.
“JCB sit at the forefront of construction machinery innovation and are the first large scale manufacturer to develop a range of electric machines. In order to stay at the forefront of future technologies it is necessary to expand the research and development facility at the quarry. It is crucial to JCB’S ongoing success that they are able to continue to develop machines and test them to ‘breaking point.’
“Without the expansion of the workshop, alongside other developments (tilt table, loading tower) this thorough and robust development and testing regime will not be able to be undertaken or will have to be undertaken at rented test sites at significant cost to the company.”
The statement reveals how such an extension will ‘significantly increase’ the workshop capacity which will allow additional technologies to be tested prior to being releases into the marketplace.
It added: “The company is currently in the process of providing new testing facilities in the quarry bowl including a tilt table and loading tower and these have recently been grante.
“The proposed development will enable the research and development arm of the company to improve its facilities to ensure it remains at the top of the competitive manufacturing machinery market.
“The proposed workshop extension provides for three additional bays onto the existing facility and will measure 19.2m x 31.5m with a pitched roof with a ridge height of 10.7m to match the building which it is attached too.
“The extension will be constructed of a steel frame with matching Moorland Green cladding as utilised on the majority of JCB buildings. The extension is located to the southern elevation of the building on the existing yard, which will be extended southwards.”
Jobs are also expected to be created. The statement added: “While it is anticipated that a small number of jobs will be created by the development these are likely to be based across both the Wredon Quarry site and other local manufacturing bases.
“There is unlikely to be a material increase in staff permanently based at the quarry. The existing parking requirements associated with the use will therefore remain unchanged.”