Plans for clay excavation site in woodland near Loxwood

Proposals are being drawn up to develop a clay excavation site in woodland near Loxwood.
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A company known as Loxwood Clay Pits aims to extract the clay for use in brick-making and also wants to build a construction materials recycling facility on the site over a 33-year period.

It is currently seeking views and has issued a scoping report on its proposals before submitting a formal planning application.

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The proposed site is on the old Pallinghurst Estate, north east of Loxwood and west of the A281.

Proposed clay excavation site by Loxwood Clay PitsProposed clay excavation site by Loxwood Clay Pits
Proposed clay excavation site by Loxwood Clay Pits

Loxwood Clay Pits say that the land has historically been the site of small-scale brick-making in the 1800s and early 1900s and now consists of commercial woodland and an open clearing.

They say the clay extraction period is likely to last for 31 years with a further two years being used to restore the land to its previous state with the addition of a fishing lake for the local community.

However concerns are already being put forward by Loxwood Parish Council who say that the whole area of Pallinghurst Woods is used extensively by walkers and there are fears that public rights of way are being proposed as lorry routes.

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The council is also concerned that 42 lorry movements per day, six days a week, are forecast and that the proposed lorry routes will not withstand the weight of HGVs.

There are also traffic concerns over a proposed exit from Loxwood Road.

Loxwood Clay Pits is asking local councils, and West Sussex County Council, for formal opinions before a planning application is made.