The inclusion of a 100-acre quarry site near Ottery in the Devon Minerals Plan (DMP) has been supported by the planning inspector.

The inclusion of a 100-acre quarry site near Ottery in the Devon Minerals Plan has been supported by the Planning Inspectorate. Straitgate Farm has been earmarked as a suitable site for the extraction of sand and gravel, despite objections from campaigners and residents.

The minerals plan is set to be adopted after a government inspector said it met legal requirements and provides an appropriate basis for future quarrying plans in Devon until 2033.

The inspector endorsed a number of modifications made by Devon County Council (DCC) for Straitgate Farm, including downgrading its status from a ‘specific site’ to a ‘preferred area’ following concerns over deliverability of the site.

The council also made amendments to the size of potential mineral resource, reduction in the site area and a requirement that the access ensures safety for other road users.

Councillor Jerry Brook, chairman of DCC’s development management committee, said: “We have a responsibility to balance the supply of the county’s natural mineral resources, while minimising the impact on Devon’s environment and local residents.

“We have carefully considered all feedback throughout this process and now, with the results of the inspectorate’s enquiry and the recommended modifications, have strengthened the plan’s commitment to protecting peoples’ quality of life, which must be weighed against the need for mineral resources.”

The plan provides a blueprint for sourcing the county’s mineral supplies for the next 17 years.

It has been recommended that county councillors adopt the plan in the coming months.