Proposals for a huge new quarry in Havering remain undecided more than a year after the original decision date was due.
Havering Council has confirmed that a date has not yet been set for its strategic planning committee to review plans for a quarry on the site of Rainham Lodge Farm, Upminster.
The application - submitted in September 2024 and initially due to be decided by January 22, 2025 - is for the extraction of two million tonnes of sand and gravel from the farmland over the course of 20 years.
A spokesperson for Havering Council said: "There is no date yet confirmed for a decision as the applicant still needs to submit information to Natural England."
One of the most recent documents submitted alongside the application is a response to Natural England's concerns about the plans, dated February 4, 2025.
In the letter, agent Stephen M Daw Limited references a consultation response and an email from Natural England, which highlight "potential significant effects" the quarry could have on Ingrebourne Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The statement from Natural England said: "We are concerned that there could be further groundwater and surface water impacts from the proposals which would have a negative impact upon the SSSI.
"Natural England requires further information in order to determine the significance of these impacts and the scope for mitigation.
"The following information is required: more details regarding the potential hydrological impacts upon nearby Ingrebourne Marshes SSSI from quarry de-watering and working and how these will be mitigated."
In response, Stephen M Daw Limited said that applicant Brett's consultant hydrologists at SLR were in the process of undertaking a water framework directive (WFD) assessment for Rainham Lodge Farm.
A WFD assessment is a mandatory environmental evaluation for developments that may impact the quality or ecology of bodies of water.
It is not clear whether that assessment has now been carried out for the plans or whether this is the information Natural England are waiting on before they can make a decision.
Brett Aggregates and Natural England have been contacted for comment.
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