A new phase of work to extract gypsum from a quarry in Nottinghamshire has been given the green light.
Nottinghamshire County Council also approved plans for the future restoration of Bantycock Quarry, near Newark, when the authority's planning committee met on Tuesday (April 23).
Gypsum is a mineral used in the manufacture of plaster products, with the material from Newark being used in industries including food, brewing and medical and dentistry.
Bantycock is operated by British Gypsum, part of the Saint-Gobain Group, with more than 150 people employed at the quarry and associated manufacturing plant Jericho Works, also in Newark.
Kevin Glasper, Quarry Manager at Bantycock, said: "We are delighted to receive this planning permission which gives us approval for detailed plans for the next phases of gypsum extraction.
"It also gives us the go ahead on our proposal for how the land will be restored once the quarrying is complete. This news also means we will now be able to progress plans to plant and seed an additional 16 acres of land in the southern part of the site later this year."
The decision by Nottinghamshire County Council follows a public consultation which was run by the company last year. People in the area were able to get more information about the firm's plans. Site tours were also offered to interested stakeholders.
Mr Glasper added: "Whilst the formal public consultation for these plans finished last year, we are keen to continue to engage with the local community and encourage people to contact us if they have any queries about the current or future operation of the site."
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