Plans to expand a holiday park on the site of a former quarry in Oakamoor, Staffordshire Moorlands are expected to be approved by the local planning committee, despite receiving 48 formal objections from residents and local organizations.
The second phase of the development at Moneystone Quarry proposes 60 additional lodges, an archery building, and a water sports centre, and is scheduled for review by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning committee on Thursday afternoon.
The broader leisure scheme, which could total up to 250 lodges, was granted outline planning permission in 2016.
While the first phase—comprising 190 lodges and a central hub building—was initially rejected by the district council, it was later approved on appeal in 2023, according to a report by StokeonTrentLive.
Planning officers have now recommended approval for this latest reserved matters application, noting that it is consistent with existing planning policies and prior approvals.
The project is projected to create approximately 250 full-time jobs. According to the council’s regeneration officer, these positions are expected to replace those lost when the quarry ceased operations in 2010, while also supporting local economic diversification.
The proposal has attracted opposition from Oakamoor and Kingsley parish councils, Churnet Valley Conservation Society, and a number of residents.
Concerns raised include traffic congestion, ecological disruption, water contamination, and the physical instability of the former quarry site.
Opponents argue that the development could overburden local services, particularly healthcare, and question the necessity of more holiday accommodations in the area.
Whiston resident Denica Russell stated:
“If this was a housing development, the developers would have to include in their application how they would financially improve services and facilities to offset the increase and impact of an increase in residents. Currently, we struggle to access health appointments, having to wait a considerable time.”
Russell also questioned the employment benefits cited by the developer, saying: “Any staff, if required, will need to travel into the site, increasing road traffic and putting paid to any question of sustainability.”
Oakamoor Parish Council objected to the project on the grounds that the quarry has not been fully restored and contains environmental hazards.
“The quarry sides are unstable, and there have been landslips since quarrying ceased in 2010. Additionally, the access tunnel between Quarry 1 and Quarry 2 is unstable. It has deep quicksand within it,” the council stated.
Despite these objections, planning officers note that the development aligns with the council’s tourism strategy, which calls for increased overnight accommodation to support visitor access to natural areas and promote health and wellbeing.
The proposal also includes new walking paths and plans for biodiversity enhancement.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this case highlights the complex intersection between tourism development, environmental legacy concerns, and local community interests.
Developers considering similar projects may take note of how prior land use, existing community infrastructure, and local sentiment can significantly influence the pace and nature of approvals, even when broader policy objectives support such expansion.