Plans to relocate operations for one of Purbeck's biggest quarries is set to be approved.

Raymond Brown submitted plans to Dorset County Council in November 2017 for a new quarry processing plant for Binnegar quarry on land to the South of Puddletown Road near East Stoke.

Under the proposals, which were discussed by councillors on the Regulatory Committee last month, Raymond Brown will build a new wash plant to process extracted sand and gravel, dry screen, silt management lagoon, weigh bridge, office, wheel wash, car parking and associated development.

It comes after planning permission was granted in May 2016 for an extension to Binnegar Quarry.

The new extension area, known as area B2, saw mineral extraction operations move south of Puddletown Road however the quarry processing plant remained north of Puddletown Road.

The move, Raymond Brown says will save 4km round trip to move minerals from quarry to plant for processing resulting in increased HGV traffic.

Raymond Brown’s started operating at the site in December 2002 under agreement with the landowner, SUEZ.

In a statement, Raymond Brown, said: "The applicant is under obligation to the landowner to cease processing operations north of Puddletown Road by May 2018.

"Following an extensive optioneering exercise, it has been determined that relocating the plant site into the base

of the newly opened quarry excavation to the South of Puddletown Road is the most environmentally and operationally acceptable option."

As part of the application process, Dorset County Council Highways, Wareham St Martin, East Stoke Parish Council and Purbeck District Council who were consulted on the plans raised no objections to the proposed scheme.

However, head of planning Maxine Bodell said that there would be highway safety benefits because off highway

dumpers would no longer need to cross the public highway.

She added: "Due to the reduction in in distance that the off-highway dump trucks would need to travel there would be a reduction in the emissions of Carbon Dioxide."

A Dorset County Council spokesman, added: " Overall, the development is considered to be compliance with both national and local plan policies.

"It is considered that the development would result in highway safety benefits; net long-term benefits, despite some short-term harm, to both the historic environment and ecology; and a reduction in climate change emissions.

"No other changes from the operations already consented are considered to be significant in terms of impacts."

A final decision on the plans are to be made soon.