Site Information and History

The initial engagement and communication back in 2022, was clunky and intermittent. We decided to remove all email communication and hold six weekly Teams meetings with Saxongate Group, working through a series of frequently asked questions that we will revise and attach to this page. This style of engagement is more beneficial to all parties and in 2026 and will shape the way we regulate, we have also invited other regulators to co-host these meetings on a quarterly basis.

We will also share the Minutes from meetings with operators and other stakeholders.

Whittlesey Quarry is located to the East of Peterborough, and is also known as 'Saxon Quarry' or 'Saxon Pit'. 

There are three operations located here, that have Environment Agency permits. These are listed below along with their specific permit numbers:

• Johnsons Aggregate Recycling Limited deal with the treatment of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) - [GP3435WX]

• Forterra manufacture house bricks at Kings Dyke works, the clay (raw material) is supplied by adjacent quarries - [EPR/FB3406KC]

• East Midlands Waste Management Ltd, operate a Deposit for Recovery Permit within Saxon Pit - [EPR-DP3131NM]

The site known as 'Saxon Pit' is a former brickwork. 

Saxon Pit sits as a void space at about 22-25 metres below the surrounding ground level. Post-brickmaking the site has been, and continues to be used for a wide range of commercial enterprises, by different legal entities involving waste, and non-waste related activities. 

Saxon Pit is a site of high public interest (SHPI) because commercial activities take place close to residential houses which can give rise to amenity issues (noise, dust and odour). 

Non-conforming (not permitted) waste has also been deposited within the restoration and stabilisation works on the Eastern Buttress of Saxon Pit requiring ongoing routine monitoring and remediation.

On 30 January 2012, we issued an environmental permit for 'Deposit for Recovery' operations at Saxon Pit.  Following the cessation of the former clay brickworks by backfilling the eastern excavation void (with inert waste and soils) the operator fulfilled the requirements to ensure the stability of the surrounding embankments. 

Over time, this permit was transferred to different operators and since 26 October 2017, it has been with the current permit holder and operator, East Midlands Waste Management Ltd.

Since June 2021, the operator been undertaking remediation and restoration works at Saxon Pit, on the site’s eastern buttress.

Once the restoration scheme is fully landscaped it should provide ecological benefits, such as wetlands, reed beds, grassland, and scrub habitat.

The Whittlesey brickworks were first issued a Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permit in 2004 which covered Saxon Pit. This permit covered two former clay extraction quarries;

- the 'Kings Dyke' works, with four Hoffman kilns

- also 'Saxon Pit', which had two kilns

These kilns had last been re-built in the 1970s and were a time proven technology to both fire and dry refractory products originally using coal as the primary energy source.  

It is acknowledged that the organic matter present in the Lower Oxford clay source material contributes a significant percentage of the fuel required to fire what is usually described as “London brick(s)''.  All kilns were converted to using mains gas instead of coal in the 1990s.

Saxon Pit last produced bricks in October 2011 and that part of the environmental permit has been partially surrendered, the land sold and it now has various tenants within it.

Forterra Plc have committed to investigate whether local reports of malodour could be linked to the brickworks and continually investigate the malodour by staff conducting odour inspections at irregular intervals. 

Anyone experiencing a 'burning' or 'sulphurous' malodour is encouraged to report it to Forterra by telephoning 01733 359148 as well as calling the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 807060 to report it.

Johnsons Aggregate Recycling Ltd manage a site located within the former brickworks in Saxon Pit. The Environment Agency first issued a permit for this operation in 2022. 

This Waste Treatment activity, is for the treatment of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) that has potential to be a direct substitute for virgin aggregate. 

Johnsons produces an Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate (IBAA) that can be used in specific construction activities under Regulatory Position Statement 247 or with specific permitted activities. Incinerator Bottom Ash is non-hazardous.

Using unbound incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) in construction activities: RPS 247

The treatment process involves removal of metals and screening of the IBA to produce different sized fractions of Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate (IBAA). 

Unprocessed IBA that is received at the site and is stored outside on a large concrete pad to undergo a cooling and ‘ageing’ process for a maximum period of 12 weeks. 

The IBA is then processed using a combination of a 'trommel' (machine for separating materials based on size, shape, and density), vibrating screens, electrostatic and magnetic separators. 

These processes are undertaken within two purpose-built and enclosed buildings. Other than the trommel, which is located outside, all the IBA treatment plants are situated within the enclosed buildings. 

The permitted operations include:

• Recovery or a mix of recovery and disposal of non-hazardous waste
• Storage of waste prior to and after treatment
• Raw material storage
• Collection and storage of contaminated and uncontaminated surface water

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information