PLANS have been submitted to Scottish Borders Council to extend the operational life of a Borders quarry by a further decade.

Applicant Advance Construction Scotland Ltd wants to enable extraction at Hazelbank Quarry at Stow, near Galashiels, until the end of December 2043.

It is also seeking to review the quarry’s development plan to “allow more efficient working”.

A report submitted with the application says: “The current planning permission expires on December 21, 2033.

“As previously noted, there has been a significant period during which the quarry lay dormant and, having consideration of the fact that most of the reserve remains intact, and there is only some 9.5 years remaining on the current permission, it is proposed that the operational life of the quarry is extended by a further 10 years.

“The proposed variation to phasing does not change the overall development area and will not result in any increases in environmental or amenity impacts and, as such, the findings of the environmental impact assessment submitted in relation to the current permission remain valid.”