Early next month (September) Hydraulic Lias Lime Ltd (Hl2), the company trying to move their lime mortar production from Tout Quarry into Appledore Quarry in Somerset, should know the outcome of their appeal against the refusal of planning permission to develop the quarry.

Lime has long been recognised as the best mortar for use with stone, both in restoration and new build, and has lately found favour with some architects wanting to build brick walls without having to include expansion joints.

An original planning application to Somerset County Council to build a kiln in Appledore Quarry to burn the lias lime from it to create mortars and screeds was turned down on grounds of access. But when the application was resubmitted it, too, was rejected (see NSS February issue).

When a planning application has been rejected on grounds of access, that is usually the only matter reconsidered when a revised application is submitted. However, when Hl2 resubmitted their plans with revised access proposals, the application was turned down on the basis of the negative impact the development would have on the landscape and surrounding residents, and because of the nature conservation interests of the site.

Hl2 appealed against the decision. When the appeal was heard in July, English Heritage stood with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and the UK Building Limes Forum in speaking out in support of the company.

English Heritage said lime was essential for repairing the 25% of British buildings with traditional solid wall construction but, with limited production in the UK, thousands of tonnes were imported every year, mainly from France.

The council argued that because lime mortar was available from France it did not need to be produced here, but English Heritage took the view that unless Appledore Quarry was re-opened the rural tradition of small-scale lias lime extraction would become extinct in Britain.

English Heritage also said there were strong environmental arguments supporting the application - using local lime is more sustainable than transporting it across Europe; the production of lime generates less carbon dioxide, a greehouse gas, in the atmosphere than cement production and requires less energy in its production; hydraulic lime is coming back into vogue for \'green\' construction like the RSPB headquarters in Bedfordshire where it was used.

John Fidler, conservation director of English Heritage, said: "The availability of all forms of lime is fundamental to architectural conservation. It is the ideal material for the sympathetic repair and maintenance of all historic buildings, from simple cottages to palaces.

As well as mortar, lime is used to make plasters, renders, grouts and washes.

The site at Appledore is known to yield superior quality hydraulic lime (the \'hydraulic\' indicates it can set under water through a chemical reaction) and was used recently to repair the church at Glastonbury Tor, Mucheleny Abbey (in the South West) and the Tower of London.

Hydraulic Lias Lime, headed by Mike Farey, have already won the first of their appeals against Somerset County Council, which was for the continued production of lime mortar at Tout Quarry.

The success overturns a decision by the Council to refuse to allow temporary continuation of lime production in Tout for two years while the business is moved to Appledore, which is near Long Sutton.

Lime mortars and renders continue in production at Tout Quarry. For more information contact: