Councillors agreed the proposal set to replace the current working area, which is anticipated to be restored during the first five-year phase of this new development.

Around 40,000 tonnes of cobbles and sand will be extracted each year, with restoration included in the plans.

A portion of the site sits within the Lossiemouth to Portgordon Special Landscape Area, however councillors agreed that that the development is in a good, accessible and well-screened location, and would support long-term planning of the provision of construction materials without having a significant impact on the area.

Some of the site will remain as open wetland, with compensatory planting carried out across the existing site and nearby locations, covering more than 13 hectares and consisting of commercial timber species and native broadleaves.

Councillor David Bremner, chair of Moray Council’s Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, said: “This site has supported extraction of shingle and cobbles for a number of years, and securing an extension will allow this to continue and support a successful local business. I’m pleased to see that, as with previous extensions, environmental impacts and restoration of the site has been considered by the applicant.”