Despite local opposition, Ewhurst Brickworks has received permission to extract 10 million tonnes of clay and build a new tile factory.

Officers at Surrey County Council recommended plans for the site on Horsham Road south-east of Ewhurst for approval by officers at Surrey County Council.

However, officers also recommended a legal agreement be put in place to control lorry movements on local rural roads.

Eighty-four letters of objection were lodged against the plans.

However, the Surrey County Council planning and regulatory committee voted unanimously in favour of the application,

Under the plans for the site, owners Wienerberger will extract 10 million tonnes of clay by 2037. The site has been used for clay extraction since 1948, when it was known as Smokejacks Brickworks.

The plans also include the construction of a new tile factory with a 30-metre high chimney stack.

The tile kiln will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, raising concerns about noise pollution.

Accompanying the application was a legal agreement designed to secure routing arrangements for lorry movements. More than 80 conditions were attached to the application, although one councillor raised concerns about resources at Surrey County Council to enforce these planning conditions.

Planning conditions will limit lorry movements to 7 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday, and 7 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

However, the lorry routing agreement will not affect the 20% of lorries that already pass through Cranleigh, only those using alternative routes.

Another legal agreement was establishing a local liaison group that would discuss any issues with the community.

In 2017, the remains of an Iguanodon dinosaur (named Indie) from 132 million years ago were found at the Ewhurst Brickworks.

At the time, Stephanie Palmer, sustainability manager at Wienerberger, said:

A discovery such as this is extremely exciting for everyone involved.

Not only does it provide a fantastic insight into the world that came before us but it’s also a terrific opportunity for palaeontologists and the scientific community.

Finding a skeleton like Indie could shed more light onto the creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago and progress the studies into the prehistoric world.

The Wienerberger team is committed to preserving our heritage, so was more than happy to support with this exceptional find.