A CHELFORD sand quarry will be transformed into a beautiful series of lakes by 2020.

The Dingle Bank Quarry will become a nature reserve and a watersports centre of regional significance at the end of its operational life.

Three large lakes, one covering more than 179 acres and the other two 43 acres each, will be created at the quarry - which is just off the A535 Holmes Chapel Road, two miles south east of Chelford and seven miles west of Macclesfield.

The site, managed by Sandbach-based WBB Minerals, is currently the most important industrial sand quarry in the UK. More than one million tons of silica sand are extracted every year, principally for the manufacture of glass.

Acre Nook Lake will form the largest body of water on the site, covering some 179 acres. It will be used for a variety of water sports, such as sailing, windsurfing and canoeing, and recreational activities.

Parkland Lake will be next to the A535 and will cover 43 acres. The water level will be controlled by wiers and the lake will be used as a wildlife habitat and for recreation.

Lapwing Hall Lake will be at the northern boundary of the site, next to Congleton Lane, and will also cover 43 acres. It will be managed as a nature reserve, with a marshland habitat, and public access will be limited. Fishing will be allowed from the banks, but this will be secondary to the primary aim of nature conservation.

The plans have been welcomed by parish councils and sporting bodies.

Peter Yates, chief planning officer at Macclesfield Borough Council, said: "There will be three areas of water, differing in size and use."

"Acre Nook Lake is of such a size that it should be of regional significance but we are stressing that the lake should be used for quiet enjoyment such as sailing, rowing, windsurfing and fishing, not noisy activities. It could be used, for example, for championship rowing in the future."

"Lots of sporting bodies have already expressed interest, such as Sport England and the Redesmere Sailing Club. The lake the club uses in Siddington is silting up so it is interested in using Dingle Bank."

"This will all be done without any cost to the public purse."

WBB Minerals has identified a site to the south east of the existing quarry as an area to search for further silica sand extraction, and if this is used as a quarry the size of Acre Nook Lake will be increased.

The quarry is due to close in 2010. The final restoration of the site will be completed by 2015 and the lakes should have filled naturally with water by 2020.

Nick Horsley, environmental planning manager at WBB Minerals, said: "Throughout the life of the quarry the worked-out areas have been, and continue to be, progressively restored in preparation for the implementation of the final restoration concept - the key to which is the development of three large lakes."

"This will deliver a varied landscape with significant opportunities for bio-diversity, including semi-natural grasslands and woodland, with wetland margins on the boundaries of the lakes."

"The restored lakes, and the existing and proposed footpath network, also offer the added potential for an amenity-based after-use of the site. This has recently been the subject of a Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance produced for public consultation by Macclesfield Borough Council."

"More than £1m is being invested in soft restoration works alone, from the sowing of seeds to develop the grassland habitats, to the planting of native tree species and provision of rights of way with associated fencing and hedgerows."

"This sum excludes the cost of re-grading the land to the final contours approved by Cheshire County Council."

Mr Horsley says his company has held regular meetings with the parish, borough and county councils, at which the development of the quarry and the progress on the restoration are discussed.

As part of the permitted quarry development, the relocation of Lapwing Cottage, a Grade 2 listed building, has taken place in association with English Heritage and Macclesfield Borough Council.

The site lies in the North Cheshire Green Belt and outside but next to an area of Special County Value. The site also lies within the outer boundary of the Jodrell Bank consultation zone and within the Manchester Airport consultation zone.