Campaigners against a 'superquarry' in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near St Keverne have won permission for a judicial review of planning permission granted by Cornwall Council.

The council will face a high court hearing in the next three months after it failed to demand an Environmental Impact Assessment in an application by Shire Oak Quarries to reopen Dean Quarry.

High Court Judge Mrs Justice Patterson has allowed Silke Roskilly, chair of campaign group Cornwall Against Dean Superquarry (CADS) to go pursue the review of permission granted by the council, after it refused to accept a decision by Greg Clarke, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, overturning the plans.

If Cornwall Council pulls out of the review process, CADS said, Shire Oak Quarries can carry it on.

Shire Oak Quarries completed its purchase of the site on August 11, and should Cornwall Council win the review the company has plans for a new jetty and 535 metre breakwater extending into the Manacles Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ).

Shire Oak Quarries has said any application for marine infrastructure works would have to be accompanied by a full EIA, as they would extend the quarry into the MCZ.

Approval would allow it to ship rock out by sea, meaning it could massively increase quarrying for rock armour for a new breakwater to be built in Swansea Bay by Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay, whose chief executive Mark Shorrock is also head of Shire Oak Quarries.

Shire Oak Quarries has also said that whether Dean Quarry is selected to supply rock for Mr Shorrock's lagoon project would be down to the company contracted to build the lagoon wall, and that company is still looking at options.

A spokesperson for CADS said: "Mark Shorrock's company may have just bought Dean Quarry this week but CADS are standing strong and will continue with our fight. It will now be interesting to see if the developer stands by his alleged green ethics."

The group said it is waiting to see if Shire Oak Quarries will volunteer an EIA, and has called the quarry a test case for the viability of the nation's 27 MCZs.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "The council is currently considering its position with regard to this challenge."

A spokesperson for Shire Oak Quarries said: "We note the court's decision and will now await the outcome of proceedings."

CADS has appointed solicitors Stephens Scown, and is currently fundraising for the £20,000 it estimates will be needed to fight the judicial review, as well as costs to battle an expected planning application for the breakwater and jetty. Donations can be made on the CADS website www.cads2015.com.