New quarry near Roxton

Hope Construction Materials Chairman Amit Bhatia (second left) and Quarry Manager Simon Bryant (far left) with Sean Hoare, Managing Director and Lee Babb, Senior Buyer, of ECL Civil Engineering Ltd. PNL-141023-140007001

Black Cat Quarry will supply more than 100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel each year.

This new quarry will build on Hope’s existing presence in the County at nearby Willington Quarry, where sand and gravel reserves are now limited, but landfill, recycling and concrete operations will continue.

The new quarry represents a £1.5 million investment by Hope, the construction materials industry’s newest player, including a state-of-the-art sand and gravel processing plant. A team of around 10 people are employed at the new site including a manager, processing plant operators, digger and dumper drivers, plus contract delivery drivers.

The opening of this landmark development will help ensure a supply of aggregates to Hope’s own concrete plants in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, as well as delivering sand and gravel directly to construction projects in the area.

Acess to the A1 is provided via a dedicated road, which will reduce traffic and vehicle movements on local roads.

As the Black Cat site is progressively worked, Hope Construction Materials will complete a phased restoration to enhance local biodiversity in keeping with the Bedfordshire and Luton Biodiversity Action Plan and the West Anglian Plain Natural Area. The company has also made an ongoing commitment to restoration work to improve flood relief around the River Great Ouse.

Clive Rillstone, Hope’s Regional Director for the South said: “Hope Construction Materials is a very young company – just under two years old – so we are delighted to have reached this significant landmark in Bedfordshire so soon. Black Cat is the company’s first new quarry development, securing our aggregates supply to the vital Home Counties market for the next few years. It helps us to remain competitive in the supply of local concrete and represents a significant step forward for the business.

“As with any project we work on, Hope has a strong commitment to the restoration of all areas once operations are completed. We have worked closely with local authorities and organisations and taken steps to ensure we are a good neighbour.”