Hope Construction Materials has announced the opening of its first new, greenfield quarry as part of its UK development plan.
Black Cat Quarry on the A1 Black Cat roundabout near Roxton in Bedfordshire will supply more than 100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel each year to use in concrete for building and construction across the Northern Home Counties.
The new quarry represents a £1.5m investment by Hope, including a state-of-the-art sand and gravel processing plant. Up to 10 colleagues will be employed at the new site including a manager, processing plant operators, digger and dumper drivers, plus contract delivery drivers.
The opening of the new development will help ensure a supply of aggregates to Hope’s readymix concrete plants in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, as well as sand and gravel into the regional market. It also complements Hope’s existing operations at Willington, which deals in concrete, aggregates recycling and landfill of inert wastes.
Hope’s continued drive to reduce environmental impact was paramount in the development of the quarry, with access to the A1 provided via a dedicated road which will reduce traffic and vehicle movements on local roads.
Clive Rillstone, Hope’s regional director for the south, said: “At just 18 months old, Hope Construction Materials is still a young company and we are delighted to have reached this significant landmark.
“Black Cat is the company’s first new quarry development, securing our aggregates supply in 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.”
