The Black Cat Quarry on the A1 Black Cat roundabout near Roxton in County Bedfordshire, England, will supply more than 100,000tonnes of sand and gravel each year to use in concrete for building and construction across the northern Home Counties.
The new quarry represents a £1.5 million (€1.9 million) investment by Hope, the industry’s newest player, including a state-of-the-art sand and gravel processing plant.
Up to ten 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 “landmark development” will help ensure a supply of aggregates to Hope’s numerous ready mix concrete plants in Counties Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, as well as sand and gravel into the regional market.
The opening of Black Cat Quarry complements Hope’s existing operations at Willington (concrete, aggregates recycling and landfill of inert wastes such as unwanted demolition material that cannot be recycled).
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.
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: “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.”
