Raymond Brown receives planning for its Hurst Farm Sand and Gravel Quarry
Regional quarry operator Raymond Brown Quarry Products has recently received planning approval for a new quarry in Dorset which is estimated to contain over 11.5 million tonnes of sand and gravel reserves.
The Hurst Farm site was allocated in the Dorset Minerals Local Plan, and the project has been in the planning phase for just over two years.
The site, which is located near Moreton, was first nominated as a potential future mineral extraction option to Dorset in 2014 and was included in the Dorset Mineral Sites Plan in 2019.
The quarry will play a significant part in maintaining Dorset’s mineral landbank, representing 36% of the total allocated sand and gravel resources in the county over the plan period between 2019 – 2034. The reserve is made up of a combination of soft sand, sharp sand and gravel, with the soft sand making up the largest part of the reserve.
The extraction rate is forecast to be 600,000 tonnes a year over the course of 20 years, with a further five years of restoration to deliver a range of agricultural, ecological, hydrological, and environmental benefits as well as improved amenity and recreation opportunities. The planning also includes approval for associated ready-mix concrete and bagging operations.
Raymond Brown Quarry Products, a long-established quarry regional quarry operator with its origins stretching back over 75 years, has been active at the nearby Binnegar Quarry since 2002 and operates two further quarries in Hampshire and Wiltshire. The business has built strong relationships with the local community, supported by longstanding liaison committees that meet regularly to share updates. The company is proud of its approach to responsible operations, including its health and safety record which has been recognised through 16 consecutive annual gold RoSPA awards, and also has an award-winning approach to environmental restoration.
Planning and Estates Director, Rob Westell commented: “Over the last few years, we have worked closely with the landlord, local interest groups, the council, statutory consultees, especially the Environment Agency, and other interested parties and we are delighted to have received planning for the Hurst Farm sites.
As a quarry operator working in the south of England, we have extensive experience and a good understanding of the region. We will continue to work closely and develop good relationships with the local community, as we do across all of our sites, whilst maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental performance.
Hurst Farm is a nationally important mineral reserve which will help support the economies of Dorset and surrounding areas for the next 20 years".