Berkshire quarry extension secured by Hills

Hills Quarry Products awarded mineral extraction contract for southern extension to Mortimer Quarry

HILLS Quarry Products – the Wiltshire-based, family-owned quarrying company – have been selected by The Englefield Estate to undertake mineral extraction at Mortimer Quarry (Southern Extension), near Basingstoke, on the Berkshire/Hampshire border.

Edward Crookes, estates director, said: ‘Hills have been awarded the contract following a rigorous selection process during which they impressed the Estate with their track record in the industry, particularly their attention to detail in restoring sites once work is complete.’

The quarry, which was granted planning permission in May 2015, is expected to yield an estimated 2 million tonnes of sand and gravel over a period of 10 years and is of strategic importance as a source of minerals for infrastructure and construction projects in the region. Extraction is scheduled to commence in early 2018.

Peter Andrew, group director at Hills Quarry Products, said: ‘We are proud to have been chosen by the Englefield Estate to be their mineral partner and look forward to working with both the Estate and the local community to achieve the high-quality restoration the site deserves.’

Extracted material will be sent by ground conveyor across the Southern Extension area to a fully enclosed gantry that crosses Welshman’s Road to deliver the material to the existing plant site (see location plan above).

Progressive working will ensure that areas left open for extraction are kept to a minimum. Once worked, these areas will be restored to a combination of woodland and biodiverse habitat attractive to wildlife. No imported materials will be used in the restoration process and on completion of the final restoration work, the site will be subject to a further 10-year aftercare programme.