Hope Construction open new quarry

Black Cat Quarry to supply more than 100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel a year to northern Home Counties market

HOPE Construction Materials, the UK’s leading independent supplier of aggregates and concrete, have opened their first new quarry as part of a major UK development plan.

Located on the A1 Black Cat roundabout near Roxton, in Bedfordshire, Black Cat Quarry will supply more than 100,000 tonnes of sand and gravel each year to local construction and concrete markets across the northern Home Counties.  

The new quarry represents a £1.5 million investment by Hope and includes a state-of-the-art sand and gravel processing plant. Up to 10 people will be employed at the new site including a manager, processing plant operators, mobile plant drivers and contract delivery drivers.

The opening of this landmark development will help ensure a supply of aggregates to Hope’s numerous ready-mixed concrete plants in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, as well as sand and gravel into the regional market.

The company’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 Black Cat Quarry is progressively worked, Hope Construction 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 have a strong commitment to the restoration of all areas once operations are completed. We have worked closely with local authorities and organizations and taken steps to ensure we are a good neighbour.’