Tarmac can extract a further 10 million tonnes of limestone aggregate from a UK quarry

Tarmac has secured planning consent to extract a further 10 million tonnes of limestone aggregate from a UK quarry.

The consent, for Stowfield Quarry in the Forest of Dean, County Gloucestershire, England, has been awarded subject to a legal agreement by Gloucestershire County Council, and will provide the company with an extension to the north of the existing site.

The extension will extend the life of the quarry by a further 25 years until 2035. Tarmac has given up its right to extract part of another quarry, a designated site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as part of the planning application.

Stowfield has been operational for 50 years and typically supplies asphalt and around 750,000 tonnes of limestone aggregate per year.

Nick Atkins, Tarmac’s estates manager, west region, said: “This was a unanimous decision from council members, which reflects the importance of the site to the regional economy and the excellent close working relationship we have developed with local stakeholders through our Liaison Group.”