Coldstones quarry community page

Hello future

On 02 October 2023 we rebranded to Heidelberg Materials. As well as aligning with our parent company, our new name better reflects the company we are today.

We’re focused on driving down carbon emissions, increasing the use of recycled materials to grow the circular economy and leading our industry towards net zero with innovative projects such as carbon capture and storage.

Some of the new Heidelberg Materials signage and vehicle livery is already in place and we hope to have completed this within the next two years. Please note that our email and website details have also changed.

Find out more

About the quarry

Coldstones Quarry, situated on Greenhow Hill at 1400 feet above sea level, is one of the highest quarries in Britain.  Several small limestone quarries operated around Greenhow over the last two centuries and in the early 1900s the surrounding hills were dominated by stone quarries. Gradually these closed until Coldstones became the last working quarry in the area.Operated by Hanson, a member of the Heidelberg Cement Group, it provides aggregates and asphalt for major construction projects across the U.K.

The quarry currently covers an area of about 30 hectares. It is worked on 6 benches, 15-18m high, to a depth of 300m O.D (ordnance datum) at the base of the quarry.

Coldstones provides an average of 600,000 tons of aggregate each year, and supplies building materials into West and North Yorkshire.

Interesting fact: Coldstones Quarry has achieved both a 5 Star Environmental Award from the Quarry Products Association and the Harrogate Borough Council Special Award for Environmental Excellence, in recognition of educational work with local schools and its active support of the local heritage.

 

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Community visits

There are regular visits by local schools, universities and groups but most visitors are recommended to view the site from the Coldstones Cut. 

If you are interested in upcoming visits, or would like to arrange one, please use the form below.

Find out more about community visits

Greenhow Enhancement Fund

In 2005 Hanson UK set up the Greenhow Enhancement Fund to mitigate the impact of the extension of Coldstones Quarry in Greenhow on the surrounding landscape. Visit the website to find out more about the Fund's aims, eligible areas, what types of projects are supported and the application process. Click here to go to the website.

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Coldstones Cut

There is a public viewing platform at Coldstones Quarry called THE COLDSTONES CUT, this is an artist designed viewpoint commissioned by Nidderdale Visual Arts and designed by Andrew Sabin, it is opened to the public at all times and in 2011 was awarded the Bruntwood Award for Arts and Business and the Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture. In the MPA Biodiversity Awards in 2013,  it won the Special Award.

Coldstones Cut has “Certificate of excellence” on Trip Advisor and gets over 20,000 visitors a year. From here you can see the quarrying operations, including the blasting, extraction and crushing of rock. You can also see the geological strata which make up the quarry and which provide the raw material for its products.

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Careers

We advertise our opportunities on the Heidelberg Materials website, leading online job boards and in print media. 

Learn more

Sponsorship

In addition to the Greenhow Enhancement Fund, we help charities and voluntary groups in communities close to our sites and offices through the Hanson in the Community scheme. 

Site liaison

Bob Orange or Richard Green

bob.orange@hanson.com
richard.green3@hanson.com
Tel: 01423 711356

View site address information and contact details for sales and customer services

More info by clicking the pins

Interesting fact: The Greenhow local history group meets at Coldstones Quarry every Thursday evening.

 

Become a supplier

Request more information on how to become a supplier.

Request information
Interesting fact: The quarry has an estimated life of 10-15 years, and after that time it is anticipated that it will be allowed to green over and return to nature.