Below you will find the answers to the questions that are most frequently put to the Whatley and Westdown team about our current operations and future plans.
For ease of use these have been categorised into three sections: Heidelberg Materials UK’s future in the East Mendips, Current operations at Whatley and Proposals for Westdown.
Our mineral bank at Whatley is depleting and it’s becoming more challenging to extract the remaining reserves. At the same time demand for limestone, for use in the building of homes, hospitals, and low carbon infrastructure, as well as in the construction and maintenance of roads, continues to grow.
That’s why we’re now seeking to update the existing planning conditions for our nearby Westdown quarry, which has not been operational since the 1980s. Reopening Westdown will help secure the long-term supply of limestone and will allow Whatley, which is one of the few rail-linked quarries in the UK, to focus on supplying national demand by train, helping to reduce carbon emissions. With most of the HGV traffic switched to Westdown, located on the Bulls Green Link Road, it will also mean road-related quarry traffic will be diverted away from neighbouring villages.
In addition, updating our existing consents for Westdown will deliver a transformative legacy project, with the planned phased restoration of the former Asham quarry (also known as the Asham Wood void), adjacent to Westdown quarry, creating a seamless extension to neighbouring Asham Wood.
Importantly, even with both quarries in operation, aggregate volumes and HGV movements will not exceed the current permitted levels for Whatley quarry.
In addition to its use in construction materials, limestone is used in a range of manufacturing processes including the production of steel, pharmaceuticals, fertiliser, glass, paper and even food production. Every man, woman and child uses the equivalent of 4 tonnes of aggregates a year.
There is an assumption that mineral products are in plentiful supply, but this is not the case and securing enough reserves to meet growing demand is just not taking place. Between 2009 and 2018 only 75 per cent of crushed rock reserves were replenished. And, of course, quarries can only exist where the reserves naturally occur.
This means that there is an increasing supply gap – demand is growing but supplies and reserves are dwindling.
Reopening Westdown quarry would help to secure the long-term supply of this vital construction material and the consented reserve at Westdown is already accounted for in Somerset County Council’s (SCC’s) minerals plan. Our application to SCC is focused on bringing the existing permissions at Westdown in line with modern environmental standards and quarrying practices and includes extensive mitigation measures to protect potential impacts on the environment and communities.
It would also provide a significant economic boost as, together, Whatley and Westdown are expected to contribute over £2 billion to the national economy by 2042, while supporting over 200 jobs on site and 700 jobs in the regional supply chain.
Our proposals to reopen Westdown quarry will not lead to an increase of HGVs over the current permitted levels for Whatley quarry.
Currently, permissions for Whatley allow the transport of four million tonnes of limestone per year by road. If Westdown reopens, two million tonnes a year of this will be reallocated to Westdown.
Our approach is to use Westdown’s location, close to key road routes, to supply local demand, freeing up the rail link at Whatley to allow more material for national markets to go by rail. These combined steps will help cut our carbon footprint and reroute vehicles away from local villages. With both quarries in operation, the number of HGV movements will be the same as the current permitted levels for Whatley quarry.
It is possible that there could be a marginal increase in the number of HGVs as, in the last few years, we have not been transporting the full, permitted, 4 million tonne per year allowance by road. However, with Westdown located with easy access to the county’s freight routes, we believe that the impact will be negligible and neighbouring villages will actually see a reduction in HGV traffic.
At present, our permits for Whatley allow for a maximum of 24 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) extraction and sales in any three-year rolling period. This equates to around 8 mtpa, of which half (4 mpta) can be transported by road, with the rest going by rail. In recent years the volume of HGV traffic has been below the permitted level as Whatley has sought to maximise capacity at the rail head.
Looking ahead, it is expected that, with both quarries operating, 2 mtpa would be transported by road from Westdown, 0.5 mtpa by road from Whatley and the remainder by rail from Whatley. As set out in our proposals to update existing planning conditions for Westdown, this will lead to a reduction in HGV traffic on some routes and we believe that the resumption of mineral development at Westdown quarry will have no significant traffic effects.
We have also made it clear to the highway authority, Somerset County Council (SCC), that we are open to Westdown quarry HGV traffic having prescribed routes – in line with the county’s local and county freight routes.
Reserves at Whatley are becoming increasingly constrained and adapting the quarry to access these reserves would be costly and operationally difficult as it would require the relocation of all the fixed plant. After closely examining all the options, we decided that reopening Westdown now is the best option as it allows us to free up the rail link at Whatley so more material for national markets can go by rail, helping to cut our carbon footprint and reroute vehicles away from local villages. In addition, Westdown already has the benefit of a planning permission, so using the existing consented and previously quarried reserve is a more sustainable approach than seeking to develop elsewhere.
Government policy, particularly regarding housing and low carbon infrastructure, assumes mineral products are in plentiful supply, but the reality is that securing enough reserves to meet demands requires long-term planning. Consequently, like all quarry operators, future plans are kept under review and our long-term thinking for Whatley will be shaped by a range of factors, including the outcome of our proposals to reopen Westdown.
At present we are considering several options for the future of the quarry and have sought to discuss this formally with Somerset County Council against the background of both the undetermined 2012 ROMP (Review of Mineral Planning) and our more recent Westdown submission. However, these proposals – and any implementation of plans beyond 2030 – aren’t seen as imminent due to the assessment process required.
Over 10 years ago we submitted proposals to Somerset County Council (SCC) for a Review of Mineral Planning (ROMP), but despite the time that has elapsed and our best efforts to bring the issue to a conclusion, SCC has yet to determine our application. We have been pushing hard on this issue and some progress has been achieved in the last few months. Heidelberg Materials is now responding to SCC’s recent request for updated environmental information and this is why we have asked the council for its feedback on our proposed approach to carrying out the studies as well as the options for the future of the site. This stage is also known as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping opinion.
Once the approach is agreed it will take some time to conduct the studies and this means that our resubmission of the requested environmental information to support the ROMP is still over a year away.
SCC’s request for additional information means that Heidelberg Materials is having to incur significant additional costs. Therefore, it makes sense to ensure that the supplementary studies encompass a degree of ‘future proofing’ for Whatley and that’s why we want them to be as comprehensive as possible. As set out above, we have no proposals currently in development for Whatley but any plans will be influenced by many factors, including what material may be supplied in future from Westdown.
Mineral supply plays a vital role in the construction of the infrastructure needed to underpin the transition to a low carbon economy. Plus, aggregates are still needed to maintain existing infrastructure, such as homes, hospitals and schools as well as our transport networks.
At Heidelberg Materials our focus is on delivering products and services that enable sustainable construction and meet the requirements of resilience, low carbon construction and the circular economy. As a business, we have reduced our CO2 emissions in the UK by 50 per cent since 1990 and are investing another £55m by 2025 to help cut this by a further 15 per cent as part of our 2050 net zero carbon commitment.
Our approach is underpinned by our parent company HeidlebergCement’s carbon reduction strategy, which is based on solid measures at plant and product levels. HeidlebergCement is committed to reduce net CO2 emissions per tonne of cement by 30 per cent by 2025 (based on 1990 figures) and will realise its vision of carbon neutral concrete by 2050.
In the UK, Heidelberg Materials is involved in a number of industry-leading carbon reduction projects including:
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) at our Padeswood cement works in north Wales as part of the HyNet NorthWest consortium.
A world-first project trial demonstrating the use of hydrogen to create a net zero fuel mix at Ribblesdale cement works in Lancashire.
Our permitted quarry operating hours for Whatley are 06.00 on Mondays until 13.00 on Saturdays, with our weighbridge closing at 11.00 on Saturdays. Maintenance work is permitted outside of these times. The onsite asphalt plant has permissions to operate 24/7, with operations usually taking place between 05.00 – 13.00, subject to demand.
In response to local feedback, we have been taking extensive measures to mitigate the impact of the quarry where we can. This mirrors Hanson’s commitment to continual improvement and being a good neighbour.
We have made significant investment in plant, adapted processes and restricted the hours in which we carry out quarrying extraction as well as modifying our approach to blasting. The steps taken include:
Work to resolve the outstanding Review of Mineral Planning (ROMP) at Whatley (see FAQ on ROMP below)
Adapting blasting design and protocols
The roll out of new extraction operating hours
Adapting haulier routes and instigating regular driver training
Addressing the implications of ash dieback disease
Establishing a broader liaison group
Working with Somerset County Council’s environmental health team to revise the agreed monitoring programme
Liaising with Somerset Highways to facilitate issues concerning the highway
On-site adaptations and enhancements include:
Repairs and maintenance to the cladding on buildings to reduce noise.
The addition of ceramic linings to points on the conveyor where material falls from one belt to the next to limit associated noise.
Having the reception hopper on dumpers always one quarter full to cushion the fall of material to minimise associated noise.
Lagging the head drums on conveyor belts to prevent possible slip and squeal.
The staged roll out of new dumper truck liners as well as investment in and delivery of new, fully lined trucks.
Plus, at the rail head, Mendip Rail has taken delivery of replacement trucks – allowing for older wagons to be retired, reducing noise associated with wagons breaking.
We have also met with key stakeholders and local residents, developed a regular community newsletter and set up a dedicated team to respond to queries in relation to our operations, as well as making contributions of money and/or materials for over 25 local charities and community programmes.
Both schemes need to be considered on their own individual merits as no two sites or operations are the same. As such, the schemes submitted have been fully assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in line with the legislative process.
Our current operating permissions are based on the approvals given for Whatley in 1996. Over 10 years ago we submitted proposals to Somerset County Council (SCC) for a Review of Mineral Planning (ROMP) but, despite the time that has elapsed and our best efforts to bring the issue to a conclusion, SCC has yet to determine our application.
We have been pushing hard on this issue and some progress has been achieved in the last few months. Hanson is now responding to SCC’s recent request for updated environmental information, but the nature of the studies required means that our resubmission of relevant environmental information is still some months away, after which we will await SCC’s next steps.
The non-determination of the ROMP has been discussed at recent liaison meetings and SCC has confirmed that a public consultation will take place on the ROMP in due course.
Hanson, like all quarry operators, has a limit for ground vibration from blasting and we have stayed well within this limit at Whatley all times. This limit set by the authorities and we are confident that it is significantly below the level which could cause damage to properties, structures or people.
Over the last year we have taken extensive steps to reassure the local community about blasting at Whatley. We have set up a blasting notification text service, provided detailed briefings on the regulatory regime and have also adapted the blasting design approach with a view to limiting how blasts are experienced by local people.
The permitted levels, as set out in our permissions for Whatley – and reflective of the general industry standard – allow blasts up to the regulatory limit of 9mm/s PPV at 95% confidence. However, we have taken the voluntary step to plan blasts to 4.5mm/s PPV wherever possible on the south face of the quarry.
Since this change was implemented, the majority of blasts on the south face have been within this self-imposed limit and all have been well within the legal limit of 9mm/s PPV. More information on blasting is detailed in the minutes of the regular liaison group.
No. Our permissions for Whatley allow the transport of 4 million tonnes per annum from the railhead at Whatley and we are not seeking to change this, nor could we – due to constraints on the rail network. This means that the number of trains will not increase above permitted levels.
The timing of trains arriving and departing Whatley is dictated by Network Rail (NR). With limited rail capacity NR prioritises passenger trains during the day and this is why freight train movements, including at Whatley, are scheduled mostly at night.
Our rail operator Mendip Rail has invested in new rolling stock and has recently taken delivery of new trucks allowing older KEA wagons to be retired from service. We believe that this is helping to mitigate noise associated with trains braking as they move downhill on departure from the quarry.
Whatley’s role as one of a small number of rail-connected quarries is key as we seek to reduce carbon emissions. Transporting a tonne of material by rail, instead of road, cuts the associated CO2 emissions by more than 60 per cent.
We’ll continue to do all we can to mitigate the impact of night-time rail-related activity and are currently assessing what further measures could be taken to reduce the noise associated with loading rail trucks at night.
Our landholding at Whatley quarry covers an area of c.120ha (@300 acres). As well as the current extraction area it includes areas with plantations of young trees, hedgerows and semi-natural woodland bordering the southern edge of the quarry, plus Vallis Vale SSSI, Tedbury Camp, Fordbury Bottom and Whatley Bottom, as well as the Mells Stream, Whatley Brook and Egford Brook.
We have a biodiversity action plan (BAP) in place that aims to target and enhance the habitats and species found on site and to work with local communities. In summary, the types and management principles implemented to protect and enhance bidoversity at Whatley include:
Ancient and semi-natural woodland – felling operations to reinstate historic coppicing methods and diversify the canopy structure for the benefit of the shrub layer and ground flora species.
Riparian woodland – phased felling operations to increase the light levels to streams and rivers.
Calcareous grassland – clearance of invading scrub that threatens areas of grassland.
Quarry tree plantations – felling operations to thin the plantation canopy to improve age diversity and structure.
Unfortunately, ash dieback (ADB) is affecting the ancient and semi-natural woodlands, quarry plantations and hedgerows across our Whatley quarry landholding, including the Vallis Vale and Asham Wood SSSIs. ADB originated in Asia but came to the UK via Europe and is likely to kill around 80 per cent of ash trees across the UK.
We are actively monitoring the progression of ADB including regular hazardous tree surveys that review trees that could pose a threat to the health and safety of the public, including users of the highway, public rights of way (PROW) neighbours and employees.
If trees are identified as posing a health and safety risk, they are felled in liaison with the relevant statutory authorities and/or are under an ecological watching brief where required. The replacement of the trees lost is either by planting locally native species such as oak and field maple or by protecting natural regeneration of species with tree guards to prevent animal browsing.
The sector’s approach to quarry restoration has advanced significantly since permission for Whatley was granted. In recent years Hanson has been recognised for its award-winning schemes at many of its former extraction sites with restored quarries providing enhanced benefit to the environment, biodiversity uplift and recreational opportunities for the communities in which they are sited.
At Whatley, current restoration proposals would see the excavated void filled with water to create a deep lake; quarry benches re-planted with native broadleaf woodland strips to provide bat and bird feeding corridors or, developed to create calcareous grassland habitat for invertebrates; and quarry waste tips landscaped and restored to a mixture of grassland and native broadleaf woodland.
However, we are mindful that these plans, developed 20+ years ago, may no longer reflect the best practice approach and prior to the cessation of operations we may need to update restoration proposals to ensure that mineral extraction at Whatley leaves an appropriate legacy.
Revisions to restoration plans would, of course, be subject to the usual planning processes and we would also want to seek input from relevant stakeholders and the community ahead of this.
Quarrying is conducted under a detailed planning and permitting regime and we work hard to ensure we comply with all aspects of this. In 2011 we submitted a ROMP (Review of Mineral Planning) to Somerset County Council (SCC) to ensure that the guidelines under which we operate remain appropriate and up to date.
Despite our best efforts, this application remains undetermined by SCC. In 2021 we were asked by SCC to resubmit the environmental data that supported our 2011ROMP submission – as due to the time that had lapsed the studies and environmental surveys it contains would now be out of date. This is a serious and expensive undertaking that will take Hanson and our specialists at least a year to complete.
In January of 2022 we submitted a scoping report for these studies, so we could ensure that SCC was happy with the approach we intended to use. To date we have yet to hear back from SCC on this. Without its feedback we are unable to instigate the studies, adding further delay to resolving the undetermined ROMP.
As set out in our proposals, we are seeking an update on the existing permissions for Westdown. Our approach would see operations at Westdown cease at 20.00 Monday to Friday, and at 12.00 on Saturday and Sunday.
We have already taken significant steps to scale back night-time operations at Whatley and current night-time extraction levels are now at half permitted levels. These steps have been achieved as a result of investment in new plant as well as the Whatley team’s focus on achieving operational efficiencies.
Looking ahead, we expect that ongoing efficiencies – coupled with reduced volumes as Whatley becomes more constrained – means that we will be able to continue with the reduction in quarry extraction activity at night and we will share our thinking on this as more information becomes available.
We have been clear that our approach is to use Westdown’s location, close to key road routes, to supply local demand via road, freeing up the rail link at Whatley to allow more material for national markets to go by rail.
While our permissions do not restrict volume movement by rail from Whatley, site and network limitations preclude an increase on current levels which are approximately 4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). As the infographic below shows, this means that the number of trains will not change significantly on current levels.
Hanson is also committed to playing its part in the country’s net zero carbon ambitions and our rail-linked quarries, including Whatley, have a critical role to play. Transporting a tonne of material by rail, instead of road, is estimated to cut the associated CO2 emissions by more than 60%, highlighting the importance of rail-linked sites.
There have been rail-linked quarries in the East Mendips for over 100 years. Whatley quarry itself has had a rail link since the 1930s and this was enhanced in both the 1960s and 1970s and again in the 1990s. However, the timing of trains at Whatley is not something we can control as the schedules are dictated by Network Rail. The demands of passenger trains on the main line, which take priority over freight, mean that the slots given for the arrival and departure of trains takes place during the night and early hours. This has been the case for many years and will continue.
However, to mitigate the impact of night-time rail-related activity, where we can, we are currently assessing what further measures we can take to reduce the noise associated with rail loading.
An independent survey found that continuing operations at Whatley and reopening Westdown is expected to contribute over £2.2 billion to the national economy between 2022 and 2042 and a further £750.5 million in tax revenue during the same period.
The two sites will also support over 200 jobs on site and a further 730 in the regional supply chain for at least the next 20 years.
Somerset Council (SC) has yet to set out when our application, first submitted in January 2021, will be determined. This is why we have now decided to uncouple the use of Asham quarry void from our plans by submitting a revised scheme of working. We believe that this revised interim approach could be consented and operational sooner.
Understandably, we can’t comment on our competitors’ business strategies. For Heidelberg Materials, our approach is based on working sustainably to secure the supply of aggregate to both local markets and nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Our aim is to take advantage of Westdown’s location, close to key road routes, to supply local demand. At our neighbouring Whatley quarry this will enable greater use of the rail link to supply national markets, including to important infrastructure projects such as Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset and the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail link. Together, these steps will cut our carbon footprint and reduce the impact of quarry HGV traffic on neighbouring villages. (NB: The rail link at Whatley means that this quarry is one of only a handful across England that has the capacity to supply wider UK markets, including markets in London and the south-east of England, where geology dictates that most crushed rock requirements must be met by material from other English regions. Being able to supply these markets by rail means that Whatley quarry is considered by Somerset Council (SC), in its adopted Minerals Local Plan, as a strategic aggregate quarry.)
Planning permission for the extraction of minerals at Westdown quarry is already in place. This means that the principle of extraction is established and the consolidating planning submission for the proposed development is not required to demonstrate a clear need (in landbank terms) for the mineral. In fact, the consented reserve at Westdown is already accounted for in SCC’s calculation of the county’s aggregates landbank.
Limestone from our Whatley quarry is recognised as a nationally significant resource, but its mineral bank is getting smaller and remaining reserves are more constrained. To ensure the consistent and secure supply of limestone for use in construction, including nationally significant infrastructure projects as well as local schemes, we want to reopen our Westdown quarry, dormant since the late 1980s.
Although all issues raised by statutory consultees have now been satisfactorily addressed, there is an outstanding concern raised by Somerset Council’s legal team about the existing planning consent for Asham quarry void. Heidelberg Materials strongly disputes this and will continue to do so using all means available.
However, mindful of the time it has taken to reach this stage and conscious of the need to secure supplies, we are now taking a stop-gap step to uncouple the use of Asham quarry void from our plans by submitting a revised scheme of working. We believe that this revised interim approach could be consented and operational sooner.
We have no plans to withdraw our original 2021 application of Asham quarry void and will continue to pursue this alongside our revised plans at Westdown.
Yes – for now. It is important to point out that this means that our proposals for full restoration of Asham quarry void within 15 years of Westdown being operational won’t proceed under these revised proposals and until such time that a way forward with Somerset’s Legal department has been reached.
At present Asham quarry void has no Public Rights of Way (PROW) across it and the material remaining there is unstable. In contrast, our previously proposed comprehensive restoration programme would have seen the void returned to a condition that better represents the area’s ancient woodland habitats – providing significant ecological enhancements to enrich fauna and flora, while also creating a valuable ecological buffer to nearby Asham Wood SSSI, improving PROW and enabling recreational access.
Regretfully, the proposed revised scheme of working does not offer these enhancements and legacy benefits, albeit this is something we still hope can be delivered through further dialog with Somerset Council to realise the benefits proposed.
Our earlier applications as well as these latest revisions have always sought to fully protect Asham Wood SSSI with proposals only to enhance the area.
Until a way forward on the scheme at Asham quarry void is established with Somerset Council (see above) no consideration of this element of the original scheme will take place, as our application adjacent to the SSSI will be held in abeyance.
Yes. Our proposals for a revised interim scheme of working still include 44-acres of well-connected habitat to the north of Westdown quarry with woodland planting and the creation of species rich grassland to enhance biodiversity.
The revised scheme of working will not change our commitment to HGV volumes. Material from Whatley quarry will focus on supplying national markets by rail, with Westdown supporting local demand. HGV volumes would remain the same, or be less, than the current permitted levels for Whatley.
A new safer entrance would still be created onto the Bulls Green Link Road and, with direct access to key routes. Reopening Westdown will also mean HGVs are kept away from local villages.
Our initial proposals saw topsoils and overburden stored in Asham quarry void ahead of being used in the progressive restoration of the former quarry. Under our revised scheme of working, they will now be stored within Westdown quarry itself – albeit storing them there constrains access to the mineral reserve as well as necessitating a degree of double handling.
As outlined above, revising our proposed scheme of working for Westdown is an interim measure while we continue to work for a resolution on the legal issues Somerset Council has raised. Once these are resolved it is our intention to seek determination of our original proposals which include the use of Asham quarry void. This is why we have not formally withdrawn this application from the planning process.
We are only uncoupling Asham quarry void from our proposals now as we believe it will allow the scheme to be consented sooner, allowing us to get on with reopening Westdown. However, the revised scheme of working constrains around 20 million tonnes of mineral reserve and necessitates a degree of doubling handling and the longer stockpiling of soils and overburden than the original scheme. It also means that the significant legacy benefit that would have been realised through the restoration of Asham quarry void, which has always been a key consideration of ours, would no longer take place.
