Construction output in the three months to November was "down 9.8%" on the same period in 2011. Furthermore the BBC reports on an industry lobby group that "doesn't anticipate the industry returning to its former levels until at least 2022". Something DCC should bear in mind when forecasting aggregate shortfalls for the years ahead.
In 1965, Straitgate Farm near Ottery St Mary in Devon was bought by ECC Quarries in the hope it would yield 20 million tonnes of sand & gravel. In 2001, Straitgate Action Group was formed to oppose the development and its potential harm to water supplies, ancient wetland habitats, protected species and much more. In 2023, Aggregate Industries – owned by Swiss giant Holcim – was finally granted permission to quarry just 1 million tonnes following a public inquiry. This blog records the story.