Tarmac, a CRH company, has received approval for an extension to Morrinton Quarry in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. The company, who has operated the quarry since 2015, submitted the application in April 2022 and consent was granted in December 2024 by Dumfries & Galloway Council.
The approved extension involves expanding the extraction boundary to the north and east of the current quarry site. The area comprises a mix of agricultural, pasture and unused land. The development is expected to extend the quarry’s operational life by 40 years, moving the permission end date from 2042 to 2062 and the project is expected to release around £7.2 million tonnes of sandstone crushed rock. With annual output of ~200,000 tonnes, operations could continue until 2058.
The extension at Morrinton Quarry is aimed at ensuring a steady supply of crushed rock for regional construction needs, with operations continuing for several decades. The extracted materials will be used for local construction projects and the production of coated roadstone on-site. Additionally, the quarry will supply aggregates for Tarmac’s roadstone plants in South and Central Scotland, as well as Northern England.
The extraction process at Morrinton Quarry will continue using drilling and blasting techniques. The site operates Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 19:00 and on weekends from 07:00 to 16:30. This is one of over 30 minerals and associated planning schemes identified last month by BDS as part of its regular monitoring of all 400+ planning authorities in Great Britain. Access to this information is available by annual subscription to the BDS Planning Portal. For more information on subscribing to the Portal or BDS research services and published reports, email: contact@bdsmarketing.co.uk or visit www.bdsmarketing.co.uk