Kent Mineral Sites Plan: Second Call for Sites - Hard Rock

Update 30 July 2026

The consultation on the Pre-Submission Draft Kent Mineral Sites Plan 2026 is now open. Comments are being invited on the legal compliance and soundness of the Plan. Visit the consultation webpage to find out more.

Update – 21 July 2026

At its meeting on 16 July 2026, the County Council agreed to submit the Pre-Submission Draft Plan for publication and submission to the Secretary of State for examination.

Prior to submission, the Council will hold a further 6-week public consultation. This consultation will ask for views on whether the draft Plan is sound and legally compliant. Comments received during this period will be sent to the Planning Inspector to consider as part of the examination.

The consultation is expected to open in late July/early August. The draft Plan and supporting consultation material will be available to view when the consultation opens.

The consultation is not currently live.

Update - July 2026

Following the consultation in 2023, the Council undertook and commissioned detailed technical assessment work concerning the nominated extension to Hermitage Quarry covering, amongst other things, ecology, landscape, health, air quality, carbon, alternative supplies and socio-economic effects.

No changes are proposed to the soft sand and sand and gravel sites in the adopted Kent Mineral Sites Plan (2020).

The Council will consider a Pre-Submission Draft Plan for publication and submission to the Secretary of State for examination by the end of 2026.

Should the Draft Plan be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination then a public consultation would be carried out.

There are currently no consultations on the Kent Mineral Sites Plan.

The current Kent Mineral Sites Plan was adopted in 2020 and allocates three sites for mineral development; a soft sand quarry (Chapel Farm West, Lenham) and two sharp sand and gravel quarries to be worked sequentially (Moat Farm, Capel and an extension to Stonecastle Farm Quarry, Hadlow).

A review of the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan is being undertaken which would extend the Plan period to 2039.

Following a review of data on mineral reserves and sales across the county, there is a need to identify an additional site or sites for the working of hard rock, in order that the Plan can make adequate mineral provision for the Plan period.

A Call for Sites for the potential allocation of a site/s for the extraction of hard rock took place between October and December 2022. One site was nominated in response to this call - land to the South and West of Hermitage Lane, Aylesford. This nominated hard rock site was subject to public consultation from June to July 2023. In response to the views received the County Council is giving relevant stakeholders and interested parties a further opportunity to propose sites for the potential allocation of a hard rock quarry to meet identified need within the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-2039 (MWLP).

The draft updated Kent MWLP sets out the mineral supply needs over the period 2024-2039 and identifies a need for additional crushed rock supply as follows: The available reserves at commencement of year 2024 are estimated at 13.62mt giving an estimated 17.38mt shortfall over the Plan period to 2039.

All those who wish to submit a site for consideration should fill out the online Site Allocation Proposal Form below.

The form provides a Criteria Checklist that will enable us to obtain essential information about the site to assist in the site assessment process, and should be completed in as much detail as possible. Only those who have an interest in the site, their Agents and those that have the landowner’s agreement should complete this form.

Any site proposed will be considered in accordance with the Site Identification and Selection Methodology. You are advised to provide sufficient information with your submission to enable the assessment process to take place. Those sites progressing to the detailed technical assessment stage may be required to provide additional information to support the assessment process. In order for a site to be allocated, it must meet the Local Plan tests in terms of soundness which includes demonstrating that the site could practically be delivered.

If you are unable to complete the form online, please complete a Word/paper form and return it to:

Address: Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team, Planning Applications Group, Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX

Scanned copies of the completed form can also be emailed to: mwlp@kent.gov.uk

The second Call for Sites runs from Thursday 31 August until Thursday 12 October 2023.

Update 30 July 2026

The consultation on the Pre-Submission Draft Kent Mineral Sites Plan 2026 is now open. Comments are being invited on the legal compliance and soundness of the Plan. Visit the consultation webpage to find out more.

Update – 21 July 2026

At its meeting on 16 July 2026, the County Council agreed to submit the Pre-Submission Draft Plan for publication and submission to the Secretary of State for examination.

Prior to submission, the Council will hold a further 6-week public consultation. This consultation will ask for views on whether the draft Plan is sound and legally compliant. Comments received during this period will be sent to the Planning Inspector to consider as part of the examination.

The consultation is expected to open in late July/early August. The draft Plan and supporting consultation material will be available to view when the consultation opens.

The consultation is not currently live.

Update - July 2026

Following the consultation in 2023, the Council undertook and commissioned detailed technical assessment work concerning the nominated extension to Hermitage Quarry covering, amongst other things, ecology, landscape, health, air quality, carbon, alternative supplies and socio-economic effects.

No changes are proposed to the soft sand and sand and gravel sites in the adopted Kent Mineral Sites Plan (2020).

The Council will consider a Pre-Submission Draft Plan for publication and submission to the Secretary of State for examination by the end of 2026.

Should the Draft Plan be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination then a public consultation would be carried out.

There are currently no consultations on the Kent Mineral Sites Plan.

The current Kent Mineral Sites Plan was adopted in 2020 and allocates three sites for mineral development; a soft sand quarry (Chapel Farm West, Lenham) and two sharp sand and gravel quarries to be worked sequentially (Moat Farm, Capel and an extension to Stonecastle Farm Quarry, Hadlow).

A review of the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan is being undertaken which would extend the Plan period to 2039.

Following a review of data on mineral reserves and sales across the county, there is a need to identify an additional site or sites for the working of hard rock, in order that the Plan can make adequate mineral provision for the Plan period.

A Call for Sites for the potential allocation of a site/s for the extraction of hard rock took place between October and December 2022. One site was nominated in response to this call - land to the South and West of Hermitage Lane, Aylesford. This nominated hard rock site was subject to public consultation from June to July 2023. In response to the views received the County Council is giving relevant stakeholders and interested parties a further opportunity to propose sites for the potential allocation of a hard rock quarry to meet identified need within the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-2039 (MWLP).

The draft updated Kent MWLP sets out the mineral supply needs over the period 2024-2039 and identifies a need for additional crushed rock supply as follows: The available reserves at commencement of year 2024 are estimated at 13.62mt giving an estimated 17.38mt shortfall over the Plan period to 2039.

All those who wish to submit a site for consideration should fill out the online Site Allocation Proposal Form below.

The form provides a Criteria Checklist that will enable us to obtain essential information about the site to assist in the site assessment process, and should be completed in as much detail as possible. Only those who have an interest in the site, their Agents and those that have the landowner’s agreement should complete this form.

Any site proposed will be considered in accordance with the Site Identification and Selection Methodology. You are advised to provide sufficient information with your submission to enable the assessment process to take place. Those sites progressing to the detailed technical assessment stage may be required to provide additional information to support the assessment process. In order for a site to be allocated, it must meet the Local Plan tests in terms of soundness which includes demonstrating that the site could practically be delivered.

If you are unable to complete the form online, please complete a Word/paper form and return it to:

Address: Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team, Planning Applications Group, Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX

Scanned copies of the completed form can also be emailed to: mwlp@kent.gov.uk

The second Call for Sites runs from Thursday 31 August until Thursday 12 October 2023.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Site Allocation Proposal Form

    All those who wish to submit a hard rock site for consideration for allocation within the emerging Mineral Sites Plan should complete this form providing as much detail as possible. 

    Only those who have an interest in the site, their Agents and those that have the landowner’s agreement should complete this form. 

    We may contact you for further details to support the site assessment process.

    KCC collects and processes personal information in order to provide a range of public services. We respect the privacy of individuals and endeavour to ensure personal information is collected fairly, lawfully, and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Read the full Minerals and Waste Local Plan privacy statement.