Kent Minerals Sites Plan: Call for Sites - Hard Rock
This consultation has closed.
Update - July 2026
Following the consultation in 2023 on the Kent Mineral Sites Plan: Second Call for Sites - Hard Rock, 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.
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.
No changes are proposed to the soft sand and sand and gravel sites in the adopted Kent Mineral Sites Plan (2020).
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.
Update 7 December 2022
A Call for Sites for the allocation of a site/s for the extraction of hard rock took place between October and December 2022. We are currently working through the submissions received in response to the Call for Sites and are undertaking an initial assessment of the nominated sites. It is anticipated that a public consultation on the Site Options will commence in spring 2023.
Original Text
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).
An update to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan is being undertaken which would extend the Plan period to 2038. Following the review of data on mineral reserves and sales across the county, a need has arisen to identify an additional site or sites for the working of hard rock, in order that the Plan can make adequate mineral provision over this period.
Therefore, an update to the Kent Mineral Sites Plan is proposed with the intention to allocate a site or sites for the extraction of hard rock.
Currently, only additional capacity is needed for hard rock and there is no requirement for any other mineral sites to be provided. No changes are proposed to the existing site allocations referred to above. These are still required to meet aggregate needs for the plan period.
Call for Sites
We are giving relevant stakeholders and interested parties an opportunity to propose sites for the allocation of a hard rock quarry to meet identified need within the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2023-2038. This part of the local plan preparation is known as a ‘Call for Sites’.
All those who wish to submit a site for consideration should fill out the online Site Allocation Proposals Form.
The form provides a Criteria Checklist that will enable us to obtain essential information about the site to assist in the site assessment process. Any site proposed will be considered in accordance with the Draft 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.
We also welcome your feedback on the Draft Site Identification and Selection Methodology, which sets out how site submissions will be assessed as well as the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.
You can comment directly on these documents using the document commenting software below, alternatively comments can be submitted using the contact information above.
Alternatively, if you prefer not to respond online, you can either email or post your form or written response to:
Email: mwlp@kent.gov.uk
Address: Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team, Planning Applications Group, Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX.
