Grundon Sand & Gravel secures permit to accept inert waste at Oxfordshire quarry

The Environment Agency has granted permission for Grundon Sand & Gravel (GSG) to allow the tipping of inert* waste at its New Barn Farm Quarry, near Cholsey in Oxfordshire.

The move is seen as a positive step in supporting long-term restoration plans for the 66-acre site, which opened in 2020. Since then, an estimated 500,000 tonnes of sand and gravel have been extracted and the quarry is expected to remain active until around 2038.

Andy Bright, GSG’s General Manager – Aggregates, said: “This decision marks an important milestone in securing the next phase of the quarry’s development.

“It also gives our customers, predominantly local construction companies, muck away companies and grab lorries, a new option for the responsible disposal of suitable inert materials, whilst ensuring they meet all necessary environmental regulations.”

As part of the restoration process, when each phase of extraction is completed, the space will now be filled with the permitted inert materials – non-hazardous soil and stones from garden, park waste and construction sites. Once the land has been brought back to its original level, topsoil will then be laid on top ready for future planting.

The initial phase of the inert recovery operation is expected to require approximately 160,000 tonnes of inert material and, over the lifetime of the quarry, the overall permitted tonnage will be around 2.1 million tonnes.