Whatley quarry has been supplying vital building materials for use in the construction and maintenance of homes, schools, hospitals and roads for nearly 100 years.
To make the most of its existing reserves, we are seeking permission to extend extraction within Whatley’s existing quarry boundary as well as the timeframe for quarrying.
Activity would be limited to within the existing site boundary so, beyond the quarry gate, it would be business as usual and our neighbours would see little change.
We are not proposing any changes to the quarry’s permitted operating hours or blasting approach. This new application also remains in line with our commitment that combined aggregate volumes from our Whatley and Westdown sites will not exceed the current permitted levels for Whatley alone.
Changing the end date for Whatley would secure the long-term future of the quarry and make the best use of all available reserves.
Whatley will continue to focus on supplying national demand by rail, helping keep HGVs away from local villages and minimising carbon emissions while also sustaining local jobs and securing supplies for local and national customers.
Our proposals
Our plans aim to ensure the best use of Whatley’s reserves and include:
- Continued extraction of permitted but constrained reserves within the western staggered benches, eastern part of the quarry and beneath site plant to the previously approved 0m AOD level (sea level).
- Additional extraction within the existing consented areas of the quarry by reprofiling the western staggered benches and northwest tip.
- Deepening the western staggered benches, existing quarry floor and eastern end of the site by the equivalent of four additional benches to -60m AOD.
- Extending the quarry’s end date to 2055 to allow both existing and additional limestone reserves to be secured.
If approved, our scheme would allow us to make the best use of around 170 million tonnes of reserves. This includes 80 million tonnes (mt) of already consented reserves, which are becoming increasingly difficult to access, as well as 90mt of additional reserves.
Environment and restoration
An independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), covering a wide range of topics, will accompany our application. It has been carried out to identify any potential impacts of our proposals and how they can be mitigated.
Whatley quarry is already well screened and the proposed extension areas would not be visible from outside of the site.
Updated restoration plans would still see the excavated void filled with water to create a deep lake, as well as the creation of a mosaic of habitats such as woodland, scrub, grassland and wetland suitable for dormice, bats, otters, wildfowl and invertebrates.
Help shape our plans
Our pre-application consultation will run for four weeks from 00:01 Thursday 01 October until 23:59 Saturday 31 October 2026.
During this period we are holding three public drop-in events where members of our team and specialist consultants will be on hand to answer your questions. Please join us on:
Tuesday 06 October 2026 between 15:00 and 20:30 at:
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Chantry BA11 3LJ
Thursday 08 October 2026 between 15:00 and 20:30 at:
Nunney Village Hall, Berry Hill, Nunney BA11 4NR
Thursday 15 October 2026 between 15:00 and 20:30 at:
Mells Tithe Barn, Selwood Road, Mells BA11 3PN
We are also holding an online event on Tuesday 20 October 2026 between 19:00 and 20:00. To register to attend, please complete the form alongside.
To register to attend our online pre-application event on Tuesday 20 October 2026 between 19:00 and 20:00, please supply the following information:
An email will be sent to the email address provided by 19 October with a link to the online event, which is being held via Microsoft Teams.
Next steps
We will review the feedback we receive on our current plans from local people and other stakeholders, and use this to help inform our final proposals.
We will then submit our planning application to Somerset Council (SC), which will consult with statutory bodies and invite comments from residents before making its decision.
If approved, our proposals would secure the future of Whatley quarry for the next three decades.
Having your say
Your feedback is important to us and will help shape our final plans. You can provide this at one of the in-person events, or via this website once the consultation window opens on 01 October 2026.