Maidstone residents asked to have their say on quarry plan that could affect ancient woodland near Aylesford

Kent County Council is consulting on a draft minerals plan that includes a proposed extension to Hermitage Quarry, raising concern about the future of Oaken Wood.

Residents in Maidstone — particularly those around Aylesford, Barming and East Malling — are being asked to comment on a county council plan that could pave the way for a major quarry expansion on land close to ancient woodland. Kent County Council has published its Pre-Submission Draft Kent Mineral Sites Plan, and the most contested element is a proposed allocation of land south and west of Hermitage Quarry for the extraction of Kentish Ragstone, a hard rock used in construction and the repair of historic buildings.

The proposal would not grant permission for quarrying. It’s a planning policy step — meaning the land would be earmarked in principle, with any actual quarry work requiring a separate planning application and full environmental assessments before anything could happen on the ground. But that hasn’t stopped significant opposition forming around what the allocation could eventually lead to.

What is actually being proposed?

The draft plan identifies a site of about 96 hectares near Hermitage Quarry, of which up to around 49 hectares could potentially be worked. Kent County Council estimates the site holds about 23 million tonnes of mineral reserve. The county council says allocating the site addresses a projected shortfall in hard rock supply across Kent. Gallagher Aggregates, which operates Hermitage Quarry, argues the extension is the most realistic and sustainable way to meet those needs while making use of existing quarry infrastructure already on site.

Why opponents are worried

The concern centres on Oaken Wood, ancient woodland that sits adjacent to the proposed site. Conservation groups including CPRE Kent have urged people to object, arguing the proposal would damage ancient woodland, best and most versatile farmland, a local wildlife site, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, listed buildings, and air quality. Some campaign groups have claimed the scheme would affect more ancient woodland than major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing combined — though that figure remains a campaign estimate rather than a confirmed finding from an independent environmental assessment.

According to Kent County Council’s own documents, around 41 hectares of the proposed site has been identified as Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site — land that was once ancient woodland but was later planted with commercial trees. Whether that designation amounts to destruction of ancient woodland, or an opportunity for restoration, is one of the central arguments in this consultation.

How the county council voted

The draft plan was not adopted without a fight. Councillors voted 37 in favour, 31 against, and four abstained — a closer result than many county-level planning documents produce. That split reflects how divisive the Hermitage allocation has become, even within the chamber.

What both sides say

Kent County Council’s position is that the allocation is the right policy response to a long-term supply problem. Without a secured source of Kentish Ragstone, the council says, the county faces a shortfall in the hard rock needed both for new construction and for maintaining historic buildings that rely on the local stone. Gallagher Aggregates backs that case, pointing to the efficiency of expanding an existing operation rather than opening an entirely new site.

But CPRE Kent and local conservation voices say the environmental cost is too high. They argue the plan would put irreplaceable habitats at risk at a time when ancient woodland is already under pressure, and that the county council has not adequately weighed those losses against the mineral supply benefits.

What happens next

Maidstone Borough Council posted about the consultation this week, noting that the land “may impact Oaken Wood” and encouraging residents to get involved. The consultation is the formal pre-submission stage — responses submitted now will be considered before the plan is sent to a government-appointed planning inspector for examination. If the plan is eventually adopted and the site allocated, a quarry operator would still need to apply for planning permission separately; no works on the ground are authorised at this stage.

Key information

• Consultation open: 30 July to 10 September 2026 — note that Maidstone Borough Council’s post refers to 11 September, so check the Kent County Council website directly to confirm the closing date before you submit
• Who can respond: Any resident, organisation or business — responses are submitted via the Kent County Council consultation portal
• Areas most affected: Aylesford, Barming and East Malling are closest to the proposed site
• What this is not: A planning application — no quarrying can take place unless a separate application is submitted and approved after further consultation