Construction materials provider Breedon Group plc has announced a £4 million investment in a new asphalt plant in Northumberland, in response to growing demand from customers across the region.
The new plant at Cragmill Quarry in Belford brings asphalt production back to the site for the first time in more than a decade, replacing a previous plant that had been decommissioned by the quarry’s former operator.
The works, which took place over a 12-month period, involved demolishing the original plant, reconfiguring the site and constructing a modern new facility.
Following initial accreditation, the plant is now fully operational and expects to produce 50,000 tonnes of asphalt per year. The plant has been designed to manufacture a full suite of asphalt materials, including Breedon Performance Asphalt.The new facility runs on LPG for a cleaner fuel burn and reduced carbon output, as well as being WMA and RAP-enabled, allowing Recycled Asphalt Planings (RAP) recovered from existing roads to be incorporated into new asphalt mixes.
It also has 120 tonnes worth of mixed material storage allowing quicker turnaround of materials for our customers and reduced waiting time at the plant for our haulage.
James Macintosh, Area Director at Breedon, said:
“Bringing asphalt production back to Cragmill significantly strengthens our ability to supply customers across Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, giving us greater capacity and flexibility in this part of the region.
“The location means we can provide a strong service to customers, while also supporting our Surfacing Solutions teams with the materials they need to deliver projects across the region.”
“Importantly, the new plant also gives us room to scale. We can increase production as demand grows and continue to broaden the range of materials available from Cragmill over time.”
The new plant will serve customers across Northumberland, extending south towards Newcastle and north into the Scottish Borders. With both collection and delivery available, alongside the capability to operate 24/7, the facility will provide greater flexibility and product availability for customers across the region.
(Picture: Breedon Group)
