1934 Machinery installed for the excavation and crushing at Blackhill, Woodbury Common
1934 J&C Bent Ltd acquired Rockbeare Quarry
1947 Permission granted to continue working Rockbeare
1947 Permission granted to continue working Rockbeare
1948 Permission granted to continue working Blackhill
1949 Permission granted to work Foxenhole, West Hill
1957 Permission granted for extension of working at Blackhill
1957 ECC (English China Clays) bought Rockbeare Quarry
1962 Permission granted to work Beggars Roost, Rockbeare
1962 Permission granted to work Beggars Roost, Rockbeare
1963 ECC bought Blackhill Quarry
1963 East Devon AONB designated
1965 Permission granted to work Venn Ottery
1965 ECC purchased Straitgate Farm from Escot Estate; mineral rights already owned
1965 ECC purchased Straitgate Farm from Escot Estate; mineral rights already owned
1967 Planning permission submitted to quarry Straitgate
1968 Public Inquiry to determine Straitgate, Blackhill and Colaton Raleigh applications
1969 Minister accepted Inspector's conclusions and permission to quarry Straitgate refused
1975 Planning application to extend quarrying at Foxenhole
1976 ECC purchased further mineral rights from Escot for 1000s of acres of surrounding land
1968 Public Inquiry to determine Straitgate, Blackhill and Colaton Raleigh applications
1969 Minister accepted Inspector's conclusions and permission to quarry Straitgate refused
1975 Planning application to extend quarrying at Foxenhole
1976 ECC purchased further mineral rights from Escot for 1000s of acres of surrounding land
1979 Straitgate designated a Mineral Consultation Area by DCC in Minerals Plan
1990 Boreholes drilled by ECC at Straitgate
1994 ECC demerged aggregate interests into CAMAS Aggregates
1995 Permission granted to work Marshbroadmoor
1996 Quarrying ceased at Foxenhole
1996 Quarrying ceased at Foxenhole
1997 Bardon Group and CAMAS merged to form Aggregate Industries (AI)
1998 East Devon Pebblebed Heaths designated SPA and cSAC
1998 East Devon Pebblebed Heaths designated SPA and cSAC
1999 Modification orders served by DCC to restrict workings of quarry at Blackhill
2000 Processing plant removed from Rockbeare
2002 DCC Minerals Local Plan Public Inquiry
2002 Permission granted to quarry Thorn Tree Plantation, Blackhill
2002 Compensation paid by DCC (reimbursed by DEFRA) to AI for Blackhill modifications
2003 Further compensation paid by DCC (reimbursed by DEFRA) to AI for Blackhill modifications
2003 Straitgate removed from Minerals Local Plan
2004 New Minerals Local Plan to 2011 adopted
2007 Permission granted to infill disused lagoon at Rockbeare
2008 AI’s plans to move plant from Blackhill to Houndaller, Uffculme, put on hold; Hillhead mothballed
2008 Permission granted to process Marshbroadmoor material at Blackhill to '09; previously at Hillhead
2009 Quarrying ceased at Thorn Tree Plantation
2010 DCC ‘call for sites’; Straitgate proposed by AI for future sand and gravel supply
2011 Permission granted to process Venn Ottery and remaining Marshbroadmoor material at Blackhill
2011 AI recommenced quarrying at Venn Ottery
2012 DCC proposed Straitgate as Preferred Site for sand and gravel extraction; Public Consultation
2012 AI dug test pits and drilled boreholes at Straitgate
2013 AI started monitoring groundwater levels and performed ecological surveys at Straitgate
2012 DCC proposed Straitgate as Preferred Site for sand and gravel extraction; Public Consultation
2012 AI dug test pits and drilled boreholes at Straitgate
2013 AI started monitoring groundwater levels and performed ecological surveys at Straitgate
2014 AI continued to monitor groundwater levels and stream flows at and around Straitgate
2014 Archaeological trenches at Straitgate revealed Iron Age and Roman remains
2014 Quarrying ceased at Marshbroadmoor
2018 AI continued to monitor groundwater levels and stream flows at and around Straitgate2014 Archaeological trenches at Straitgate revealed Iron Age and Roman remains
2014 Quarrying ceased at Marshbroadmoor
2015 AI continued to monitor groundwater levels and stream flows at and around Straitgate
2015 AI submitted planning applications to quarry Straitgate and extend processing at Blackhill
2015 DCC Minerals Plan pre-submission consultation
2015 AI submitted planning applications to quarry Straitgate and extend processing at Blackhill
2015 DCC Minerals Plan pre-submission consultation
2015 AI submitted planning application to process Hillhead material at Blackhill
2016 AI continued to monitor groundwater levels and stream flows at and around Straitgate
2016 AI withdrew planning applications for Straitgate and to extend processing at Blackhill
2016 AI withdrew planning applications for Straitgate and to extend processing at Blackhill
2016 Examination of draft DCC Minerals Plan
2016 Quarrying ceased at Venn Ottery
2016 Processing at Blackhill ended
2017 DCC Minerals Plan to 2033 formally adopted
2017 AI re-submitted planning application to quarry Straitgate, for processing at Hillhead
2017 AI drilled further boreholes at Straitgate for groundwater monitoring
2018 Blackhill processing plant reconstructed at Hillhead
2019 AI continued to monitor groundwater levels and stream flows at and around Straitgate2019 Revised restoration plans for Rockbeare and Marshbroadmoor approved
2020 AI submitted application for cattle crossing at Straitgate over B3174 to facilitate quarry plans
2021 AI's planning application for quarry at Straitgate still ongoing – click here for latest