Date set for key legal hearing in the long-running dispute over the proposed Hamble Quarry development
Date set for key legal hearing in proposed Hamble Quarry development
A key legal hearing in the long-running dispute over the proposed Hamble Quarry development has been scheduled at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
The hearing, due to take place on Tuesday, June 16, forms part of a statutory review launched by opponents of the scheme following Cemex’s successful appeal against Hampshire County Council’s refusal of the quarry application in 2024.
The review is effectively a legal challenge by the Hamble Peninsular Residents’ Group against the Planning Inspector’s 2025 decision that overturned the previous refusal and allowed the quarry to proceed.
Campaigners say the court proceedings are limited in scope and will focus solely on whether the Planning Inspector followed the correct legal process during the Cemex appeal hearing against the county council, which concluded in 2025.
“This is not an opportunity to introduce new evidence,” community representatives said in an update issued to residents.
“Any arguments or evidence should already have been raised during the original planning process.”
The proposed quarry development at Hamble Airfield has faced years of opposition from residents and local campaign groups, who have raised concerns over traffic, air quality, noise, environmental damage and the impact on nearby homes.
Hampshire County Council originally refused planning permission for the scheme in 2024 before Cemex successfully appealed the decision the following year.
The plans would allow the extraction of up to 1.7 million tonnes of sand and gravel over a period of around six to seven years. Local groups, including Hamble Parish Council and the Hamble Preservation Committee, have continued to challenge the project through the planning and legal process.
A decision is expected on the day of the hearing, although the exact timing will not be confirmed until the afternoon beforehand.
Campaigners outlined several possible outcomes following the ruling. If the group succeeds, Cemex could appeal the decision. If no further appeal is made, the case could return to the planning appeal stage, where a judge would decide which issues should be reconsidered.
If the challenge fails, campaigners would have one week to identify grounds for any further legal action. Should no further appeal be possible, the quarry development would proceed.
Campaigners also warned that, if approved, the quarry could place significant pressure on the local community and authorities responsible for monitoring the site’s planning conditions.