Havering Residents Stand United To Fight Plans Against A New Rainham Quarry.

A large quarry has been proposed near Upminster, raising serious concerns among residents about the potential impact on their health, homes and local environment. Campaigners argue that the development could bring years of heavy lorry traffic, noise and dust to the area, with fears that fine particles from excavation may affect air quality. There are also worries about increased congestion on nearby roads and the effect long-term industrial activity could have on local wildlife and surrounding green spaces. Residents say the project would permanently alter the character of the area and leave them living with the consequences for decades.

Residents across Havering have now united against this proposal to form Havering Alliance. The team spoke with the Havering Daily, sharing their serious concerns.

Proposals.

To extract up to two million tonnes of sand and gravel from Rainham Lodge Farm, a 55-hectare agricultural site west of Berwick Pond Road, between Hornchurch, Rainham and Upminster in Havering. The proposed operation, with planning application reference P1251.24, would last approximately 15 to 20 years and involves significant controversy and public opposition. 

This borders Hornchurch Country Park, the River Ingrebourne, as well as homes, schools and businesses in Hornchurch, Upminster, Rainham and Elm Park. People in our community live only metres away from the proposed site and the St George’s Wellbeing Hub and local schools and nurseries are just hundreds of meters away. Havering Alliance believe the impacts will be enormous on local communities and felt much further afield across Havering too.

Havering is one of four London boroughs designated by the government to supply quarried sand and gravel, and for many years it has provided the majority of material from these areas. After decades of quarrying within just a few miles of our community, why should we accept plans to extend this activity for another 20 years—especially when the new operations are proposed much closer to our vibrant suburban neighbourhoods and precious nature reserves? 

Impact across Havering: 

Havering Alliance shared just how this proposal could impact the borough.

The Brett Rainham Farm quarry proposal could affect wider Havering through a range of environmental, infrastructural, and community impacts. Increased HGV traffic, potentially 100 movements per day would put pressure on the borough’s wider road network, contributing to congestion, road wear, and higher accident risk on key commuter and rural routes. Air quality could be affected across a broader area, as dust and diesel emissions disperse, impacting residents’ health, particularly in sensitive populations such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. This could, in turn, place additional demand on local health services, including general practitioners, hospitals, and emergency care, to manage respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, and other pollution-related health conditions. Noise pollution from quarry operations and vehicle movements could extend into neighbouring neighbourhoods, affecting quality of life. The proposal may also place cumulative pressure on water resources, drainage systems, and the hydrology of wetlands and rivers, potentially influencing ecological sites beyond the immediate quarry footprint. Finally, the visual intrusion and industrialisation of the landscape could reduce amenity value and recreation opportunities in publicly accessible areas across Havering, including parks, walking routes, and heritage sites, altering the character of the borough more widely.

Impact broken down: 

• Estimated 114 HGV movements (lorries) per day on narrow local country roads, 7am-6pm workdays as well as Saturday hours too – increasing congestion and the risk of accidents. Large, heavy vehicles increase the risk of collisions on narrow rural roads, particularly at bends, junctions, and areas with limited visibility. They also generate substantial noise and vibration, which can disturb residents, wildlife, and livestock, and may damage road surfaces and verges over time, leading to increased maintenance needs. Diesel HGVs contribute to higher levels of air pollution, including NOx and particulate matter, posing health risks to people living nearby. Frequent heavy-vehicle traffic changes the rural character of the area, reduces the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists, and can negatively affect quality of life.
• Release of dust and fine particulate matter (PM10) which can cause serious long-term health issues (respiratory problems, heart conditions, cancer), particularly in vulnerable people, children and elderly. This is particularly a concern for Havering Alliance given the proximity of the site to Hornchurch Country Park, the St George’s resident estate and Wellbeing Health Hub. Sand and gravel quarries are generally much shallower than rock quarries. However, extracting sand releases micro-fine silica particles into the air, which can pose significant health risks. Particulate Matter (PM10) is so small that it behaves almost like a gas. When inhaled, these particles can penetrate deep into the lungs. Prolonged exposure to high levels of PM10 has been linked to a range of health effects, including coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, bronchitis, high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and premature death. Children, older adults, and people with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of elevated PM10 levels. Air quality is not specifically monitored around the existing quarry sites in Rainham, nor around the proposed new site near Berwick Pond Road, as monitoring efforts tend to focus more on emissions from road traffic. Health and environmental experts have identified several risks associated with long-term sand and gravel quarrying.
• Potential harm to local environment and ecology, including Ingrebourne Marshes SSSI and adjacent Hornchurch Country Park, a designated Local Nature Reserve. These areas support rare wetland species, breeding birds, and fragile ecosystems that depend on stable hydrology and low disturbance. Quarrying activities—particularly dewatering, ground excavation, vehicle movements, and airborne particulate emissions—could disrupt water tables, degrade air quality, and introduce sustained noise and vibration that may displace wildlife or damage breeding sites. Increased HGV traffic and dust deposition also threaten vegetation and invertebrate populations, which form the foundation of the marshes’ ecological network.

• General reduction in the quality of life, peace, and mental well-being for residents: Residents and businesses near the proposed quarry would likely experience significant blight and a general reduction in quality of life, peace, and mental well-being. Thousands of formal objections have already highlighted community concern, reflecting widespread anxiety about the project. Continuous noise from excavation machinery and frequent HGV movements would disrupt daily life, making outdoor activities, rest, and sleep difficult. The combined effects of industrial activity, dust, vibration, and traffic would create a persistent sense of disturbance, stress, and loss of amenity, significantly impacting the physical and mental health.

The team at Havering Alliance told the Havering Daily:

“Havering residents deserves to live in a safe, healthy, and green environment. The proposed quarry could have far-reaching impacts on Havering, from health, safety and amenity to our natural spaces and wildlife. Continuing quarrying so close to our community risks long-term harm and places a disproportionate burden on local residents and Havering’s environment. It’s time for decision-makers to fully consider the needs of the community alongside the desire to extract minerals.”

Kim Maiochi, local resident working with the Havering Alliance said:

“We moved to Havering because it is such a safe, green and quiet neighbourhood. It’s terrifying to think that could change with the building of this proposed quarry. The impact to residents across Havering is too much to ignore, and that is why I am objecting to this proposal and have signed the Stop the Quarry petition from Havering Alliance. I’m calling on our planning authority to protect our community, for them to keep our air clean and to prioritise our health, wellbeing and amenity, and to conserve our environment, wildlife and ecology because the abundance of green spaces is one of the things that makes Havering such a special place to live. 

Please see the petition link below:

http://www.change.org/StopHaveringQuarry

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