History
The site lies just north of Washington village and outside the SDNP (South Downs National Park). To the East are historic landfill sites, which are now in aftercare and restoration.
Rock Common was originally part of Green Farm and grazed with sheep. From the 1920’s it has been quarried for sand and has produced some of the best building sand in the county.
Over the years the landscape of Rock Common, and the surrounding area, has changed dramatically. This has left a large hole with about 7.3million m3 of air space. Dudman Ltd have been quarrying the sand since 2011 but the sand reserves are now coming to an end and the future of the site is a priority focus for Wiston Estate.
2004 TARMAC RESTORATION PROPOSAL
This was created to satisfy planning permission for their quarrying work but is not possible to instigate because of the next door landfill site.
Tarmac Restoration Plan
“If the pumps are turned off within Rock Common Quarry, the groundwater may rise in to the landfill. This could cause pollution of the important water resource in this area.”
Environment Agency
Even if the water levels were able to rise, the Tarmac proposal would leave a very deep, cold lake with steep sides and very little species habitat or diversity.
timeline
may 2014
We first talked with Parish Councillors about the restoration of Rock Common in May 2014.
february 2015
After an invitation in the parish magazine we met with interested locals in the Village Hall. There was some concern about leaving a “blank canvas” for future development and several people asked what Wiston Estate’s vision for Rock Common was.
july 2017
This galvanised us to put together the Wiston Whole Estate Plan with the restoration of Rock Common as a core part of it. This plan was endorsed by the South Downs National Park Authority in July 2017.
December 2020
We re-engaged with the Parish Council to introduce the updated plans for restoring Rock Common.