Peak District cement works putting £61 million into economy

The updated economic impact assessment report was commissioned from globalman agement, engineering and development consultancy Mott Macdonald by leading construction materials group Breedon for its Hope site, in the heart of the Peak District National Park.

Its aim was to establish how much the Works contributes both financially and in terms of employment to the park’s economy.

The works supported 270 jobs and contributed £61 million to the local economy and accounting for seven per cent of the park’s total economic output and 1.8 per cent of its total employment.

This represents an increase of 15 per cent from 2017, when the works contributed £53 million, and more than 35 per cent more from 2013, the year for which Mott Macdonald produced its first report, when the works contributed around £45 million, with roughly the same number of direct employees.

In 2018, Hope Cement Works supported more than 60 additional jobs from those indirect and induced impacts, contributing another £2.1 million to the local economy.

Hope’s cement works has manufactured cement for more than 90 years and has a long tradition of actively engaging with the local community through its many social and communal activities.

These include access for local residents to the Hope Works estate and the Earles Sports and Social Club as well as on-site open days and tours and a range of local business and community partnerships.

Taking into account the monitising of rental savings, volunteer time and charitable donations and sponsorships, the Hope site invested the equivalent of more than £160,000 in the community in 2018.

This supported two additional jobs within the park and contributed a further £60,000 to the local economy.

Ed Cavanagh, works manager at the Hope site, said: “It is gratifying to see the healthy increase in our contribution to the local economy over the past few years.

"We’re very proud of the part we play in the lives and employment of people in the Peak District National Park.”