Quarry company Gallagher, which supplies the only remaining source of commercially available Kentish Ragstone, has been named a Thames Estuary Visionary – one of nine businesses so far selected to be partners in the Thames Estuary development project.

The Thames Estuary project aims to unlock the Thames Estuary’s potential and generate good ‘green’ growth for the local area and the national economy.

Under the banner of ‘The Green Blue’, the development plan is backing initiatives such as using the river for freight and passenger transport, pioneering decarbonisation technologies and making green spaces accessible in order to boost tourism.

The Gallagher group is one of the South East’s leading civil engineering, quarrying, concrete and recycled aggregates businesses, as well as supplying Kentish Ragstone for walling and masonry for new build and renovation from its Hermitage Quarry near Maidstone in Kent.

Kentish Ragstone has been used as a building material since Roman times, and forms a distinctive feature of many of London’s historic buildings, including the Tower of London and London Wall.

Kate Willard OBE, who is an 'Estuary Envoy' for the Thames Estuary Development Project, says Gallagher has shown a long-term commitment to green growth and the local community and looks after the people and environment it works in. “I am very proud to welcome Gallagher Group as an Estuary Visionary,” she says.