Defining study areas
This produces a total study area of 738.114 km2 (including buffered areas) or 34% of the combined areas of Warwickshire and Solihull.
This layer was then divided up to create study areas based upon the topography and geology of the county.
Study Area
- Industrial Arden (red) – The ridge running beneath Nuneaton quarried for igneous rocks that are crushed for high-quality aggregates.
- Anker (orange/yellow) – The valley of the River Anker in the north of the county containing river sand and gravel.
- High Cross Plateau (yellow) – The high undulating area between Rugby and Nuneaton, exploited in a few areas for glacial sand and gravel.
- Dunsmore/Upper Avon (green) – The valleys of the Avon and the Leam with river deposits and glacial deposits on the higher ground surrounding them that have been and are being extensively exploited.
- Feldon (pale pink) – The southeastern part of the county between the Avon and the Cotswolds with minor deposits of glacial sand and gravel.
- Cotswold Edge (brown) – The scarp slope of the Cotswolds where ironstone outcrops. Very minor significance in terms of aggregates production.
- Stour (teal) – The valley of the River Stour, with deposits of river sand and gravel.
- Lower Avon (blue/green) – The valley of the Avon below Warwick, exploited for river sand and gravel.
- Arrow/Alne (turquoise) – The valleys of the Arrow and the Alne rivers. There has been no significant exploitation of the river sand and gravel here.
- Central Arden (lavender) – A large area of higher ground consisting of glacial deposits running from Kenilworth to Solihull and almost as far south as Stratford. Exploitation has always been small scale.
- Eastern Arden (rose pink) – Isolated patches of sand and gravel around eastern and northern Coventry.
- Blythe/Tame (mauve) – This area runs north between Solihull and Coventry towards Tamworth. There has been extensive exploitation of sand and gravel from Meriden in the south to Middleton Hall in the north.