The quarry will provide Breedon with an interest in 3.4 million tonnes of strategically important high ‘polished stone value’ aggregates.

Sources of high (+68) PSV aggregates are very scarce and Tan-y-Foel has some of the highest quality reserves in the country.

High PSV stone has a high skid resistance and is therefore in great demand for surfacing roads with heavy traffic flows.

The deal to buy the stake in H V Bowen includes its interest in a ready-mixed concrete plant.

The business will continue to trade as H V Bowen and will be jointly managed by Breedon Aggregates England Limited and the Bowen family, who have owned and operated the quarry for more than 70 years.

Breedon already owns a sand and gravel quarry near Mold in North Wales and the joint venture with H V Bowen expands the company’s operations into mid-Wales for the first time.

Tim Hall, chief executive of Breedon Aggregates England, said: “We’re pleased to have secured access to some of the highest quality PSV stone in the country, which will provide a ready supply of this key aggregate to our asphalt plants.

“It will also enable us to extend our reach into an important new market for aggregates and readymix.”