Cast Stone Christmas Greeting

The UK Cast Stone Association would like to wish all our readers, cast stone users and specifiers and the cast stone industry a happy Christmas & prosperous New Year.

UKCSA responds to Autumn Statement on BBC News

In a live BBC Wales news interview on 29 November , UKCSA chair Andy Cotton said that measures announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement didn’t go far enough to get construction moving again, nor to satisfy the huge pent-up demand for housing supply. Although Cotton welcomed the right to buy for social tenants and kick-starting some stalled projects, he said that a greater stimulus was required for the construction sector, which would lead to a shot in the arm for the economy. Cotton is managing director of UKCSA member PD Edenhall and the interview was broadcast live from the company’s factory at Risca, Newport. The company manufactures a range of quality cast stone, brick and precast products. Read more....

UKCSA Member gets Miliband’s seal of approval

When Labour leader Ed Miliband visited cast stone manufacturer Pennine Stone in his Doncaster constituency, he praised the company for investing in people and planning for the long-term. Pennine Stone, which increased its production by 40% this year, is a subsidiary of UKCSA member Haddonstone. Read more....

UKCSA e-Newsletter

The latest issue of the UKCSA e-Newsletter, sent out to subscribers today, featured the NHBC endorsement of the UKCSA standard for cast stone, read more, and an award winning project in Islington featuring cast stone supplied by Haddonstone group member Pennine Stone. If you would like to receive the regular UKCSA newsletter please sign up here.

NHBC Guidance on Cast Stone

Cast stone has again been recognised in NHBC Standards and the use of features made from cast stone should comply to BS217 or the higher standard adopted by members of the UKCSA. This latest guidance was issued in the October issue of Technical Extra, which the NHBC uses to communicate technical information to the industry Read more...

Cast stone contributes to award-winning conversion.

The quality of bespoke cast stone from UKCSA member Procter Cast Stone has made a significant contribution to the conversion and restoration of a Grade II- listed Victorian former hospital into 130 homes. Read more.

UKCSA Bi Annual General Meeting

Today's Bi Annual General Meeting of the Association, held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, lived up to pre-meeting expectation.  The meeting was well attended, with informative presentations by PJA, Barbour ABI and Christeyns.  One new cast stone company application for Full manufacturing membership was reported at the meeting with a second application expected to follow.  We were looked after extremely well by the venue staff and complimentary entry to the museum was included for all. If you would like to join the UK Cast Stone Association, either as a Full manufacturing member, or as an Associate member involved in the cast stone industry, then further details can be found here UKCSA Membership details

UKCSA Membership

This year's Bi Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held on Monday 7th November at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, and promises to be a well attended meeting.  A number of non-Members will be in attendance to consider joining the national trade association for the cast stone industry. If you would like to join the UK Cast Stone Association, either as a Full manufacturing member, or as an Associate member involved in the cast stone industry, then further details can be found here UKCSA Membership details

UKCSA e-Newsletter

The latest issue of the UKCSA e-Newsletter highlighted choice projects in cast stone.  If you would like to receive the regular UKCSA newsletter please sign up here.

New House Building

Latest statistics from the NHBC indicate that there were 103,100 new housing starts in the UK in the last 12 months, compared to 111,500 for the preceding 12 month period.  However, and more encouragingly, new site starts in September at 1040 were almost twice as high as had been recorded in recent months. 
Cast stone is finding a growing market with house builders and self-builders who want their properties to stand out. There’s a simple reason why. Cast stone offers class at an affordable price. The material adds kerb appeal, saleability and provides a close match to quarried natural stone at a fraction of the cost. Read more.

Cast Stone projects.

Further details of projects featuring cast stone have recently been added to the "Projects" page of the UKCSA web site at http://www.ukcsa.co.uk/projects2.php

Building homes is the only solution to housing crisis.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has indicated that we need to be building more than 200,000 new homes each year to resolve the current UK housing shortage, in an interview on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

He outlined the Government's three pronged approach to stimulate house building, including extending right to buy, releasing Government land for house building and reforming the planning system, stating "Over all you have to get all things working in tandem, there is not one single thing you can do to solve a housing crisis that has been building up over years and years." He went on to say that the Government would be "putting out a housing strategy next month and we're going to talk a lot more about those things in that as well."

Award winning cast stone on Scarborough Spa restoration

UKCSA member Haddonstone has won a prestigious Green Apple Gold Award for their supply of an intricately detailed cast stone parapet to replace damaged stonework around the ballroom of this Victorian building. Read more

Ecobuild Exhibition

See the UK Cast Stone Association (UKCSA) on Stand S159 at the Ecobuild Exhibition at Excel, London from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd March 2012.

UK Cast Stone Association General Meeting

ABI Barbour and Christeyns are confirmed for presentations in the afternoon session of the UKCSA General Meeting, which will be held on Monday 7th November 2011 at the National Motorcycle Museum, just off M42 Junction 6, between Coventry and the NEC directions available here.  All UKCSA Members are welcome to attend.

Cast stone on the Seafront

A prestigious development of 9 linked apartment blocks by the sea at Boscombe made extensive use of cast stone architectural details and ashlar masonry from UKCSA member Forticrete. Read more.

Striking elevations in cast stone ashlar masonry

The main building in a major redevelopment of Jordanhill School in Glasgow is clad in bespoke cast stone ashlar masonry from UKCSA member Plean Precast. Read more.

UK Cast Stone Association General Meeting

The next General Meeting of the UK Cast Stone Association will be held on Monday 7th November 2011 at the National Motorcycle Museum, just off M42 Junction 6, between Coventry and the NEC directions available here.  All UKCSA Members are welcome to attend.

UKCSA Executive Committee Meeting

An Executive Committee meeting of the UK Cast Stone Association will be held on Wednesday 14th September 2011 at the Haddonstone offices in East Haddon, Northampton. Directions to the Haddonstone offices are available here.

Timber frame housing industry hit by another major site fire.

Latest news from masonryfirst.com indicates that specialist timber frame builders have been dealt another body blow after it was revealed that a building site destroyed in a blaze last week used the technique.

Cast stone creates a dramatic entranceway.

The Girls’ Day School Trust approached UKCSA member Haddonstone to create a dramatic entranceway and rain screen cladding for the Rutherford Centre for the Performing Arts at Wimbledon High School.

UKCSA e-Newsletter

The latest issue of the UKCSA e-Newsletter highlighted the enhanced History of Cast Stone page on the UKCSA web site, and the updated UKCSA Technical Manual for Cast Stone page.  If you would like to receive the regular UKCSA newsletter please sign up here.

History of Cast Stone

More information on the history of cast stone has been added to the UKCSA web site

Cast stone makes an entrance

A purpose built residential and retirement home in the Cotswolds has been finished with a range of bespoke architectural dressings from UKCSA member Bradstone.

Hanover Lodge, Regents Park, London

Ideal for ornate detailing, cast stone has been used to striking effect for the restoration of one of London’s grandest homes, the Nash-designed Hanover Lodge and its twin gatehouses in Regents Park.

Monthly Cast Stone Newsletter

If you would like to receive UKCSA's monthly newsletter, covering all aspects of cast stone, then please sign up here!

An Attractive Alternative to Quarried Stone

UKCSA's latest Newsletter indicates that Cast Stone is a familiar and much-used alternative to expensive quarried stone profiles and finishes.  Find out why its classical details are increasingly used to enhance entrances, openings and gables A Viable Alternative to Natural Stone

Newmarket Street Environmental Improvements, Derry

Cast stone walling from UKCSA member Haddonstone has been extensively used in conjunction with local granite, for walling stones to the Rialto Theatre shopping complex and Newmarket Street improvements in Derry, Northern Ireland. Read more

Academy School, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Cast stone is proving itself a material of choice for the new generation of schools. UKCSA member Forticrete supplied special curved ashlar blocks and bespoke lintels for the imposing main entrance to the Newcastle Excelsior Academy.

UKCSA Executive Committee meeting

An Executive Committee meeting of the Association will be held on Wednesday 15th June 2011 at the Pennine Stone offices in Carcroft, Doncaster. Directions to the Pennine Stone offices are available here.

Howard Theatre, Cambridge College

A magnificent Doric colonnade has been created in cast stone by UKCSA member Plean Precast for the main elevation of the new Howard Theatre, the recent addition to the late-Georgian classical campus at Downing College, Cambridge. Read more

Housing Forum

The UK Cast Stone Association (UKCSA) congratulate Mike Leonard on being elected to the Board of the Housing Forum, a significant endorsement of his contribution to the housing industry both public and private.

UKCSA supports the "Plan B" campaign

The UK Cast Stone Association is pleased to support Get Britain Building's "Plan B" campaign. Read more

Cast stone in historic building

Haddonstone provided custom cladding in its wet cast TecStone material for the well-known Grade II* listed Brick Lane Mosque as a base for its iconic minaret. The name of the mosque, Brick Lane Jamme Majid, was also cast in to the stonework

Artificial or Natural Stone?

Landscape Show, Olympia, London
Simon Scott from UKCSA member Haddonstone was recently invited to speak at the Landscape Show at Olympia, the brand new trade exhibition for all those involved with interior & exterior landscaping and landscape gardening.
Simon Scott spoke at one of the Landscape Show's daily seminars, on the subject of:
"Artificial or Natural Stone?" The effective use of ornament in the landscape and how artificial materials can replace natural to great effect."

Elegant elevations in cast stone

Cast stone ashlar masonry from UKCSA member Forticrete provides a prominent feature at the new Red Lion Quarter development in the Lincolnshire market town of Spalding.

Cast Stone recreates Georgian streetscape.

An award-winning small development of Georgian-style townhouses in a Grade II-listed streetscape features bespoke cast stone door surrounds, cills, heads and copings at roof level from Pennine Stone Ltd, a subsidiary of UKCSA member Haddonstone Read more.

Cast Stone or Natural Stone?

Cast stone has been a familiar and much-used alternative to carved natural stone in the UK since Georgian times. It evokes a sense of timelessness which fits in with any form of massive construction. Read more.

NHBC award winning site

Bill Wilson from Arley Homes was the 2010 NHBC North West regional award winner in the small builder category for his site at Churchfields, Bolton, with cast stone supplied by Pennine Stone Ltd, a subsidiary of UKCSA member Haddonstone. NHBC Award Winning Site

NHBC award winning site

David Bullock of Persimmon Homes East Wales scooped the NHBC large development category for his site at Wyncliffe Gardens, Pentwyn, Cardiff, with cast stone supplied by Pennine Stone Ltd, a subsidiary of UKCSA member Haddonstone.

5-star finish in cast stone

A new 5-star resort destination near Darlington has been finished in a range of high quality cast stone details from UKCSA member Woodside Cast Stone.  Read more.

Technical Manual for Cast Stone

The new updated and extended UKCSA Technical Manual for Cast Stone, considering some of the key technical aspects of cast stone standards, manufacture, design and use, is now available on UKCSA Technical Manual for Cast Stone

Mixed Use Development, Witney

An award-winning development in the thriving Oxfordshire town of Witney has made extensive use of cast stone dressings from UKCSA member Forticrete. Read more.

Cast Stone Ecodesign

UKCSA members are leading the way with innovative products in cast stone for  sustainable environmental design.

20 Years of the UKCSA

The inaugural meeting of the United Kingdom Cast Stone Association (UKCSA) was held on 20th February 1991 ..... for more information about the history of UKCSA see http://www.ukcsa.co.uk/about-us.php

UKCSA Technical Manual

The UK Cast Stone Association (UKCSA) have almost completed the new version of their Technical Manual for cast stone, which will replace the existing edition.