UKCSA "Excellence in the use of Cast Stone" competition

The UKCSA 2016 “Excellence in the use of Cast Stone” competition is open to entries from cast stone manufacturing Full Members of the UK Cast Stone Association, for projects that have used the Members’ own cast stone. Further details on the project entries, and further images, may be seen on the Projects pages of the UKCSA web site.

Everyone, apart from the UKCSA Full Members, can vote for their favourite project in each of the Six Awards Categories, but may only vote on one occasion. Any subsequent votes will be discounted. All voters will be entered into a prize draw to win champagne to celebrate the Association's 25th Anniversary with us.
All votes must be submitted by 5.30pm on Thursday 31st March 2016, and votes must be submitted on the official UKCSA form at www.ukcsa.co.uk/projects/UKCSA-awards-2016.php.

All Winners will be announced at the UKCSA 25th Anniversary AGM, to be held on Wednesday 13th April 2016, at the Kilworth Springs Golf Club, North Kilworth, Leicestershire LE17 6HJ.

Cast Stone at Tate Britain

Inspired by a Barbara Hepworth textile design, the concept for this unique modular design comes from Rosie Irving, who involved United Kingdom Cast Stone Association member Haddonstone to transformed the design into a three dimensional cast stone form for use initially as part of the Chelsea Fringe, before being moved to a permanent display at Tate Britain.

The modular shapes have been cast by Haddonstone in their Portland and Slate TecStone cast stone colour finishes to create the contrasting black and white colours displayed in the original Barbara Hepworth textile design.
See the UKCSA web site projects pages for more details.

UKCSA Membership

As the United Kingdom Cast Stone Association approaches its 25th anniversary representing the leading UK cast stone manufacturers and as the guardian of quality for cast stone in the UK, it also continues to expand its range of quality companies who are involved in trades associated with the cast stone industry.
The Association is pleased to welcome to its ranks the latest UKCSA Associate Members, including:

cast stone installers and repairers Stone Synergy Ltd

material testing and UKAS accredited laboratory KIWA CMT Testing

and cast stone installers and repairers Surrey Stone Solutions Ltd

If you would like to find out about the benefits of being an UKCSA member and to join the United Kingdom Cast Stone Association, then please email UKCSA for further details and an application form.

New Telephone Number for UKCSA

0330 111 8876 is the new telephone number for the United Kingdom Cast Stone Association (UKCSA).  Please contact UKCSA if you require any information about cast stone or about the Members of the Cast Stone Association who produce quality cast stone to British Standard BS 1217 and the more onerous requirements of their membership of UKCSA. Alternatively, you can send UKCSA an email

Is your Cast Stone supplier still in business?

The latest eNewsletter from the UK Cast Stone Association features the stability of UKCSA manufacturing members in what has been a difficult time for UK business recently.  This is particularly relevent when apparently established cast stone manufacturing companies, who were not UKCSA members, have gone under recently.
     Was your cast stone supplier one of them?

Not if you purchase cast stone from an UKCSA member as UKCSA is not only the "Guardian of Quality" for cast stone, acting as the reference point for the industry, but its membership also consists of long established cast stone businesses that can survive financially whilst delivering exceptional customer service and product quality. The UKCSA members are quite simply the right sort of companies to do business with to protect your business' reputation and credibility.  Read the full article ...
Sign up to the regular UKCSA eNewsletter ...     Find UKCSA Members ...

CE Marking of Cast Stone

The UK is currently in a transition period from the Construction Products Directive (CPD) into the full introduction of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which becomes fully effective from 1st July 2013. At that time CE marking becomes mandatory for certain construction products which are covered by harmonised European standards.

The nature of cast stone products means there is absolutely no requirement for cast stone items to be CE marked. Indeed, it is impossible for cast stone products manufactured to BS 1217 to be CE marked under the CPR, and it would be illegal to do so under the current regulations.  Read more.....

House Building Changes

A recent EU consultation document proposal to introduce the 20% VAT rate on new build homes would be a disaster for the fragile UK housing market.

Thankfully, in response to the document a spokesman for the UK Treasury said: “The UK Government will not change the VAT zero-rating of new-build homes”.

Only about 130,000 homes were built across Britain last year – a historic low.  Any reduction in numbers would exacerbate the country’s housing crisis and damage the house building industry, and must be strongly resisted by the Government and the UK housing industry.

UK Cast Stone Association General Meeting

The 2012 Bi Annual General Meeting of the UK Cast Stone Association will be held on Thursday 8th November 2012 at the Forticrete offices, Anstone, Kiveton Park S26 6NP. All Cast Stone Association Members are welcome to attend the meeting, which commences at 10.00 am.

Cast Stone for Commercial and Retail Projects

The latest e-Newsletter from UK Cast Stone Association featured the use of Cast Stone on commercial and retail projects. Cast Stone is an incredibly versatile building material. Because it can be moulded into virtually any shape or size, it offers the designer outstanding flexibility for features and structural elements on all types of projects.

 Read more http://www.ukcsa.co.uk/commercial-retail-cast-stone.php

Cast Stone Meeting

A committee meeting of UK Cast Stone was held this week.  Thanks must go to Procter Bros in South Wales for hosting the meeting and their hospitality to fellow members of the cast stone industry.

Cast stone beats the double dip

Despite the double dip recession being driven by the largest fall in construction output for 3 years, there is no sign of contraction in the cast stone sector.  Indeed, cast stone produced steady growth throughout 2011, with output set to rise marginally in the first quarter of this year.  Read more

Cast Stone AGM

The 21st Annual General Meeting of the UK Cast Stone Association will be held on 28th March 2012 at Kilworth Springs Golf Club, Lutterworth. All Cast Stone Association Members are welcome to attend the meeting, which commences at 10.00 am

Cast Stone at Ecobuild

Ecobuild starts next week at ExCel and runs from Tuesday 20th March till Thursday 22nd March inclusive. Bring your cast stone queries and cast stone product requirements to the UK Cast Stone Association Stand S971 for all the answers to your cast stone questions.

UK Cast Stone Association at Ecobuild

The latest e-Newsletter from the UK Cast Stone Association featured UKCSA forthcoming attendance at the Ecobuild exhibition.  The Association will be on Stand S971 at Ecobuild from Tuesday 20th March until Thursday 22nd March, at ExCel in London.  The Cast Stone Association's stand will feature images of prestigious cast stone projects together with cast stone products from Member companies.  To ensure that you do not miss out on cast stone industry news, please contact UKCSA to receive future issues of the UKCSA e-Newsletter.

21 Years of UKCSA

In 2012 the UK Cast Stone Association celebrates 21 years of being the guardian of quality for cast stone in UK. Read more ... The 21st Annual General Meeeting of the Cast Stone Association will be held on 28th March at the Kilworth Springs Golf Club, nr Lutterworth.  The programme has not yet been finalised, but will include an update on UKCSA's attendance at the Ecobuild Exhibition, at ExCel, London and presentations by UKCSA Associate Members.

UKCSA e-Newsletter

The latest issue of the UKCSA e-Newsletter sent out this week, again 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.

UKCSA Executive Committee Meeting

A UK Cast Stone Association Executive Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th January 2012 at the Haddonstone offices in East Haddon, Northampton. Directions to the Haddonstone offices are available here.

Cast Stone in 2012

The UK Cast Stone Association would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  If you are thinking of using cast stone in 2012 then please visit the UKCSA web site first for information.

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....