Client: Blaenau Gwent Council
Type of works: supplied a bespoke six-metre diameter compass

In addition, the company has also supplied 3600m2 of assorted pennant stone paving and various masonry details, including 100Lm of coping, six circular portholes and a dimensioned band course for the wall feature on Church Street.

Designed by Graham Jones, from Blaenau Gwent Council, the compass was created using a combination of materials. Forest Pennant’s mixed colour and blue pennant sandstone formed the radial bands and central seating feature, whilst contrasting black and white granite created the North and South points. The compass is completed with stainless steel detailing.

Chris Griffin, projects manager at Forest Pennant, finalised the initial design, creating a working scheme. The individual elements were then cut using a water-jet cutting machine, with the finishing and final assembly of the composite pieces carried out by the Forest Pennant works and masonry teams.

Blaenau Gwent Council, working in partnership with contractors Jim Davies Civil Engineering Ltd, specified Pennant sandstone for the Church Street pedestrianised zones and features. As one of only two indigenous Pennant sources in the UK, Forest Pennant was appointed as sole supplier due to the company’s ability and commitment to supply within a guaranteed project timeframe.

Commenting on the scheme, Blaenau Gwent Council said:

“Having worked with Forest Pennant on the Ebbw Vale linkages scheme we had no doubt that they would deliver a high quality, complementary paving product, but the compass has exceeded our expectation, creating a real feature for the town.”

Nick Horton, Forest Pennant managing director, said:

“Church Street has given us the opportunity to not only once again prove our ability as a reliable and efficient natural stone supplier but also showcase our skill and expertise as a masonry specialist. We are very pleased to continue our support of the regeneration of Ebbw Vale, while also promoting green, British products.”

Forest Pennant is the first, specialist masonry company in the UK to generate its own ‘green electricity,’ after installing a micro hydro generation turbine at its works. The company’s Royal Forest Pennant sandstone is now considered to be one of the lowest carbon rated natural stone products in the UK. As a result, the company has achieved PAS 2050 certification – the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.

The transformation of Church Street forms part of a major, £12.2 million regeneration scheme to revitalise Ebbw Vale town centre, with funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Targeted Match Fund and the Heads of the Valleys programme through the Welsh Assembly Government. Blaenau Gwent Council and private sources have provided over £1 million of funding.