Albion boss slams use of French stone
Michael Poultney, the managing director of Portland limestone producers Albion Stone Quarries, has criticised developers and planners for choosing French limestone for the £40million refurbishment of a listed building in a conservation area in London.
The retained facade of the King\'s College building in Manwrefa Road that is being converted into apartments is Portland stone and the original plans included proposals for Portland stone to be used elsewhere in the project. But now the developers have submitted a proposal to use French Anstrude limestone and it has been accepted by the planning officer.
"The Symonds report was launched at the same time as we heard about this," says Michael Poultney.The Symonds report (see page 5) calls for traditional building stone quarries to be kept available for building restoration and conservation, but, says Albion\'s managing director, if that is going to work planners will have to insist on the use of stone that matches the original for projects like the King\'s College building.
"What\'s the point of the Symonds report if all we are going to do is use the cheapest stone we can get our hands on?" he asks.