Forest Pennant, best known for paving, has launched a new architectural walling range as an aesthetically pleasing and sustainable alternative to brick and concrete.

Due to precise manufacturing process and dimensional accuracy of manufacture by award-winning Forest of Dean Stone Firms, which makes the new Forest Pennant Architectural Walling, it can be easily used in cavity wall construction by a bricklayer, helping to reduce both the cost and timescale of using stone while retaining the look and prestige of the natural product.

Managing director of Forest Pennant, Nick Horton, says: “This expansion of our stone portfolio has already generated a healthy demand, with recent contracts including supply to a new-build NHS hospital project and a housing development.”

Available in the mixed, natural tones of Royal Forest Pennant sandstone (blue/grey through to grey/green) the range is complementary to both the built and natural environment. The 350million-year-old Carboniferous Pennant sandstone is hard wearing and durable.

The range includes quoins, internal returns and the full suite of window accessories – cills, heads and jambs.

Produced in three equal lengths, 225mm, 325mm and 425mm, the quarried Pennant sandstone blocks are split using a state-of-the-art four-blade splitter that means all the corners and arises are maintained.

Processed using the ‘green’ electricity generated by the company’s micro-hydroelectric generation turbine, Royal Forest Pennant sandstone is one of the lowest carbon rated natural stone products in the UK – and can prove it. The Forest Pennant carbon footprint has been certified under PAS 2050, the standard for ascertaining the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.