Hanson Building Products has changed its company name to Forterra following the sale of the business earlier in the year by Heidelberg Cement. But just so there is no confusion about it, Hanson Bath & Portland, which mines Bath stone and has a masonry works in Bristol, remains part of Heidelberg Cement and will continue to be called Hanson Bath & Portland.

Hanson Bath & Portland is losing its access to Hartham Park Bath stone mine at the start of next year because the owner has terminated the contract with Hanson. Lovell Stone Group based at Purbeck in Dorset is taking the operation, saying it will minimise any disruption in production of Hartham Park Bath stone.

Bath &Portland says it intends to open a new portal to the Hartham Park underground working but a bat survey is delaying the planning application to do so. In order to continue to be able to supply Bath stone, Hanson Bath & Portland plans to re-open Monkls Park Bath stone -underground quarry – you can read more about that plan in the November issue of Natural Stone Specialist magazine.

The new name for Hanson Building Products comes from its new owner. Forterra operates in North America and the United Kingdom making a diverse range of concrete and clay building products with UK brands such as Thermalite blocks, Red Bank chimney, roofing and flue systems, Jetfloor and Formpave permeable paving.

Forterra employs approximately 5,000 people, 1,600 of them in the UK at 18 manufacturing facilities and at its new head office in Northampton.