DeLank granite kerbs from Cornwall have been laid in the City of London again after having lost out to cheaper Chinese granite on projects for the past few years.

Adrian Phillips, who owns DeLank quarry, says the City has discovered when it has carried out roadworks that DeLank granite laid 30 or 40 years ago is in better condition than Chinese granite laid only five or six years ago.“The quality and strength of DeLank pays dividends,” says Adrian.

You will be able to see DeLank granite on Adrian’s stand at the Natural Stone Show (ExCeL London 30 April-2 May) alongside the stone from another side of Adrian’s business, Black Mountain Quarries on the English/Welsh border in Herefordshire. The stone on show will include a Yorkstone. “We have found a nice source of it that’s doing very well,” says Adrian.

Cornish granite is certainly not the only stone from the British Isles that is used by hard landscapers. In fact, many of the suppliers of indigenous stones report that demand has held up well since the downturn began in the final quarter of 2007.

If clients and designers are looking more to indigenous stone for their projects their decisions have, no doubt, been influenced by a 50% increase in the average price of imports between 2005 and 2011.

The popularity of indigenous stones was clearly evident at the Natural Stone Awards, presented at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London at the end of November. Three of the four projects honoured, including the Award winner itself, used stone from the British Isles.

There is more about hard landscaping in the current issue of Natural Stone Specialist magazine.