Context

CED Stone supplied 400 tonnes of Slabby sandstone for seating and paving at the Green Heart project, part of a major transformation of Nottingham's 20-acre Broad Marsh. This £4bn regeneration programme, developed by world-renowned Heatherwick Studios, could see over 1000 new homes, around 2500 new jobs and a new public realm developed.

The regeneration programme has already seen the development of a new Central Library, Bus station and Nottingham College City Hub, and work is currently underway to create the new wildlife-rich Green Heart.

Project detail


The design of Green Heart has been developed by Townshend Landscape Architects and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, with Heatherwick Studio retained as a strategic design advisor. Contractor Willmott Dixon is carrying out the construction work and Ares Landscape Architects will completing the design on its behalf.

Once home to a large shopping centre, this football pitch-sized area is being converted into urban wetlands, which will have many biodiversity benefits and a range of diverse natural spaces featuring a variety of trees and plants providing habitats and food for wildlife.


The design will also see several footpaths created, with sandstone specified for paving and seating. Mimicking the feel of Nottingham's famous caves, these sandstone seating features are intended to capture the history of Nottingham and will provide opportunity for the community to pause, relax and enjoy this great new urban based green space with family and friends.

Work undertaken

CED Stone Landscape - Midlands Depot has been charged with sourcing and suppling sandstone for the project.

Contractors Wilmott Dixon, who demolished the old shopping centre on-site in 2022, first contacted CED Stone in July 2023.

Karl Topliss, Principal Estimator for Willmott Dixon, spoke with CED's Sales Development Manager, Terry Saxton, about the project and sent provisional plans and a list of questions requiring answers before their design team meeting.

The following month, Karl visited the Langley Mill Depot to view the stock of Slabby Sandstone blocks.


The stone was approved, and after further discussion regarding weights, dimensions, deliveries, etc, a quote for 400 tonnes of Slabby Sandstone was sent and accepted.

Sourcing the stone has had its challenges, especially throughout the winter months but CED has completed delivery of several of the loads on order.