The regeneration of Ebbw Vale, South Wales, is heading in the right direction thanks to a bespoke six-metre diameter compass designed and supplied by stone specialist, Forest Pennant.

Commenting on the scheme, client, Blaenau Gwent Council said: “Having worked with Forest Pennant on the Ebbw Vale linkages scheme we had no doubt that they would deliver a high quality, complementary paving product, but the compass has exceeded our expectation, creating a real feature for the town.”

Designed by Graham Jones, from Blaenau Gwent Council, the compass was created using a combination of materials. Forest Pennant’s mixed colour and blue pennant sandstone formed the radial bands and central seating feature, whilst contrasting black and white granite created the North and South points. The compass is completed with stainless steel detailing.

Forest Pennant also supplied 3600m2 of assorted pennant stone paving and various masonry details, including 100Lm of coping, six circular portholes and a dimensioned band course for the wall feature on Church Street, Ebbw Vale.

The stone specialist is the first, specialist masonry company in the UK to generate its own ‘green electricity,’ after installing a micro hydro generation turbine at its works. The company’s Royal Forest Pennant sandstone is now considered to be the lowest carbon rated natural stone product in the UK and has been verified, achieving PAS 2050 certification - the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.

In addition to the full range of hard landscaping products, the stone specialist also produces steps, copings, tactile and corduroy paving, along with architectural building stone and bespoke architectural masonry. The company has a fully flexible high sawing capacity, and is able to accommodate large orders.