On 1 July 2026, Mick Denyer and Glenn Henson from Grants presented a practical approach to salvaging and reusing natural stone from existing building façades during a knowledge-sharing session with Arup.
Using Panorama St Paul’s as a case study, they demonstrated how ‘urban quarrying’ successfully recovered Portland stone and granite for reuse in a new development. The project saw 1,500 tonnes of stone reclaimed, with an impressive 95% recovery rate of the original hand-set material. By reusing the existing stone, the project saved approximately 120 tonnes of CO₂ compared with using newly quarried material.
Treating an existing building as a source of materials not only offers significant environmental benefits but also provides access to stone that matches, or even exceeds, the quality available today. Many historic buildings were constructed using premium-grade Portland stone, limestone and granite from quarry sources that are now depleted or no longer accessible.
The presentation also highlighted what is needed to make stone reuse a viable option on more projects. Early engagement with Grants is essential to ensure programmes can be met, while close collaboration with the client and architect allows sufficient flexibility in the design process to work with the available reclaimed materials. When these conditions are in place, stone reuse can deliver substantial environmental benefits while preserving the quality and character of natural stone in contemporary buildings.
