The UK has a building material trade deficit of more than £14bn bit one company bucking that trend is Marshalls, which has supplied 2,000 tonnes of its Stanton Moor sandstone over the past five years for the construction of the Basilica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona.
Sagrada Família is one of Europe’s most renowned and complex architectural projects. The basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, began construction in 1882 and is expected to be completed around 2036.
Since partnering with the Expiatory Temple’s Construction Board in 2018, Marshalls has been playing a key role in the project’s progress. Formal stone cutting began in 2021, with Stanton Moor buff sandstone selected for its colour consistency, carving suitability and proven durability — including resistance to frost and salt. Earlier this year, Marshalls supplied its 2000th tonne of stone to the project, marking a major delivery milestone, and a further 750 tonnes have already been identified for upcoming work.
Marshalls operations manager David Smith said: “Since our initial deliveries in 2018, we’ve demonstrated the reliability of our supply and the performance of Stanton Moor sandstone. This project highlights our ability to place customer needs at the centre of our approach, combining the strength of our heritage with deep technical expertise to support complex and long-term construction programmes.”
The stone, extracted from Dale View Quarry in Derbyshire, is primarily being used on the Glory Façade, the basilica’s largest and final principal façade. Its eventual completion will mark a key milestone in the wider project.
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