Beacons Gate, Brecon

Location

Brecon

Main contractor

PAR Homes

Products

Stonepanel Stone Cladding

Overview

Beacons Gate is a housing development in Brecon, South Wales which has recently been built by developer PAR Homes. Located just a short distance from the Brecon Beacons National Park, the development offers a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes. Surrounded by the Welsh countryside, the site offers residents semi-rural living, with Brecon town centre accessible within a 10-minute walk or short drive.

Taylor Maxwell worked with developers PAR Homes to supply Stonepanel stone cladding, which is manufactured by CUPA STONE, to the new build site. The stone cladding helped to provide the development with a distinct design that tied the buildings in with the local vernacular and materials used.

Concept

After an analysis was carried out of the existing facade materials used in the local area, stone was one of the main products identified as being widely used in the surrounding architecture. With Stonepanel stone cladding having already been featured on the facade of the neighbouring Brecon High School, it was decided that for design cohesion, the same product would be used on the Beacons Gate housing development. On both projects ‘Nordic Dark’ panels were selected which are made from a natural grey quartzite with blue tones, a suitable match for the natural stone found in the local area.

The choice of stone cladding not only provided the visual benefit of the site tying in with the local streetscape, but also provided the advantage of efficient installation which can be up to 10 times faster than traditional walling stone. The Stonepanel system created a striking design feature on a large number of the properties, with the efficient installation providing cost savings with less construction time needed on site. Stonepanel is also a BBA certified system (cert no. 21/5908) which highlights its ability to resist the varying wind pressures and water penetration likely to be experienced in the UK. This was a key factor for the design team when choosing a cladding material to be used in an area of Wales known for its strong winds and harsh weather conditions.

Completion

Developer PAR Homes have ensured that the site does not detract from the enjoyment or historic heritage of the National Park and the natural environment is not negatively impacted. When completed, the development will offer 137 residential units of which 27 of those will be affordable homes.

To find out more about Stonepanel stone cladding, click here.