Independent brickmaker beats European competition for major project

YORK Handmade Brick Company has beaten off European competition to land a contract to provide bricks for the £1m transformation of Dean’s Garden Centre in Stockton-on-the-Forest, near York.

York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, will be supplying 15,500 bricks for the project.

“We are very proud to strike a blow for independent brickmaking in the Vale of York,” said Guy Armitage, managing director of York Handmade.

“The region has a fine heritage of brick manufacturing and we are keen to maintain this. Having weathered the recession, which hit the construction sector very hard, we are now well-positioned to support the upturn in the sector.”

The refurbishment and extension of the garden centre, which is scheduled for completion of the spring of next year, will create a coffee shop and kitchen facility, as well as remodelling the back-of-house facilities in order to increase the capacity.

Mr Armitage added: “It is extremely satisfying to beat stiff European competition. We were up against a Dutch brick company, but the project managers Walker Nicholas ultimately chose us. I know how important the bricks are to the new-look garden centre and we are determined to do an excellent job.”

Mark Reynolds, of main contractors Evora Construction, said: “The Garden Centre is a hub of the community, so we feel extremely privileged to be the ones making a mark in its history. Loved by both locals and occasional visitors, we will completely transform the Centre and offer something completely new for its loyal customers.”

Dean’s Garden Centre is a family-run business has been serving gardeners since it opened in 1968.