Marshalls Bricks & Masonry Delivers Sustainable Alternative for the Merlin Rise Development

Marshalls Bricks & Masonry’s Mayfair Vintage facing bricks have been used by housebuilder Backhouse on its Merlin Rise development to achieve a high-quality, reclaimed brick aesthetic that also aligns with the sustainability goals of the business. 

Designed by award-winning local architects Clifton Emery Design, Merlin Rise is a development of 21 homes on the outskirts of Calne in Wiltshire. The properties have been designed as distinctive, stylish and comfortable homes that meet the needs of modern families. 

In line with the company’s sustainability aims, Backhouse chose to use concrete facing bricks rather than a conventional clay alternative.

Unlike clay bricks, concrete products do not require firing and as a result, only a small amount of additional energy is used in the manufacturing process. Concrete bricks are net absorbers of CO₂ due to their continuous carbonation over their lifetime. Therefore, across the total lifetime of the product, concrete’s carbon footprint is as little as 49% that of traditional bricks. 

Saving carbon

By selecting the Mayfair Vintage brick as an alternative to a traditional clay brick, Backhouse has saved 93 tonnes of carbon. 

Charles Phillpott, Senior Buyer at Backhouse, says: “We are focused on creating places that are sympathetic to their location, respect the existing environment and we are serious about how we work with existing communities.

“Placemaking is at the very core of our developments and we constantly strive to use sensitive methods of construction and materials. Marshalls’ range of facing bricks not only allows us to choose from a range of colours and finishes, it also means we are incorporating an element of sustainability into the homes we build by the very materials we select.

“This makes our sustainability goals easier to achieve and is at the heart of what we want to do as a business.”

Kevin Cafferty, Commercial Director at Marshalls Bricks & Masonry, says: “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the products we are so passionate about actually in-situ and forming part of someone’s home.

“The Merlin Rise development is testament to Clifton Emery Design and Backhouse; they have designed stunning and sustainable homes. We hope to see more of this sympathetic approach to design from other house builders and architects.”

The Merlin Rise development was Highly Commended in the Development of the Year category (20 – 100 units) at the British Homes Awards 2021 and was shortlisted for the 2021 AJ Architecture Awards, Housebuilder Awards and Building Awards. 

To find out more about the Marshalls Bricks & Masonry range, visit www.marshalls.co.uk/commercial/bricks-walling.