CONTEXT 189 : SEPTEMBER 2026 23 INFRASTRUCTURE Clara Willett is a senior building conservation advisor with Historic England. Online resources The Building Stones of England.Webpage containing links to the BSDE and county data and guides. Historic England, Identifying and Sourcing Stone for Repair. Guidance on selecting compatible stone and understanding its properties. Historic England, Embodied Carbon of Roofing Slate. Research demonstrating the carbon benefits of indigenous slate over imported alternatives. Historic Environment Scotland, Stone Carbon Calculator. A tool for calculating and comparing the embodied carbon of stone based on sourcing and transport. building stones: the BSDE supports a more sustainable approach to material selection by facilitating the use of indigenous building stones. By identifying original sources or compatible local alternatives, it reduces reliance on imported stone, which typically carries higher embodied carbon from transport and processing. This aligns with the sustainable development principles of the NPPF, strengthening the case for local stone in planning and conservation decisions. Research on the embodied carbon of roofing slate by Historic Environment Scotland and Historic England has begun to quantify these benefits, demonstrating the comparatively lower carbon footprint of locally sourced materials. In this way, the BSDE can be understood not only as a conservation resource but also as a practical mechanism for supporting low-carbon construction and repair, strengthening the case for safeguarding and reactivating local stone resources. • Informing planning and policy and decision making: for local authorities, the BSDE provides a robust evidence base for local plan-making, guidance on materials in conservation areas, and development management decisions affecting heritage assets. • Education and capacity building: the BSDE also plays an educational role, helping to build capacity within the sector. Its combination of scientific rigour and accessibility makes it a valuable tool for practitioners, students, and decision-makers alike. While the BSDE is an invaluable resource, it should be used with an awareness of its limitations. The depth of information varies between counties, and the status of the stone sources is a snapshot and may not reflect current availability. It is also not intended to replace specialist advice in stone conservation. The BSDE should be viewed as part of a wider toolkit that includes site investigation, laboratory analysis, and expert consultation. The BSDE represents a significant advance in the resources available to historic building professionals. By integrating geological, historical and practical information, it supports more informed and sensitive conservation practice. Its value lies not simply in the data it contains, but in how that data enables better decisions: identifying appropriate materials, understanding their context and promoting their sustainable use. In doing so, it highlights the critical role of local authority mineral planners in safeguarding natural stone resources. Through the identification, protection and appropriate provision of building stone within mineral plans and development management decisions, they play a key part in ensuring that appropriate materials remain available for the repair and conservation of historic buildings. In this way, the BSDE supports not only the conservation of the fabric of historic buildings, but also the long-term stewardship of the geological and cultural heritage they embody. As pressures on material supply and environmental sustainability increase, tools such as the BSDE will become ever more central to delivering policy-compliant and well-informed conservation outcomes. We welcome any comments on the BSDE from practitioners and local authorities experiencing difficulties in sourcing building stone, to better understand these challenges and support effective responses. Contact clara.willett@ historicengland.org.uk. Bowscarr Quarry, Penrith, Cumbria, extracts, cuts and supplies a range of building stone, including the distinctive red Penrith sandstone (Permian sandstone) used widely in the area. (Photo: Historic England) THREATENED MATERIALS AND CRAFTS
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