Planter bricks

Shortlisted for Innovation category at 2024 Brick Awards

Ketley planter bricks are the first clay planters to be made as an engineering brick and they have been developed specifically in response to the need to demonstrate a Net Biodiversity Gain with new planning applications and greater biodiversity and planting in urban areas where space and options are often restricted.

At 215mm wide, these planter bricks fit perfectly on to the tops of walls.  They can be made in a variety of different profiles including Cants, Bullnose and Double Bullnose depending on the design requirements.  They feature a small weep hole along the bottom edge to allow for drainage and they make an attractive and practical solution to urban gardens.  The returns (end units) are handmade, but the "middle" sections are extruded by machine and therefore an efficient way to add greenery to urban space.  To save cost but maintain the profile, a regular brick special can also be used as a return.

Ketley planters are a decorative, cost-effective and sustainable solution that can be adapted for different types of projects. 

• Cost-effective – the planter bricks are machine-made from extruded clay through standard dies making them economical to manufacture.
• Customisable – the planter bricks can be made in a variety of different profiles including cants, bullnose or double bullnose depending on the design requirements.
• Practical - at 215mm wide, they are designed to fit perfectly on the top of walls. They have a small weep hole on the bottom edge for drainage. They work equally well as single-sided versions or double-sided depending on the design of the wall.
• Natural colours – they are manufactured in the same Staffordshire red, blue and brown brindle clay tones as the existing Ketley Brick range, which are produced the traditional way solely through control of the kiln temperature, rather than through modern artificial pigments and stains, thereby giving a natural appearance. 
• Longevity – they are classified as Class A standard engineering bricks and made from the highest quality dense Etruria marl clay giving high compressive strength and low water absorption.  These characteristics together with their unrivalled levels of frost resistance, ensure they perform in the severely exposed setting where they are subject to prolonged saturation from the soil held in the planter.  Ketley Class A products are recognised for their longevity, and they perform far better than traditional planters.
• Sustainability – clay is one of the world’s oldest building materials which is proven to last hundreds of years and is recyclable. Planters made in this authentic traditional material are an eco-friendly way of adding real value to outdoor spaces and urban gardens.

All planter bricks available in Staffordshire blue, blue multi, brown brindle, brown antique and red.  Drawings of our planter bricks available here