Velstone delivers for care home project with Steelplan Kitchens
- 27 April 2026|
- Care homes|
- velstone_admin
When a care home in Macclesfield required robust, hygienic and reliable kitchen surfaces for its community, the specification had to be right first time. Working in partnership with Steelplan Kitchens, Velstone was selected to supply solid surface worktops for an initial six catering kitchens in the care home, part of a larger group of residential and nursing homes, with more planned.
Project details and overview
The project focused on communal catering kitchens serving residents daily, while also remaining accessible for resident use. These hardworking environments where hygiene, durability and ease of maintenance are critical, but so too is programme certainty.
Velstone supplied 25mm thick solid surface kitchen worktops, incorporating 13mm strips to help achieve a 40mm profile for the size of the hob. Pre-cut and profiled splashbacks were also provided to accelerate installation and eliminate the need for on-site cutting, improving both fitting speed and finish quality.
Securing the initial six kitchens was a significant milestone. And with more planned, it reflects both the success of the first phase and the confidence placed in Velstone and Steelplan to deliver consistently across multiple locations.
Why Velstone?
Steelplan presented the client with stainless steel, laminate, minerva and Velstone, and Velstone was chosen in no small part to the colour choice in 25mm and its website explaining clearly about the uses for the product.
In demanding environments such as care settings, surfaces must meet stringent hygiene standards while withstanding heavy, daily use. Velstone’s non-porous composition resists bacterial growth and prevents liquid ingress, supporting infection control protocols essential in communal care facilities.
The ability to fabricate seamless joints minimises dirt traps and simplifies cleaning routines. For care providers this translates into safer food preparation areas, lower maintenance demands and long-term durability.
Consistency was equally important. With more than 15 years of collaboration between Velstone and Steelplan Kitchens, specifications were aligned around familiar stock colours and thicknesses known for reliable availability and dependable lead times.
Meeting the demands of care-specific kitchens
Key requirements for the kitchen areas included hygienic, easy-clean surfaces; resistance to staining and impact; precise fabrication for integrated sinks and hobs; and fast, predictable installation.
Velstone’s solid surface meets these demands while providing a consistent aesthetic across multiple sites. Its renewable surface characteristics allow minor damage to be repaired in situ, extending lifespan and protecting investment. The material’s structural stability ensures long-term performance under heavy catering use.
Rapid response in a live environment
Due to a last-minute change in hob specification during the installation, a potential obstacle arose as, due to the nature of the change, on-site modification was not possible.
Velstone received the call at 10am and by 4pm the same day, a replacement top had been manufactured. It was delivered the following morning, within 24 hours, preventing the kitchen from being closed any longer than it had to be.
Iain Badis, Consultant Surveyor at Steelplan, said: “Velstone were helpful adapting to last minute project changes when suppliers couldn’t get hold of the appliance needed for the installation, delivering on tight lead times and making sure all items were on deliveries to not cause delays on site with the small window we had for installation.
Alex Clark, Velstone’s Operations Manager, said: “In live care environments like this, where kitchen downtime must be at a minimum, you must react immediately. If a kitchen isn’t operational, residents are directly affected. Our team turned it around the same day to maintain service continuity; Steelplan know that we can react and help with any onsite challenges.”
To discuss your next care home project, call 0208 861 4422.