Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has successfully completed the public realm for Transport for Greater Manchester’s £6 million new transport interchange in Wythenshawe.
The project, which included the footpaths, ramps and circulatory routes, plus the area of public realm connecting the existing Metrolink station to the new transport hub, was delivered over three months.
A total of 1,371m2 of Andover Washed premium block paving was specified, chosen for its flexible design capabilities and sustainable qualities. In addition to the existing Anthracite Charcoal and Silver Grey colour options, Charcon’s design team worked in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to create two new colour shades specifically for the project.
1,083m2 of each of the new Mid Grey and Light Grey colours combined with the existing shades to achieve an understated, contemporary backdrop for the project. The four colour options were used to stunning effect, creating aesthetic designs in adjacent areas while retaining overall texture and colour consistency.
The bus interchange has been designed to be compliant with the City Council’s Design for Access 2 (DFA2) document. 61m2 of Elite (Format 3) deterrent paving was supplied to deter pedestrian and vehicular access and provide “wayfinding” measures and finishes for the interchange.
TfGM was keen to ensure the new interchange was as sustainable as possible so the use of Andover Washed helped meet these requirements, containing up to 50 per cent non-primary materials.
John Atkinson, Project Manager for TfGM, comments: “We are committed to reducing the impact that transport has on the environment, whilst creating more ways for people to easily travel around the region. Charcon provided a professional and experienced team to help us achieve these goals by exploring various product and design options. They went above and beyond to make sure the product quality was guaranteed and that the colour variations were as promised. We look forward to working with Charcon on future projects.”
Mike Davies, Specification Manager at Aggregate Industries, said: “Wythenshawe Interchange has been a fantastic project to be involved in. Our Andover Washed block paving was the ideal choice to complement the contemporary design of the project and also helped contribute to the sustainability credentials of the scheme.
“We always welcome the opportunity to create bespoke products for our clients. The two new shades created for the transport hub looked so good in situ, we have since added them to our overall range.”
TfGM’s new transport interchange for Wythenshawe is a state-of-the-art gateway to the town centre, providing better links between buses and trams and improved safety for passengers.
TfGM’s vision was to create a fully integrated and accessible transport hub, with a range of improved facilities, including a new TfGM Travelshop, cycle parking facilities, enhanced CCTV and passenger information systems.
