Brett Landscaping has used its creative expertise to produce an aesthetically-pleasing, cost-effective paving design that provides a cohesive identity for a refurbished healthcare and education complex in Surbiton.
The new development, which comprises Surbiton Health Centre and Lime Tree Primary School, is situated on the grounds of an old hospital.
Brett was contacted by the site contractors, Farncombe Construction, to enhance the revamped facilities in a way that took into account the site’s sustainable needs and made best use of the available site space.
After initial investigations, Brett Landscaping recommended a combination of Alpha Flow and Omega Flow permeable paving, complemented with decorative kerbs and Yorktone flag paving. Brett also manufactured a bespoke flat block kerb – a product that is not part of the company’s standard range – to deliver the optimum solution for the project’s requirements.
“Sometimes, it is obvious that the best solution for an installation cannot be found on the shelf, and our extensive design experience enables us to have the ability to provide bespoke paving solutions that are unique to customers’ needs,” explains Andrew Gill, marketing manager at Brett.
“We manufactured a flat-block specifically for this scheme as it was a functional product that was necessary for the scheme, as well as allowing the contractor to value engineer and reduce costs.”
The modern design of the Brett Alpha Flow permeable paving, which has tumbled edges to provide a durable, aesthetically pleasing solution, together with Omega Flow’s classic rectangular block profile, enabled Farncombe Construction to meet the Surface Water Management requirements of the installation without compromising on the aesthetic appearance of the block paving.
“After meeting with the contractors on numerous occasions to determine the best paving combination within their budget constraints, we felt that the chosen permeable paving and the decorative kerbs would be best for the site’s needs in terms of creating an effective water management system and an aesthetic appearance to attract visitors,” Andrew adds.
To meet the needs of the contractor, the hard landscaping experts also provided suggestions about redesigning the kerb line and paved areas to make better use of the space, as well as proposing amendments to the original design spec to achieve the best combination of products.
Brett Landscaping is delighted to have brought its design flair to the new project, confirming that while paving is a functional necessity, there is a place for aesthetic considerations, too.
“Inspiring patients and pupils is not just about what goes on indoors – good design of outdoor spaces is recognised as helping in the healing process, as well as stimulating creativity at school,” concludes Andrew Gill.
To learn more about permeable paving from Brett Landscaping, check out PermCalc , the free-to-use software used by planners and architects to create permeable paving solutions. This works by assessing projects based on calculations of variables such as rainfall, traffic volumes and land composition to determine the appropriate sub-base composition.