Marley Antislip decking has been specified on a pioneering project to build a brand
new community in Leicester.
The European redwood
decking has been used to create a stunning timber boardwalk, providing a scenic
pedestrian link and acting as a focal point for the entrance of the New
Lubbesthorpe development.
Situated between
Leicester Forest East and Enderby, New Lubbesthorpe is an ambitious project to
develop a complete community, including 4,250 high quality new homes, two
primary schools, a secondary school, as well as retail and business space.
In keeping with its
rural surroundings, New Lubbesthorpe will have some of the largest, most
biodiverse and most attractive parks created in the wider urban area in the
last 50 years; over 320 acres of parkland is to be provided within the scheme.
Creating a natural
aesthetic for the site was very important and landscape architects FPCR
Environment & Design have been involved in the project since its inception
in 2008. They have provided planning, masterplanning, design and detail design
services for the scheme. As part of their detailed work, they designed a large
boardwalk to provide pedestrian access to the new homes and to make an
impressive entrance feature for both residents and visitors.
Marley Ltd’s
Antislip Plus decking, with a smooth profile, was chosen to create the
boardwalk, giving pedestrians the opportunity to walk over, or around the lake,
adding a park-like aesthetic to the entrance of the site. The curved boardwalk
also features wooden benches, so residents can stop and take in their
surroundings.
Jane Fortescue, from
FPCR Environment & Design, explains: “Having been impressed by the Marley timber decking at the Olympic Park in London, we contacted the
manufacturer to find out how it could be used in a similar way to create the
boardwalk at New Lubbesthorpe. We chose the Marley Antislip Plus
because we wanted the boardwalk to have a smooth and clean finish which is easy
to maintain and suitable for use in all weathers. The decking gives a clean,
contemporary style that is suited to such a large boardwalk and creates a
striking first impression.”
Marley Antislip decking boards are specifically designed to provide a durable and
effective external anti-slip surface to minimise any risk of slipping – even in
adverse weather conditions. They use a unique formula of resin-based aggregate
inserts, which are injected into the deck board grooves.
Over 3,000 metres of
the Antislip Plus decking was installed on the New Lubbesthorpe boardwalk. The
boards were also treated with MicroPro, a preservative system which
incorporates micronized copper co-biocides to improve durability and provide a
natural timber look.
Emily-Jane Dix, from
manufacturer Marley, adds: “Our Antislip decking is ideal for projects
like this that require a natural, contemporary aesthetic but need to be safe to
use in all weather conditions and easy to maintain. The boardwalk at the New
Lubbesthorpe development creates an impressive frontage to the site and also
helps to maximise the use of green space for pedestrians.”
