Charcon supplies BIG regeneration project

Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has supplied a complimentary range of precast concrete flags, blocks and kerbs to Evolution Gateshead for its renowned multi-million regeneration project: Gateshead BIG.

Gateshead BIG is the UK’s largest residential regeneration programme outside of London. It consists of 19 sites which will be developed over the next 15-20 years, covering 70 hectares of land and delivering 2,400 new, good-quality homes and fantastic neighbourhoods that people will want to live and grow in.

Phase 1 of the development, which commenced in March 2014 and is due to complete this coming June, includes three sites – Avon Street, Birtley Northside, and Bensham & Saltwell – which will generate a total of 450 homes.

With designs prepared by a conglomerate of architects, landscape architects and surveyors, including Alison Brooks Architects, Studio Egret West, S333, Red Box Architects, Queensberry Design and Robinson Landscape Design, Charcon was tasked to provide hard landscaping solutions that would pave the way for good vehicular access and safe pedestrian routes.

Drawing from its extensive range of flag and block paving, Charcon was able to recommend an appropriate and cost-effective palette of over 10,600m2 of hard landscaping materials.

A total of 5,880m2 of Moordale Textured flag paving in Grey was installed, offering a premium yet cost-effective solution for the pedestrian areas. Ideal for urban pavements, Moordale Textured incorporates yorkstone and limestone aggregates to provide the very best performance and durability, as well as good slip-resistance values.

To complement the above and inject an element of traditional character, 2,450m2 of Woburn Rumbled cobble paving in Rustic was used for various accompanying walkways and thoroughfares. Reminiscent of traditional sandstone setts, Woburn Rumbled offers a natural and attractive time-worn appearance, thanks to a number of colour mix options that generate subtle shade differences between adjacent blocks.

In addition, 2,270m2 of Europa block paving in Brindle was specified for those areas expected to see heavy-use trafficking. Offering a high level of durability and good grip, Europa is available in a wide range of shades and various sizes, including three mixed colours for aesthetic appeal, as well as a mechanical lay option for increased speed and efficiency of installation.

For the finishing touches, Charcon also supplied British Standard Edging and Kerbs, both in Plain Grey.

Mike Davies, category manager for Charcon, comments: “Due to a phased construction programme, we liaised very closely with both the groundworker and the merchant to carefully plan and guarantee the correct and timely delivery of products across both sites.

“We are proud to have played a part in this project. Gateshead BIG is an impressive regeneration programme that aims to add value to surrounding properties and bring Gateshead communities closer together.”