Building materials manufacturer, Aggregate Industries,
has proved itself as the supplier of choice in the construction of high quality
and energy efficient retirement homes, having successfully supplied Masterblock
concrete blocks to two prestigious retirement developments.
This includes Wixams Retirement Village in Bedford, a
£44m scheme to build 230 apartments, alongside a range of communal facilities,
including a village hall, library and IT suite, bar and bistro, fitness gym,
hairdressing and beauty salon and shop.
For main contractor Galliford Try Partnerships, one of
the main requirements when building the complex was making it as energy
efficient as possible in line with U-value criteria between 0.22-0.23 W/mk, as
well as ensuring a high strength build.
As such, by looking at Galliford Try Partnerships preferred
materials, Aggregate Industries were able to suggest a solution which achieved
the U value required. This included the supply of 38,000m²
of MasterLite Pro, a lightweight concrete block designed for thermal efficiency
and manual handling considerations. For use internally and externally, the
blocks are ideal for preventing heat loss, which as a result makes an
ultra-efficient home, vastly reducing the cost of heating for the homeowner.
MasterLite Pro is also currently the product of choice
on another project run by Galliford Try Partnerships – Arden Quarter in
Stratford-upon-Avon. A mix of retirement apartments and new homes, the £40m
development will also include a range of community facilities, such as retail
spaces, a play area, pocket park, and café.
In this instance, in addition to specifying energy
efficiency requirements, the brief also included sound insulation. To date,
Aggregate Industries has supplied 36,000m2 of MasterLite
Pro in varying strengths to the project, resulting in impressive sound
insulation and energy efficiency properties.
Jeremy
Lee, commercial director for Aggregate Industries’ building products division,
comments: “With the
number of people aged 85 and over in the UK set to double over the next 25
years1,
retirement living has become an essential part of our society. As demonstrated
by these unique developments,
constructing a community retirement village, with all the necessary amenities
in close proximity, requires meticulous planning and innovative materials.
“With this in mind,
and given the strict requirements of the build, our MasterLite Pro range of lightweight concrete blocks is proving the ideal
solution for retirement builds as not only are they easy to handle and great
for sound insulation but can also boost the thermal efficiency of structure -
producing efficient and comfortable homes.
“We are delighted to be working with Galliford Try
Partnerships on these exciting scheme and hope to continue to supply their
future projects.”
James Warrington, Regional Managing Director,
Galliford Try Partnerships, said: “Aggregate Industries gave good technical
expertise throughout the Wixams Retirement Village and Arden Quarter projects.
Given the unique specifications of these builds, it was clear that we needed to
work with a specialist supplier, helping us to achieve the desired sound
insulation and energy efficiency requirements on each development.”
