Background

Opened in September 2014, Solent Enterprise Zone is home to Fareham College’s Centre of Excellence for Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Technology (CEMAST) providing training opportunities for 900 students. It also includes the new Fareham Innovation Centre providing small workshops and office space for start-up and micro businesses on easy-in, easy-out terms.

Challenge

Around this innovative new build, creative use of hard landscaping was required to enhance the site, to develop and identify areas within the perimeter for pedestrian use, to contribute to safety underfoot on flights of steps and around the bicycle shelter areas as well as provide sustainable urban drainage solutions (SuDS) for the approach to the site and within the car park.

Solution

In the showpiece location at the approach to the college and inside the grounds around the planted beds and seating areas, Pallas and La Linia block paving has been installed. These elegant, high-performance combined concrete block and paving ranges use high quality exposed aggregates across Client: Fareham College Contractor: Woodman Civil Engineering & Leadbitter Construction Products Used: Priora Permeable Block Paving, Tegula Block Paving, Keyblok Block Paving, Saxon Paving and Conservation X Kerb a broad range of integrated plan sizes to create striking visual effects. 

Benefit

Hard landscaping at Fareham College has successfully enhanced the areas surrounding the buildings as well as contributing towards improving aesthetics within the college grounds and promoting pedestrian safety. Use of Priora within the car parking areas has ensured compliance with local building regulations in terms of the installation of naturally permeable surfaces.