With the demand for purposed-built student accommodation (PBSA) predicted to soar, a new report from the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) explains ‘Why Reinforced Concrete Makes the Grade for Student Accommodation’. The latest student population data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that for the 2021/22 academic year
The complex multi material roof at Lucent W1, behind the Piccadilly Lights, has won Best Multi-discipline Project over £250k at the national Roofing Awards. The project was a collaborative venture between AccuRoof, roofing contractor E J Roberts and main contractor Wates Group. This mixed-use development behind the Lights at Piccadilly
Heating, plumbing and air movement materials supplier TG Lynes has become one of the first businesses to operate a 7.5 tonne electric truck on the streets of London. Enfield-based TG Lynes is leading the sustainable transport charge by investing in a UK-manufactured Tevva battery-electric truck to carry out local deliveries
The Chichester depot of Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is continuing its sponsorship of the city’s vibrant and inclusive Pride event for the third consecutive year. Taking place on Saturday 25th May, Chichester Pride promises to be a celebration of love and diversity, welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and allies for
Landscaping specialist Marshalls has announced the final results of this year’s Marshalls Register Awards, with hundreds of entries whittled down to just ten national winners, including the coveted Contractor of the Year title. Over 400 landscaping projects were entered into the awards and earlier this year, Marshalls announced its regional
Proud to partner the trades, Jewson’s rebrand brings to life its journey to serve the UK’s tradespeople as their merchant of choice Leading national builders’ merchant Jewson has unveiled its new company rebrand, marking the progress it’s making to help the UK’s hardworking professional tradespeople grow their businesses and shape
Construction materials giant Breedon has slashed the amount of time it spends on tachograph administration by 1,300 hours a year – thanks to Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution. With 450 HGVs operating across more than 300 sites, the group provides asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and surfacing solutions within the
Keystone Lintels is delighted to launch Keyfab, a new cutting-edge structural steel design and fabrication service that will bring the most creative and ambitious residential and specialised projects to life. Whatever the nature of your build, contractors and their projects can be supported every step of the way by Keystone’s
Investment into existing and new and branches drives further growth M.K.M Building Supplies Limited, the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchant, is pleased to announce full year results for the period ended 30 September 2023. Highlights: Kate Tinsley, CEO of MKM Building Supplies, said: “2023 was another solid year for the
Marshalls has launched Modal X™, a lower-cost, lower-carbon alternative to granite paving, offering high durability, design flexibility and straightforward installation. Building on the company’s popular Modal collection, which launched in 2020, the new Modal X features eight colourways, smooth and textured finishes, fifteen plan sizes and five depths, including three
With the demand for purposed-built student accommodation (PBSA) predicted to soar, a new report from the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) explains ‘Why Reinforced Concrete Makes the Grade for Student Accommodation’. The latest student population data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that for the 2021/22 academic year the number of full-time students rose by 4%, to over 2.26 million. Meanwhile, the number of international students from India and China has more than offset the fall in EU students in the wake of Brexit as the UK continues to be one of the key global destinations for students looking to study abroad. Between 2019/20 and 2021/22, the number of full-time international students rose by 117,500. The increase in student applications and numbers is set against a growing shortage in student accommodation. This shortage is being exacerbated by the falling supply of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) resulting from landlord regulation and tax changes. Since 2017 there have been over 300,00 buy-to-let mortgage redemptions which has reduced the number of 5-plus bedroom rental properties by 31% since 2019. The reduced supply of private landlord HMO’s is increasing the demand for PBSA particularly from overseas students. To address the disparity between supply and demand more PBSA needs to be constructed. Reinforced concrete offers a wide range of inherent and free performance benefits that are particularly suited to building student accommodation. These include built-in fire resistance, significant noise and vibration reduction, thermal mass for energy efficiency and long-term robust finishes. Steve Elliott BAR Chairman explained: “Reinforced concrete offers a number of unrivalled performance benefits that means it should be awarded a 1st class degree with honours for the construction of PBSA. These concrete benefits are inherent and built-in. There is no need for any additional products, finishes or chemical preservatives. This significantly reduces both initial capital and the ongoing maintenance costs.” With regards to long-term sustainability reinforced concrete again gets top marks. The issue of sustainability is important for PBSAs. Students are some of the most motivated in tackling climate change reducing CO2 emissions. Elliott said: “Admittedly, the use of concrete construction raises questions concerning the level of construction embodied CO2 when compared to other structural materials such as timber. However, if you have to mechanical ventilate and cool a lightweight timber or steel building then the resulting operational CO2 emissions, over the lifetime of the building, will far outweigh any initial construction embodied CO2 savings.” He continued: “Similarly, concrete does need additional fire proofing, sound insulation, wall finishes, flood resilient materials. All of these additional materials have an additional CO2 impact for their manufacture and installation. With concrete construction all of the above performance benefits are provided without any further environmental or financial cost”. He added that all the reinforcement made in the UK is made from recycled scrap steel using the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) process which consumes only a third of the embodied energy, emits one sixth of the CO2 and produces approximately half the amount of co-products (waste) compared with the traditional BOS blast furnace steelmaking process. Reinforcing steel can be recovered, recycled and re-used at the end of a building or structure’s service life. To download a copy of ‘Why Reinforced Concrete Makes the Grade for Student Accommodation’ visit: www.uk-bar.org/publications Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The complex multi material roof at Lucent W1, behind the Piccadilly Lights, has won Best Multi-discipline Project over £250k at the national Roofing Awards. The project was a collaborative venture between AccuRoof, roofing contractor E J Roberts and main contractor Wates Group. This mixed-use development behind the Lights at Piccadilly Circus in London’s West End has one of the most complex roofs ever to be built in the capital across an almost complete city block. Designed by Fletcher Priest Architects, the project unified thirteen different buildings including several historic facades and the treatment of the new roof was integral to their design. AccuRoof were commissioned by Wates Group to design the complex folding roof to meet the architects’ original design intent, plus targets of BREEAM Outstanding and the Gold WELL Building Standard. The solution was to design in planes of natural slate, but stringent environmental and fire safety requirements ruled out the use of hot works or lead flashings. The solution the AccuRoof came up with, their design office detailed and E J Roberts executed, is a roof comprised of three different roofing systems. Planes of Cwt-y-bugail Natural Slate make up the bulk of the roof, elZinc Lava zinc provides flashings, gutters, balcony edges and cladding, and IKO Permatec Hot Melt inverted roof system is used for the flat roof areas, the 22 terraces and behind the iconic Lights. The design challenges on the project were many and included: coordinating the interfaces between slate, hot melt and zinc; facilitating the shedding of rainwater from complex interlocking roof planes, some of which fold down the side of the building, and designing to a steel frame which required up to 20mm movement both horizontally and vertically. Altogether the design team produced over 300 details. The construction challenges included: building a massive test rig to test the roof design and construction to European standards for weathertightness and up to 100mph winds; operating in one of the busiest parts of the West End with limited access and two flagship retail stores kept open; storing all the slates on the incomplete roof after the crane was dismantled half way through the package, and implementing dozens of reworked details that would frequently occur between the rebuilt historic facades and a new steel frame. All the roofing materials were supplied through SIG Roofing’s extensive supply chain, via its Kentish Town outlet and a separate holding area near the site. All materials were craned on site, but a tight programme meant that the crane was dismantled part way through the roofing package and all 28,000 slates had to be stored on top of the building weeks before their installation. E J Roberts Roofing is an experienced multi-disciplinary roofing contractor registered with AccuRoof’s ACIS Contractor Installer Scheme. The firm has over sixty years’ experience and their slaters alone who worked on this project have over 100 years’ joint experience in slating. AccuRoof’s registered contractors receive priority training, technical and on-site support from experienced field technicians, allowing the AccuRoof design team to take on the design liability for certain projects and ensure the project receives a reliable warranty. Emerson Bennett, Managing Director at E J Roberts Roofing said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognized by the Roofing Awards. It is testament to our many decades of experience in roofing and the collaborative way in which this complex project was approached that we were able to bring out the very best in our team and deliver to such a high standard.” Chris Lodge, Managing Director of SIG UK Exteriors agreed. “Only a single roofing design specialist and a single roofing contractor in a collaborative relationship could have successfully delivered this project. The teamwork of AccuRoof and E J Roberts to deliver on this project was fantastic and showcases the unique multi-solution and end to end value of the AccuRoof offer. Expertise in design, over multiple covering solutions, supported right through to distribution service from our specialist SIG Roofing branch network, in this case the team at our Kentish Town branch.” The judges said, “A final product of the highest quality was delivered by the install team.” Read an article about how the complex roof was designed and built: https://accuroof.co.uk/article/lucent-w1-how-the-complex-roof-was-built/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Heating, plumbing and air movement materials supplier TG Lynes has become one of the first businesses to operate a 7.5 tonne electric truck on the streets of London. Enfield-based TG Lynes is leading the sustainable transport charge by investing in a UK-manufactured Tevva battery-electric truck to carry out local deliveries around the capital. Fully electric 7.5 tonne trucks are just entering mass production and there are only a few currently operating within London. Despite accounting for just two per cent of vehicles on the roads, heavy-duty trucks (HDVs) are responsible for over a quarter of road transport emissions. Andrew Ingram, Managing Director of TG Lynes, said the business was proud to be at the forefront of investment in green transport. “We are delighted to take ownership of this state-of-the-art Tevva truck, which is the next step in our journey towards achieving the ultimate goal of net zero,” said Andrew. “While battery electric vehicles are becoming commonplace in the passenger car market, electric commercial vehicle sales are lagging behind. As HDVs make up significant amount of all emissions, it’s vital more businesses consider making the switch. “It’s fantastic that TG Lynes is the first in our sector to have an operational electric truck, and I’m particularly pleased to be backing British manufacturing by purchasing from Tevva. “We will, however, not rest on our laurels and will do all that we can to limit the impact that we as a business have on the planet.” Tevva’s 7.5t battery-electric truck travels up to 140 miles (227 kilometres) from a single charge of its 105 kWh battery. The Tevva truck is just one of three electric vehicles weighing between 4,250kg and 12,000kg to have secured government plug-in truck grant (PITrG) eligibility. Tevva Business Operations Director Kay Jarvis said: “Road transport in general, and HDVs in particular, are one of the largest sources of air pollution, which causes 350,000 premature deaths per year in Europe. Adding electric trucks to fleets will make a considerable difference and will help Britain towards its net zero targets. “We know first-hand that demand for electric trucks is growing at speed, as we have been inundated with requests for our 7.5t battery-electric truck since going into full production.” The introduction of the battery-electric truck is the latest step on the road to net zero for TG Lynes. Last year the business introduced low carbon Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) vehicles to its 18-tonne fleet, making them 90 per cent more carbon efficient as they carry out daily deliveries to sites across London, the South East, East Anglia and the Midlands. The business has also installed a 10,000 litre HVO tank at its base for easy on-site refuelling, along with a new electric dropside van. TG Lynes also has a 110kw solar system installed on the roof of its headquarters, providing more than 50% of the energy required for operations. Andrew added: “From fuel combustion to being sustainable when purchasing electricity and recycling to choosing ethical suppliers, we are taking decisive action to ensure we are doing everything we can to lower our impact on the environment. “Sustainability is not just a buzz word for TG Lynes – it has authenticity.” TG Lynes stocks industry leading brands and supplies thousands of products including valves, steel and copper tubes and fittings, press systems, composite and plastic plumbing, drainage solutions and support systems and tooling. An extensive plant hire service is also available. Visit www.tglynes.co.uk for more information. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Chichester depot of Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is continuing its sponsorship of the city’s vibrant and inclusive Pride event for the third consecutive year. Taking place on Saturday 25th May, Chichester Pride promises to be a celebration of love and diversity, welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and allies for a day of live entertainment, food and drink, stalls, and family-friendly activities. New for 2024 is the introduction of the Chichester Pride Parade through the city centre which will officially open the festivities and promote the event’s core values of inclusivity, individuality, respect, and unity. Jonny Clines, Sponsorship Coordinator for Chichester Pride, commented: “The backing of local businesses like Covers Timber & Builders Merchants is crucial in ensuring the success and sustainability of Chichester Pride. Their continued commitment demonstrates a shared vision of creating a community where everyone feels valued and accepted. Building on the success of Chichester Pride 2023, we anticipate an even more remarkable celebration this year.” Henry Green, Managing Director of Covers, added: “Covers has long been committed to supporting local events and initiatives that enrich the lives of residents. Our sponsorship of Chichester Pride underscores our dedication to encouraging positive change and making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Our Chichester depot will be actively promoting what promises to be an unforgettable day of celebration and inclusivity.” Further information about Chichester Pride can be found on its website – https://www.chichesterpride.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Landscaping specialist Marshalls has announced the final results of this year’s Marshalls Register Awards, with hundreds of entries whittled down to just ten national winners, including the coveted Contractor of the Year title. Over 400 landscaping projects were entered into the awards and earlier this year, Marshalls announced its regional winners of the competition across its series of 11 roadshows. Now, Marshalls has announced its national champions for each award category, which are: Landscape by Design North West Ltd also took the coveted title of Contractor of the Year. This was decided by fellow contractors and peers in the industry, who voted online to select their favourite from the national winners projects which were featured anonymously on the Marshalls website. Tom Foster, Trading Director for Landscaping at Marshalls said: “Everyone in the business has been looking forward to the announcement of our Marshalls Register Award winers, and I’m delighted to say this year’s calibre of entries was more impressive than anything we’ve ever seen before. Landscapers today know the vital role they play in making a home not just special, but truly outstanding in its design, and the many projects submitted to the awards proved that. “Huge congratulations must go to Landscape by Design North West, not only for standing out as a truly exemplary contractor but for its second national award for Best Large Driveway – a category which was fiercely fought. All our winners have demonstrated they strive to set new benchmarks in what consumers can expect from their landscapers, and we’re proud to have them all as members of the Marshalls Register.” Darren Smith, owner of Landscape by Design North West Ltd, said: “This is a very proud moment for our business. We’re absolutely over the moon to have won the title of Contractor of the Year because we know it’s such a prestigious achievement. We’re still buzzing from the news, and I’m sure our celebrations will continue for a while!” Hundreds of installers and businesses across the UK are part of The Marshalls Register of Accredited Landscape Contractors and Driveway Installers, a national network of independent professional landscaping specialists. The awards are just one of the benefits of being an approved Marshalls Register member, as well as having a profile on the manufacturer’s ‘find an installer’ facility that generates over 65,000 searches per year; access to the Marshalls Design Service, and reward points for every purchase. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Proud to partner the trades, Jewson’s rebrand brings to life its journey to serve the UK’s tradespeople as their merchant of choice Leading national builders’ merchant Jewson has unveiled its new company rebrand, marking the progress it’s making to help the UK’s hardworking professional tradespeople grow their businesses and shape the future of the construction industry. Proud to partner the trades, Jewson is building towards its vision to be the most trusted builders’ merchant for UK tradespeople. It introduced the refreshed visual identity, website, branch signage and truck branding at Jewson Live On Tour in Birmingham on Friday 26 April – an event designed to bring together customers, suppliers and colleagues with a celebrated programme of industry news and product innovation. Jewson’s identity has been refreshed to reflect its improved value proposition which provides the range of high-quality products and services that customers are looking for. The branding also adopts ‘Anton’ – a visual personification of the hard-working builder who is at the forefront of STARK Group, the parent company of STARK Building Materials UK (STARK UK), which acquired Jewson in March 2023. The colour palette showcases dark and sky blue, underpinning the company’s commitment to nurturing high-quality customer relationships, while a vibrant coral accent reflects Jewson’s fresh and innovative approach to merchanting. The introduction of Jewson’s new brand identity forms part of STARK UK’s Trust in Better strategy and symbolises the improvements the company has been making to its value proposition for customers, including range, availability, price and distribution enhancements. At the outset of the refresh, customers will see the new brand reflected on the Jewson website, along with regular communications, from delivery notes and invoices to the website and welcome packs. The brand will be rolled out in a phased manner, with the new Jewson brand coming to life in branches, too, from promotional materials and bulk bags – which are made from 30% recycled materials – to property refurbishments and delivery trucks. The new truck design was voted for by 70% of Jewson’s drivers – a clear commitment by the company to recognise and celebrate its valued colleagues. Jewson’s branches are benefiting from a comprehensive investment programme, ranging from light-touch improvements, offering a better, healthier and persistently safe working environment, to substantial refurbishments and new purpose-built ‘Branches of the Future’, offering the UK’s tradespeople a fundamentally different builders’ merchant offering. Complementing the launch of Jewson’s new brand is the relaunch of Build Aviator, Jewson’s estimating service, delivered by its team of construction experts to free up customers’ time so they can use their time where it matters most – with their own customers’ projects. Commenting on the rebrand, John Carter, CEO of STARK UK, said: “For any business that starts a new journey, just as Jewson did 12 months ago, there is always a reset and a new call to action. The rebrand – which we were excited to reveal at Jewson Live On Tour – allows us to demonstrate clearly that we are taking positive steps to be different. We have a new mindset that is centred on our customers, investment, ambition, and building pride in the industry. “The rebrand represents part of the transformation journey, but there is a bigger picture to consider. Jewson is proud to partner the trades, and our Trust in Better strategy is a framework we’re using to become the most trusted builders’ merchant for UK tradespeople. That involves investing in our branches, product range, availability, our people, technology and above all else, the quality of service we’re able to offer. “We have more than 450 branches across the UK, giving us a huge opportunity to put merchant relationships at the centre of tradespeople’s businesses. That’s what we aim to achieve, and we believe we’re on the path to transforming not only the Jewson business, but the entire customer-merchant experience. This is just the beginning.” Jewson plays a significant part of STARK UK, a portfolio of building merchant businesses, which are part of STARK Group, Europe’s leading builders’ merchant and distribution platform. Earlier this year, STARK Group celebrated its first 12 months of operating in the UK. Jewson is proud to partner the trades, building on its 180+ years of industry experience, offering the UK’s professional tradespeople the products and services they need to work smarter and grow their business faster, powered by a robust sourcing network and distribution platform. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction materials giant Breedon has slashed the amount of time it spends on tachograph administration by 1,300 hours a year – thanks to Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution. With 450 HGVs operating across more than 300 sites, the group provides asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and surfacing solutions within the UK and Ireland. Webfleet’s Tachoshare Plus has helped Breedon re-coup the admin time by facilitating automatic daily remote downloads of both driver and vehicle tachograph data. Drivers and transport managers no longer need to travel to depots to complete vehicle downloads, saving them valuable time and maximising productivity by keeping the trucks on the road. Truck-specific navigation is also saving time and boosting driver safety. “With Webfleet’s HGV routing, we can set much more accurate routes avoiding low bridges, weight restrictions and narrow lanes,” said Sarah Scothern, General Manager, Transport & Logistics at Breedon Group plc. “It also means we can give more accurate pricing estimates for delivery jobs.” With MANTIS camera integration on most trucks, the transport team can now access video evidence remotely, immediately after incidents, using the same Webfleet interface. “Far from being a Big Brother intrusion, the in-cab technology means we can support our drivers better,” explained Sarah. “With Webfleet and the multi-camera system, we can see the full picture, confirming, for example, that a driver was braking sharply to avoid a car cutting in, rather than driving dangerously.” Matt Vass, Director of Channel and Product Marketing at Mantis added: “Imagine the peace of mind for Breedon knowing they can swiftly access critical footage without sifting through endless hours of recordings. With our advanced camera technology seamlessly integrated into Webfleet, moments like sudden braking trigger automatic uploads, ensuring Breedon can react promptly. “Additionally, they have the power to stream or download any footage directly from any camera memory system, free from traditional constraints. This streamlined process enables Breedon to swiftly obtain video evidence, so decisive action can be taken when required.” The company is analysing Webfleet data to identify incidents and event hot spots – and to gain insights into the root cause of problems. The investment has resulted in a significant insurance premium rebate in recognition of lower anticipated accident rates. Breedon has also set its sights on improving driver behaviour, leveraging Webfleet’s OptiDrive 360 driver feedback and reporting. “As well as setting challenging KPIs, we’re planning to introduce a driver of the year and most improved driver award, to help keep drivers incentivised to drive more safely and efficiently,” said Sarah. “In addition, we’re planning to integrate around 800 owner-drivers into the system, so wherever you work in the business, everyone will be measured against the same benchmark.” Webfleet’s powerful reporting suite will be integral to the company’s aim to achieve the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Silver accreditation by the end of this year and net zero carbon emissions by 2038. “Our large fleet presents a significant opportunity for CO2 savings and is a key focus of our sustainability strategy,” said Sarah. “With Webfleet’s certified CO2 report, we can now accurately measure our CO2 emissions, confirming not just how much our vehicles are emitting, but also why and where.” Breedon uses Fleetcare for 100 HGV vehicles transporting cement, combining Bridgestone’s best-in-class tyre range and tyre management solutions with Webfleet fleet management. Drawing upon connected tyre and vehicle data and reporting, Fleetcare provides smarter and more predictive maintenance solutions for the company, helping to reduce its total cost of fleet ownership. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keystone Lintels is delighted to launch Keyfab, a new cutting-edge structural steel design and fabrication service that will bring the most creative and ambitious residential and specialised projects to life. Whatever the nature of your build, contractors and their projects can be supported every step of the way by Keystone’s industry-renowned technical team. By making Keystone Lintels a one-stop shop for steel lintels and structural steelwork, Keyfab brings industry knowledge and leading technical expertise in order to deliver a full design, fabrication and builder support package, bespoke to your project. “When dealing with structural steel, the construction industry faces numerous challenges in effectively communicating project dimensions and layouts to clients and stakeholders,” said David Allison at Keystone Lintels. “At Keystone, we recognise this challenge and are addressing it head-on with Keyfab. By leveraging clear and concise drawings, Keyfab bridges the gap between the design phase and on-site construction, ensuring that everyone involved understands the project requirements and objectives.” Keyfab provides a complete package of design, pricing, and fabrication services, ensuring a seamless experience for our customers. Keyfab from Keystone Lintels goes beyond just delivering steelwork by offering on-site builder support to enable projects to progress smoothly. With Keyfab, customers can access confirmation drawings to provide a clear visual representation of the final product. All steelwork is CE marked to EN1090 Execution Class 2, meeting the highest industry standards for quality and safety. Keystone’s fast and efficient countrywide delivery service is renowned throughout the construction industry, ensuring that builders can access the steelwork solutions they need, when they need them, to keep their projects on schedule and within budget. To provide additional peace of mind, Keyfab offer full product indemnity insurance, protecting you against any unforeseen circumstances. With industry-leading technical knowledge, Keystone is able to deliver exceptional solutions for a customer’s construction needs. Discover Keyfab and look out for our brand new and soon-to-be launched Keyfab CPD! Register your interest now at info@keystonelintels.co.uk and our technical team will be in touch to take you through Keyfab’s product accreditations and certifications, plus the whole design and fabrication service. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Investment into existing and new and branches drives further growth M.K.M Building Supplies Limited, the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchant, is pleased to announce full year results for the period ended 30 September 2023. Highlights: Kate Tinsley, CEO of MKM Building Supplies, said: “2023 was another solid year for the business. We saw MKM continue to outperform, against what was a more challenging market than recent prior years. This performance was driven by our strategic focus on new branch openings, investing in existing branches, ensuring product availability, a motivated team and our continued commitment to local communities and service.While we have grown into a national business, we have always kept to our roots, which is to work with local Branch Directors, meeting local needs and customer service at the individual branch level. We do this by incentivising local management and staff and by giving each branch significant autonomy. The result is that we have stronger relationships with our customer base, ensuring their repeat business and, through reputation, grow our market share.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Marshalls has launched Modal X™, a lower-cost, lower-carbon alternative to granite paving, offering high durability, design flexibility and straightforward installation. Building on the company’s popular Modal collection, which launched in 2020, the new Modal X features eight colourways, smooth and textured finishes, fifteen plan sizes and five depths, including three complementary sett sizes with a textured riven surface. Additionally, Marshalls’ market-leading Priora® paving is incorporated into the range, providing permeable options. The breadth of the Modal X range gives landscapers and their customers flexibility when developing mixed-use spaces including pedestrianised zones and high traffic areas. Different paving formats, such as modern linear units, help customers delineate spaces. At the same time, smaller elements can be used for finer detailing and edging, creating character and unique design elements. Likewise, Modal X offers a broad palette of warm, neutral and complementary colours, including a captivating pink granite, silver grey and light cream granite. This enables landscapers to create a contemporary finish that is aesthetically pleasing and hard-wearing. Modal X is crafted using Marshalls’ MaxiMix® Technology. This innovative technology produces an inseparable bonded layer, ensuring colour permanence and robust protection against the elements. Further, the patented surface technology creates a superior blend of aggregates and binders, resulting in an exceptionally durable, resilient paver, which is highly resistant to UV fading. Modal X is also ideal for budget-focused projects as it can be laid on a flexible, unbound bed requiring lower-priced materials, reduced installation time, and in turn, the labour costs, versus granite options. “While budgets are tightening, customers still want clever, creative and beautiful spaces,” said Tom Foster, Trading Director at Marshalls. “Our new Modal X range gives landscapers true design flexibility with hundreds of options and combinations, plus ease of installation and help towardreduced labour costs.” Modal X is the first new product range to be produced by the company’s innovative dual block plant in St Ives, Cambridge, which brings significant advantages in sustainability, lead times and bespoke ordering. “Our new dual block site delivers nearly double the output of a single plant, which is hugely beneficial to customers,” said Simon Magleave, Group Manufacturing Director at Marshalls. “As well as allowing us to cater for large-scale projects quickly, we can use the plant for smaller, morebespoke runs of made-to-order Modal X options with just-in-time delivery. “The dual block plant is partly powered by renewable energy sources, including solar array, plus a new state-of-the-art curing system which reduces carbon impact and speeds up drying times. We’ve also decreased the volume of water and cement used in the production.” For more details on Modal X, visit marshalls.co.uk/modal-x Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
