Deliveries of Freshfield Lane bricks have started on the exciting, vast redevelopment of 10.2 hectares of Elephant and Castle, London. This is an opportunity to revive a significant area of Zone 1 and rescue it from its current reputation as a failed housing estate. Lend Lease a leading, fully integrated, international property and infrastructure group in conjunction with London Borough of Southwark, aim to transform the site into a vibrant living and working environment for the existing community and an expanding future population. Involving an integrated approach to living, shopping, downtime and work spaces, Lend Lease are working together with architects such as MAKE responsible for the Master plan, dRMM who have designed in detail the Rodney Road Phase and Squire & Partners who were assigned the design of a 300 unit, 30 storey development in order to build on the strengths of this central London area.
2025 is the completion date for the scheme, which includes approximately 2,800 new homes, new shops, restaurants, parks and squares with vital improvements to roads, public transport, pedestrian and cycle routes. The challenge is to retain its unique and diverse South London identity throughout the mixed-use scheme which is of a scale rarely seen. To re-establish a new public realm to mirror the old Georgian street network.
A bespoke clay blend was created by Freshfield Lane using a variety of MBH PLC’s most popular products from Selected Light and Dark Facing bricks to Anthracite bricks and Danehill Yellows, just to name a few. Approximately 400,000 bricks will be blended at the works from the range of colours specified in order to produce a subtle blend so that each facade can sit comfortably within its surrounding Georgian context.
Encouraging sustainable behaviour
One of 17 founding projects from across the world to be part of a new environmental initiative (the Climate Positive Development Program) and also one of ten low carbon zones identified by the Mayor of London tasked with local production of cleaner better value energy to fuel local households and businesses. The development will demonstrate climate-positive strategies and hopes to set a new standard for future urban schemes. Consideration is given to how the development will be used and managed to encourage a hierarchy of sustainable behaviours, such as enhancing biodiversity, improving public transport and cycle networks, & maximising the resource efficiency of buildings. The approach to development and construction will also contribute to sustainable outcomes through interim uses, and leveraging the scale of the project to engage with the supply chain. The scheme will achieve a minimum of Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 (using current best practice standards) whilst the development meets the Government’s trajectory towards zero carbon for new homes by 2016.
Lee Marley Brickwork founded in 1994, is one of the UK’s leading specialist brick and stonework contractors working on the redevelopment. The company have worked with building contractors on major contracts in the Education sector, Custodial, Private & Social, Health & Education along with others. With unrivalled experience in delivering the highest quality work, Managing Director Lee Marley explains why it is important for the manufacturer and contractor to work together to fulfil the requirements of each phase of this development, on time and to budget. “This vast development includes 2,800,000 sq.ft of residential development, 50,000 sq.ft of office workspace and a further 150,000 sq.ft of retail, community and leisure spaces. The brickwork package includes over half a million bricks within the first phase alone, it is therefore essential that we work hand in hand with the manufacturer for the highest quality finish.”
MBH PLC is proud to participate in the regeneration of this urban site, to rejuvenate community spaces where we live, work and play whilst retaining its diverse South London identity. The manufacturer looks forward to the completion of phase 1 in late 2014, to realise this vision and the positive changes that this development will provide future generations, in one of the World’s most popular cities.
