Leicester city centre is being transformed by a major £19 million regeneration project that will see the development of shopping facilities, performing arts centres, residential accommodation and business districts.
Objectives:
To provide hard landscaping materials for ten pedestrian streets located within the ‘Streets and Spaces’ scheme and to link them to the new retail and cultural districts of the city centre. The products were required to fit in with and reflect the new clean-cut look of the streets of other recent city centre developments at the Shires Shopping Centre and Highcross Leicester, creating a unified theme across the city.
Charcon formed a close working relationship with the local architects and contractors and has supplied £1.5 million worth of natural stone products, providing over 30,000 m2 of Chinese Natural Granite for kerbs and setts, paving and benches, in a variety of different finishes and sizes to create a unique and individual look for each street. Suitably hardwearing and practical, the granite typically lasts at least twice as long as concrete and is also recyclable.
Charcon hard landscaping has also been used to create a Pedestrian Preference Zone, helping to increase access for visitors, reduce pollution and provide a safer and easier place to travel through. The range of granite colours used includes a number of greens and pinks which take on an extra vibrancy when wet or damp. The material is also cut to a tight tolerance to enable precision laying in compact areas such as the city centre, where time taken to lay the product is also an important factor.
“The scheme is really starting to take shape, as the progression of each street from almost two years ago is astonishing. Fitting in with the city’s new image and complementing other city centre developments, Charcon has been able to exceed the demands of the client and add a new dimension to a city full of vibrancy and possibility.”
Charcon has been able to exceed the demands of the client and add a new dimension to a city full of vibrance and possibility
Richard Colton, Natural Stone Manager, Charcon
- Natural Granite paving and setts both have outstanding aesthetic appeal, coupled with high durability, and are available in a range of textures and finishes. All Charcon Granite is quarried especially to order, to tolerances as tight as required, and to the relevant European standard. Great care is taken to ensure that Charcon’s products are sourced responsibly.
- Natural Granite is suitable for all pedestrian areas, and areas with vehicular overrun, subject to the correct design procedures being followed