Aggregate Industries supplies building blocks to UK’s 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.”