A stunning Blackdown green roof from specialists Alumasc has been chosen for the new clubhouse at the longest golf course in the UK.

Rockliffe Hall is a listed building set in 375 acres of preserved countryside in Hurworth, just outside Darlington in the North East. The new facilities will form an extension to the 19th century estate which will comprise a luxury 5-star hotel, the UK’s longest golf course (also one of the longest in Europe) and the newest spa facility in the North of England.

Alumasc’s Blackdown green-roof system was chosen for the new clubhouse – a project that presented a challenging design brief to architects Browne Smith Baker of Newcastle, who worked closely with Alumasc’s Technical Support Team to ensure the most suited solution. The location for the new clubhouse building was carefully identified to ensure it sat low down in the landscape, with the green roof blending seamlessly into the countryside, making the clubhouse almost invisible from the hotel.

1,600m² of Alumasc’s Blackdown extensive green roof was installed by Roofclad Systems of Durham, using a variety of wild grasses to harmonise with surrounding plant species and to complement the natural timber profile of the clubhouse facade. Requiring only a shallow growing medium, the green roof offered a much lighter option than turf, which in turn enabled the specification of more cost effective materials for use in the underlying roof structure, which, as a result, would not be required to support as much weight.

Blackdown green roofs from Alumasc offer notable ecological benefits, providing a natural habitat for plants and wildlife, while helping to reduce air and noise pollution, cutting carbon emissions and assisting with rainwater retention and attenuation. They vary from extensive and biodiverse types which require minimal irrigation and maintenance, to intensive roofs, which are suited for areas of public and recreational use and require more tending.

The green roof was applied over Derbigum high-performance waterproofing membrane, also from Alumasc, for exceptional long-term performance and durability, warranted for 25 years. BBA Approved, Derbigum is manufactured under the ISO 14001:2004 and EMAS Environmental Management Standards and is fire rated F.AA to BS476 Pt3 (EN1187 Pt4), the highest available rating, which allows unrestricted use under Building Regulations.

Main Contractors at Rockliffe Hall were Shepherd Construction.

Browne Smith Baker can be contacted at www.brownesmithbaker.com.

For further details on Alumasc’s Blackdown green roofs or to request literature, please contact Alumasc on 0808 100 2008. Alternatively, visit the website www.alumascwaterproofing.co.uk.