Filon Products has supplied roofing to access decks and canopies for doorways and covered walkways as part of a refurbishment program at the Byker Wall Estate in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Designed by notable architect Ralph Erskine and completed in the 1970s, the estate occupies a 200 acre site. It is is widely recognised as a successful example of urban regeneration and has won many architectural awards.

Today the estate is Grade 2 listed and recent refurbishments have involved careful reinstatement of original features and colour schemes, using modernised materials where possible, while retaining the look and feel of the 1970s design scheme.

Steve Vickers of Filon Products was invited to a site meeting at the estate, to make recommendations for refurbishment of translucent GRP canopies and coloured door canopies in various areas of the estate.

Steve Vickers says: “Historical documents and research revealed that the original profile used on roofing to balconies, canopies and covered walkways, was British Alcan A7. We were able to match this profile using our Filon Supasafe triple reinforced sheeting with a Class 1 fire rating.

Original drawings of the door canopies were also provided and we developed as close a profile match as possible using opaque coloured Supasafe with a Class 3 fire rating.”

Work began in early 2014 and progressed smoothly, with completion imminent at the end of 2014.