Client: Regent's Place
Architect: Terry Farrell and Partners
Contractor: Tilbury Contracts
Type of works: supply of Blackdown bio-diverse green roofs from Alumasc.

Alumasc Blackdown has provided a series of stunning bio-diverse green roofs for central London’s new mixed-use development Regent’s Place. Believed to be the first of their kind in the UK, the roofs are designed to create a high value bio-diverse environment through the provision of a broad range of wildlife habitats.

Regent’s Place is a multi-storey development comprising office space and residential dwellings. The roof was designed by Arup who worked closely with British Land, and project architects Terry Farrell and Partners, to implement a corporate Bio-Diversity Action Plan. The brief was to design bio-diverse roofs covering two terraces and a third roof area. With all the spaces occupying prominent locations, the appearance of the roof planting at different times of the year was an important consideration.

Tilbury Contracts of Rainham installed a total of 2,600m² of Alumasc’s Blackdown green roof over three buildings. Combining all the available types of green roof build-up, the roofs provide instant aesthetic appeal, while enhancing the local ecological resource. The waterproofing membrane and inverted roof insulation was first covered with a reservoir board followed by a ‘puzzle’ pattern of polyester powder coated compartments. Each compartment was then filled with a particular growing medium i.e. pebbles, limestone chippings, pellite, crushed brick and pine bark strippings, semi-intensive soils, sand and hardwood split logs. The substrates were installed at different depths and planted with a wide range of plants, including mosses and sedums, wildflowers and grasses, small shrubs and aquatic species within the pre-formed ponded areas.

The project provides the essential habitats needed for rare and scarce plant species, as well as invertebrates such as bees, spiders and beetles and a foraging habitat for one of London’s bio-diversity action targets, the Black Redstart. Blackdown green roofs also offer other notable benefits, assisting with rainwater management, helping to reduce air and noise pollution and cutting carbon emissions.

Sarah Cary, Sustainable Developments Executive at British Land, comments, “British Land is committed to encouraging biodiversity and we have developed green roofs at many of our properties. By working in partnership with Alumasc, we have used the latest innovation and technology to develop habitats which encourage wildlife and support native plant species in urban areas.”

A further 11,800m² of Alumasc’s Hydrotech MM6125 waterproofing was installed to the ground floor and 15 separate areas, including plant rooms and terraces. Hydrotech is the first choice for zero falls waterproofing on inverted green roofs and hard landscaped podium structures in new build applications. BBA accredited, it is designed to last for lifetime of the structure and available with a 20 year warranty. Hydrotech is manufactured and supplied under ISO 9000:2000 and 14001:2004 Quality and Environmental Management Standards.

To request literature on Alumasc’s Blackdown green roofs and Hydrotech MM6125, please contact Alumasc on 0808 100 2008. Alternatively, visit the website www.alumascwaterproofing.co.uk.