A newly constructed primary school in Waterlooville, Hampshire has applied over 1500 square metres of Bituchem’s most popular hard landscaping material, Natratex Cotswold, to its outdoor playground and teaching areas.
Berewood Primary School opened its gates for its first year of teaching in September last year. Built to accommodate 420 children aged four to eleven, the new primary school is part of the University of Chichester Academy Trust and is just one element of the ongoing development in West of Waterlooville.
Bituchem’s Natratex Cotswold material was specified in buff due to its visually attractive qualities when compared with a standard black asphalt tarmac surface but with the same smooth properties that make asphalt a safe surface to use around schools.
Paula Downard, Landscape Architect at Hampshire County Council commented, “The appearance and practicality of the Natratex Cotswold material make it the perfect solution for this application and we are very pleased with the end result. Hampshire County Council specified this material for another project nearby and so we were able to view the performance and colour beforehand. We received a sample of the material from Bituchem and were advised that the colour would eventually fade to a softer, more attractive colour, which was extremely helpful in managing our expectations.”
The Natratex Cotswold material is formed of natural coloured aggregates combined with a specially formulated clear resin binder to produce a smooth, hard-wearing surface whilst offering a natural stone finish. This strong binder reduces the likelihood of the material deteriorating causing potholes or other breakages in the surface, making it a smoother and safer surface for young children to play on.
Suitable for new constructions, overlays or regeneration projects, the Natratex Cotswold material is very versatile in its application and can be used for all areas used by pedestrians and light vehicles. The material is also very environmentally friendly with a fast and simple application making it an easy specification for both private and public sector projects.
The Natratex Cotswold is available in a range of colours to meet the individual requirements of each contract, with the Bituchem design team available to find the right aggregate type and colour to suit the specification.