Barham Park Case Study

Countryside Properties, working in partnership with Notting Hill Housing and the London Borough of Brent, is redeveloping Brent’s Barham Park estate. The project involves demolishing the 214 existing homes on the estate, built in the 1970s, to make way for 335 new mixed-tenure sustainable homes, ranging from one-bedroom flats to large family houses with gardens.

This major regeneration project brings accommodation on the estate up to 21st century standards and provides a much-needed facelift for the neighbourhood. Thermal efficiency is key. The development is designed to meet the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, and all properties must feature the appropriate technologies to help minimise heat loss and reduce noise. Vitally, this called for effective wall insulation within the render system.

The insulated render system on the Barham Park estate was installed by Malden Facades, using over 3,000m2 of TS Rail with 160mm EPS . Façades were then rendered with a weather friendly Granomin textured coat and NanoSil self-cleaning finish. NanoSil reduces weathering, alleviates soiling and keeps buildings looking fresh for longer.

All work carried out complies with Level 4 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes.

The render system incorporates a fire retardant expanded polystyrene insulant (EPS) that has successfully undergone full-scale fire testing to BS8414 Part 2 of the building regulations, and is compliant for use on buildings above 18 metres high.

The use of EPS is popular with specialist contractors as its quick and easy to install and unlike other insulation types, protruding edges can be rasped flat for an even finish. This prevents insulation joints ‘shadowing’ through the finish, especially on large rendered elevations.

TS Rail is also exceptionally flexible, which allows for a seamless finish on even the tallest elevations of continuous render. This allows for a crisp, flawless modern look that cannot be achieved with other rain-screen clad systems.