Build Lite has recently been involved in a unique development in Walmer, on the Kent coast. The construction of 30 luxury homes on the historic North Barracks site, the former home of the Royal Marines.
Originally built in 1795 as a military hospital, the site has always been used as a barracks right up to 1996 when the military base was closed and the Marines were transferred to Portsmouth.
However, the site, despite much of it’s now being turned over to housing, still has strong links with local residents. In March 1996, at its closing, over 6000 residents braved the pouring rain to witness the retreat of the Massed Bands and each year they are treated to a concert by the Royal Marines in memory of the 11 Royal Marine musicians killed by the IRA in 1989.
There are also reminders of its former life, buildings and features of the barracks still remain as an integral part of the development. These include grade ll listed officers’ houses and guardhouse, a military cemetery and a memorial garden marking the site of the IRA bombing.
The North Barracks development, by local developer/builder ATS Estates, consists of a selection of three and four-bedroom townhouses, all individually designed. They include link detached and end terraces – all fitted out to an exceptionally high standard.
Build Lite was involved from the start.
Kent-based ATS Estates chose Future Found as their preferred foundation option but with reservations as neither them or their approved groundworks team had used the product previously.
Build-Lite agreed to attend site and offer a 2-day training session with Milton groundworks and work together to install the first pair of semi-detached houses.
This proved very successful as Milton groundworks is now an approved installer and have recently used the system on their own development.
Future Found offers an easy to install, thermally insulated and totally bespoke foundation envelope at a significantly lower cost of using a traditional method. It is also suitable for all ground conditions including a chalk bedrock, and as it is manufactured off-site, able to be installed by non-specialist tradespeople, and considerable savings on machine time and spoil removal.
Another major benefit is the high thermal efficiency. Future Found is precision engineered to provide an ultra-low U-Value designed to eliminate cold bridges especially at wall / floor junctions and will last the lifetime of the building without losing any of its thermal properties or water resistance.
The 30-home development being created by ATS Estates has been crafted with an attention to detail that combines an ornate design and smooth contemporary lines with a high-end finish.
To create this contemporary look, ATS turned to Build Lite to design and produce a series of weathered coping and cornice architectural mouldings, that complemented the external building material of other properties in the area.
Using Stone-Coat, our unique stone–effect product, that looks and feels like stone but much lighter, enabled the architect increased flexibility to create, according to the estate agent, Jenkinson Estates, one of the most exciting new housing developments in the area for many years.
Stone-Coat is manufactured off site and delivered ‘just in time’ to the site. This and the fact that it does not require heavy lifting machinery and specialist tradespeople is another reason the client chose Stone – Coat.
Are you interested in Future Found or Stone Coat for your property? At Build-Lite, we can help. Get in touch with our team to learn more.
