CASE STUDY - LANGRIDGE ESTATE, MORECAMBE

PROJECT BACKGROUND

In 2004, Lancaster City Council was involved in a programme of works aimed at delivering environmental improvements across its 575 square kilometre borough. One particular area of focus was identified as the Langridge Estate in Westgate, Morecambe. 

Built in the early eighties and home to a large and diverse community of tenants, it was to benefit from the renewal of its existing boundary fencing and a review of its landscaping as part of a wider 10 year capital scheme. 

PROJECT AIMS 

When the project was instigated, the landscaping of the Langridge Estate comprised large areas of stained softwood timber boundary fencing and abundant shrub planting. Due to their age, both features were demanding increasing amounts of maintenance - such as painting, staining and repair of the timber fencing plus the intensive pruning, mulching and re-stocking of the planting areas - ultimately placing a strain on the Council’s funds and resources. 

To avoid these problems reoccurring in the future, Lancaster City Council wanted to use this programme of work to actually improve on the affected features, rather than simply replacing them. 

PROJECT SOLUTION

FENCING

To deliver greater long term efficiency and returns on investment, specifiers decided to introduce a maintenance free fencing system. This was installed in three phases over a period running from 2005 to 2008. It consisted of:

Plaswood fencing panels. Manufactured from 100% recycled polythene, Plaswood's recycled plastic furniture offer all the aesthetics of wood but with none of wood’s associated maintenance requirements. Manufactured by bpi.recycled products, the largest recycler of waste polythene in Europe, they are highly durable and will not corrode, splinter, crack or fade. They can also be recycled again and again and play an important role in diverting waste from landfill.

Supalite PVCu composite fence posts and gravel boards. Manufactured from 88% recycled materials, these products are high strength yet still flex without breaking. They are also incredibly light, do not crack or chip and are maintenance free.

Products from both ranges were successfully installed around individual properties and around blocks of flats. In contrast to the previous fencing, the specifiers opted for a design that employed only two heights of post and rail palisade fencing - 1200mm and 1800mm. The higher fencing was reserved solely for screening purposes at the ends of terraces and at site perimeters.

It was also decided that there would be only one colour of fencing posts (green) and one colour for all rail and pale panel fencing (black).

The result is a more uniform appearance and walkways between the neighbouring areas of the estate that feel more open and inviting. To compliment this, all new gates also match the new fencing heights and colour.

PLANTING

To overcome the issues with some of the shrub planted areas, Lancaster City Council offered ‘ownership’ of this land to residents living adjacent and incorporated it into their existing gardens. Other areas have been re-stocked with established shrubs and ground cover specifically chosen for their resilient, evergreen and slow growing nature. The remaining areas have been turfed.

Low level protective fencing surrounds these planting areas and employs materials and colour choices that match the post, rail and pale fencing used elsewhere on the estate.

PROJECT BENEFITS

• Minimal future maintenance requirements

• Savings in cost and resources over the long term

• Improved aesthetics and quality of environment for local residents

• Enhanced green credentials th