Manor Street, Braintree Regeneration

URSA TERRA Glass Wool specified at major regeneration scheme

Construction giant Kier, has specified over 3,000 square metres of URSA TERRA Glass Wool as part of a £30million regeneration scheme at Manor Street, Braintree, Essex.

The scheme will help rejuvenate and revitalise the area, providing essential new facilities and an attractive public realm whilst cultivating a vibrant town centre destination for the local community.

Under the ambitious scheme, Kier chose URSA glass wool, as core insulation specification. The architects opted for URSA Walltec Black 32 at 100mm, 140mm and 200mm thickness along with URSA Hometec Roll 35 in a range of thicknesses for use throughout the development.

Ian Claydon of URSA explained: “We were first involved in the scheme in July 2020 when approached by our distributor, Encon Insulation (Newmarket) to discuss a series of architect’s drawings and design the specification for a number of different wall types including traditional masonry cavity and rainscreen cladding with both cladding panels and brick outer leaf.

“We undertook numerous U-value calculations covering 18 different wall types. We also offered advice on the ‘buildability’ of some wall types, effect of linear thermal bridges, the fire performance of the walls and fire performance of the insulation.

“The specification has evolved since with Kier adding metal roof insulation to their chosen product range and we are now providing a complete insulation solution.

“This scheme typifies how our glass wool products are the perfect fit for almost any wall design or construction type that can potentially make up a building. It’s far reaching benefits in terms of performance, durability and flexibility see URSA TERRA specified time and time again in both commercial and residential schemes.”

Ian added: “Working closely with Encon Insulation we will be supplying products to site on an as needed basis. Whilst we are facing challenges with imports caused by both Brexit and Covid, we are still devising solutions which allow us to retain strong stock levels and cater for the demands of a large site such as this.”

The mixed-use scheme at Braintree will include 35 new homes, a 70-room hotel, health provision, new bus interchange, two-storey car park, and enhanced public realm, which will complement Braintree’s historic Town Hall and provide the perfect backdrop for a new café restaurant.

A new healthcare facility will sit at the centre of the development and will also provide a home for Mid Essex CCG’s first Livewell Hub including a GP surgery, pharmacy and further preventative healthcare services. At the centre also will be an accessible garden area which the general public are encouraged to utilise, enjoy and relax surrounded by existing public amenities offered by the library, museum and the historic, Grade II listed, Braintree Town Hall.

A new car park across two floors will provide additional parking capacity whist a new hotel feeds into the wider tourism strategy for the district.

Partnering remains critical within the wider URSA approach. Technical staff are keen to collaborate with clients at the initial design stage to support the best specification available. Ian concluded: “The Braintree scheme represents the very best of what URSA can offer – from a true sense of partnering with the client to the application of a vast range of products designed for multiple specifications. We continue to demonstrate our agility and strength as a business and are able to present products with assured confidence.”