| New Falmouth student flats are using innovative building techniques to be ready for the start of the academic year.
A new homes complex designed for students will be ready in time thanks to a pioneering construction system. With the academic term starting on a fixed date there is no room for late housing projects aimed at this market but this has not been a worry for the developer; Devington Homes.
Well renowned developers of quality housing Devington Homes have put all their skill into developing these specially designed student homes. Using the French Outinord prefabricated formwork system they estimate they will reduce the normal build time by approximately 3 months and reduce their costs by 25%. Using this method they have been able to pour enough concrete for four apartment shells in two days, the normal time by conventional methods would be approximately a week.
Located in a prime position with views over the water the development has taken much care to blend into the surrounding area. With the importance of encouraging a bio diverse environment around the new building, Devington Homes employed a Landscape architect – Rathbone Partnership - to consider the issues for 2 main areas of the development – the roof and the meadow land between the building and the rail track.
As a result Maritime Accommodation has a fully planted 'green' roof which supports a variety of vegetation growth. The roof is presently in its first stages of growth but will in the long term be an ‘island’ of ecological diversity for the local wildlife on the roof , this will also help to reduce surface runoff and will provide additional ‘natural’ insulation to the building. Not only is this visually appealing, it is eco-friendly and improves air-quality. The meadow land surrounding the building gives a relaxed and pleasant enviroment for students to enjoy.
Located centrally in Falmouth the student accommodation is close to all the campuses; Wood Lane, Tremough and the Marine School. These campuses are either a short walk away or for Tremough there is a regular bus service. These links have recently been expanded and there is also a connecting walkway to Falmouth Docks Railway Station, providing branch line access to Penryn Station, a quarter of a mile from the Tremough Campus. This journey continues to the mainline station at Truro (Cornwall's cathedral city) with ongoing direct access to mainline Paddington in London. |
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