Key Role for Rochdale Architectural Fabrication Company in Town Centre Regeneration and Sustainability Project

Rochdale based Guttermaster has had a pivotal role in a development to provide modern retail space and preserve the character Swadlincote in south Derbyshire.  A new Morrisons store features key components by the local architectural aluminium specialist and shows how to meet the needs for traditional appearance and address modern concerns for low maintenance and sustainability.  

“This is a major store adjoining the high street of a medium sized town,” explained Guttermaster managing director Mike McKee.  “The challenge for Morrisons and their architects was to create a store that announced its presence, but which in profile and use of materials would fit comfortably into its surroundings.  A key sustainability aim was to use long life, low maintenance materials with low lifetime environmental impact.”

To create a traditional external appearance to the Swadlincote store, the architects, Race Cottam Associates, selected Guttermaster traditional style gutters and rainwater downpipes.  These gutters are moulded to replicate traditional cast iron gutters.  However, being made from aluminium, they weigh less and are much easier to install.   Furthermore, aluminium gutters require minimal maintenance and give greater rainwater handling capacity than the traditional alternative. 

The gutters and rainwater downpipes are complimented by bespoke architectural fabrications for the entrance tower.  These specially fabricated flashing details to the roof perimeter give the entrance a distinctive skyline profile. 

Perimeter walls on the development are sealed and protected using Guttermaster Snap-Lok wall copings.  This innovative system uses a base plate as a secure anchor over which the coping is snapped into place, concealing and protecting the fastenings and providing a secure coping with fully weathered overlapping joints.

The installation of rainwater goods, copings and architectural detailing to the towers was undertaken by rainwater specialist Cornforth Construction and main contractor was Sol Construction.  

Externally the gutters, pipes and flashings are finished in dark grey.  The internal faces are untreated and will soon acquire a tough oxide layer that will seal and protect the metal from further weathering and deterioration.   With only periodic maintenance the Guttermaster products should last the life of the building.  

Aluminium offers long term sustainability.  In addition to its long life, it has the additional advantage that it remains a high value material which is easily recycled with only modest energy usage.  Around 40 percent of the products made by Guttermaster at their Spotland Road works are made from recycled material.  

Swadlincote is a town of 30,000 people.  Before the development, the high street had become run-down so many residents were travelling out of town for weekly shopping.   Since the new store opened, it has revitalised the town, retaining local shoppers and bringing visitors from outlying districts.  This increase in pedestrian traffic has benefited other traders on the High Street, where paving and street furniture have also been updated and clutter removed to improve the shopping environment.   


More Information
Mike McKee, Tel. +44 (0)1706 869550 Fax. +44 (0)1706 869551
E-mail: mikemckee@guttermaster.co.uk Web: www.guttermaster.co.uk
Guttermaster Ltd, Shawclough Trading Estate, Shawclough Road, Rochdale, OL12 6ND, UK

High/low resolution images are on the web at www.ainsmag.co.uk/gu234/4299gu1a.htm

January 30, 2008