Rushden Lakes

Location: Nene Valley, Nottinghamshire
Architect: HPW Architecture
Photography: Jason Insley

A £140 million development to create a next generation shopping and leisure park in Northamptonshire is using smooth anti-slip to provide a durable and effective external anti-slip surface for visitors.

Rushden Lakes, at Nene Valley in Northamptonshire, is set to open to visitors in summer 2017, and will offer over 400,000 sq.ft of new retail and restaurant accommodation, together with leisure activities which are all set against the backdrop of a lake.

The unique project, which comprises a 30-acre development, will also link up four existing nature reserves, identified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), to create the Nene Wetlands, a one mile square natural space for visitors and wildlife to enjoy.

As part of the project, more than 500,000 sq.ft of anti-slip decking was used at the retail park development, creating a linear length of around 40km.

Gary Wilburn, director of design and sustainability at HPW Architecture, which led the design and development of the masterplan for the 244-acre site, explains why, when selecting a decking solution to meet the bespoke needs of the project, anti-slip in a smooth profile was the obvious choice. He says: “The unique nature of the Rushden Lakes development is setting an entirely new standard for the retail and leisure experience, and as such, we required a decking solution which would not only deliver enduring anti-slip properties, but one which would also seamlessly fit in with the wider natural surroundings.

Having used anti-slip boards previously, we were already reassured that the product could meet our bespoke needs but furthermore, meet the wider objective of the development project to ensure we used the highest quality specialised materials throughout.”

The timber decking boards are specifically designed to provide a durable and effective external anti-slip surface to minimise any risk of slipping – even in adverse weather conditions.

Anti-slip deck boards have two resin-based aggregate inserts, which are injected into the deck board grooves. Where huge numbers of visitors are expected, anti-slip decking is an ideal solution.