Portland Green Student Village

IDPartnership Specifies Tobermore Paving at £20m Student Village in Newcastle

Architect, IDPartnership, was seeking a hard landscaping solution for Portland Green, a new £20 million student village in Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne, that would be attractive yet functional. Tobermore provided the architect with the perfect solution with the supply of striking Sienna, modern Fusion and smooth Shannon block paving products.

The project was managed by Metnor Group and is hoped to breathe new life into the area and boost trade for local restaurants, bars and retail outlets.

The first phase, consisting of a 274 bedroom luxury student accommodation building and 2 retail units, was completed in 2013 and the second phase, consisting of a 338 bedroom accommodation building and 4,500 sq. ft. of retail space, was completed in late 2015.

David Moore, Senior Associate at IDPartnership, explained that the objective for the outdoor space at the student accommodation complex was to “provide quality hard landscaping around the building and in the centrally located courtyard at a reasonable cost.

“We decided that block paving was the most suitable solution as it was in fitting with other paved projects we had designed nearby.

“The landscape design concept was to define different areas and routes on campus that could also provide a colourful contrast to the dark brick apartment buildings.”

David Moore, Senior Associate at IDPartnership

The architect liaised with Tobermore’s North East Sales team in a bid to achieve a landscape with aesthetic appeal and sustainability. David said:

“What impressed us most about Tobermore was the range of products, the beautiful colours available, and the cost-effectiveness.”

A selection of Tobermore’s Sienna block paving in the colours of Graphite and Silver, and Fusion block paving in the colours of Cream, Silver and Graphite was specified for the area surrounding the project.

Sienna and Fusion are manufactured with a granite aggregate surface layer that produces a sparkling, modern look, similar to natural granite. Sienna is available in single sizes and duo sizes while Fusion is a modular sized product.

IDPartnership also selected Tobermore’s smooth Shannon block paving in the vibrant, blended colour of Heather. Shannon was installed within the courtyard area and has enhanced the beauty of the complex and provided a stylish outdoor space for residents to unwind in.

Fusion Kerb in a striking granite aggregate finish was chosen as the appropriate kerbing solution to complement the paving products used across the site.

On reflection of the completion of phase two of this project, David Moore said, “I’m very happy with the products supplied by Tobermore, so much so, that we are already using more products on the next two phases.

“We would recommend Tobermore for any type of project.”