"steel reinforcement for concrete"

Project: Manufacture and installation of external GAP cladding panels using hidden fixings and chemical anchoring. Client: Stuart Forbes Associates Materials used: Bespoke size external GRC cladding panels in Rough Mist finish, treated with hydrophobic agent and clear sealant. This exciting new refurbishment project of a private house in Wimbledon, London brought with it plenty of manufacturing and installation challenges! The designers’ vision called for 2m x 1.2m large format GAP panels with mitred edges to be seamlessly wrapped around the building. The panels had to be millimetre perfect to avoid any cutting on site.

Leafy Windlesham in Surrey was the location for this 5-bedroom, £15,000,000 mansion by Searchfield Homes, complete with a 4-metre deep basement containing a swimming pool and spa pool, all of which needed to be protected from water ingress and ground gases.

Naylor Lintels were supplied to the winning project of the Supreme Award at the Brick Awards 2015 The Whitworth Art Gallery. The judges comments were - Extraordinary architectural quality both in its internal and external spatial arrangements, attention to detail and workmanship. The proportions of the external spaces are immensely effective and give a calmness and richness. The relationship to its surroundings is clear in the historic Whitworth building and its landscape setting, park and new courtyards. This building has tremendous architectural quality and its use of brick as an ornamental narrative device as well as a robust skin is exceptional.

To repair the deteriorating riverbed was a specialist one which made both local and national news.Situated in Carlisle, Cumbria, the River Eden railway viaduct recently required an urgent repair solution to the deteriorating riverbed condition, where trains were having to operate at reduced speeds of 20mph over the Victorian and 1940s-built structures.Detailed laser surveys carried out by Network Rail showed fast flowing water on the River Eden had caused parts of the riverbed to wash away, posing a risk to the viaduct foundations.

Following a successful first phase in 2018, London Power Tunnels 2 (LPT2) is a project to ‘rewire’ south London. The six-year, £1bn scheme will comprise the construction of 32.5km of 3m-diameter tunnels built deep below the road network between Wimbledon and Crayford to carry high voltage electricity cables.A Hochtief-Murphy Joint Venture (HMJV) was awarded the contract in December 2019 to design and construct the tunnels & shafts and install the EHV (extra-high volume) cable brackets. The New Cross site is one of several in the overall scheme.

The Beckett, a new retirement village close to the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, comprises three luxury apartment buildings of three, four and six storeys. The contemporary design provides 89 quality appointed apartments with a landscaped garden, all arranged around full-height atriums, allowing natural light to reach the centre of the buildings. The upper floors are set back, providing generous terrace areas which include a ‘sky lounge‘. All three buildings are concrete frame and as with any reinforced concrete slab design, The Beckett is at risk of punching shear failure, which traditionally has been resolved by adding further concrete, such as downstand beams, or localised thickened column heads. However these require complex formwork and significantly reduce the benefits offered by the flat slab design. The Schöck Bole shear rail system counters any punching shear risk and is cost-effective and significantly faster than traditional loose links – as much as four times faster in fact. This is because when using traditional links it involves far more ties to the reinforcement matt than when using the Schöck Bole. The ready-to-install reinforcement element consists of double-headed studs with spacing bars to ensure correct positioning. Two spacer bars are welded to the vertical studs, which ensure the correct distance between uprights and the forged stud heads guarantee a perfect finishing bond with the concrete. The dramatically reduced fixing time far outweighs any additional material costs that may be involved with a prefabricated system.  

Just 100 metres away from the Royal Courts of Justice in London stands 188 Fleet Street, which until recently was the home of bankers Coutts & Co. The 35,000 sq ft building, purchased for £11 million, has been recently refurbished by HD Architects to house a publishing company. The renovated office benefits from a number of striking internal steel screens which feature throughout the office and contribute to the amount of natural daylight that filters through the space.

A GEC Anderson stainless steel counter and splashbacks were recently deployed in the new meeting room and ancillary facilities at St Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe. The historic Parish Church of Wivenhoe is thought to be built on Roman foundations and is the oldest remaining building in this small riverside town in Essex. Against this historic background, the new space, designed by Inkpen Downie Architecture, provides a light and airy addition that includes a small kitchen and servery. Stainless steel was specified for the curved counter and for the splashbacks within the kitchen itself. The specified units were supplied and installed by GEC Anderson, under the supervision of local contractor, Bakers of Danbury.“This was a nice project to have been fortunate enough to be involved with and, in my opinion, is a great example of how well new can sit with old. Functionality goes hand in hand with the high quality, smart but informal appearance. The sense of space created by the extension to the main building is impressive and surely a great asset to the Church and its community.” Martin Tye, Managing Director of GEC Anderson.GEC Anderson specialise in made to measure stainless steel worktops, sinks, cabinets and shelving that have been successfully specified in a wide variety of projects and locations. A full measuring and installation service is also provided.

We were delighted when the owner of this fantastic Art Deco home in the West Midlands got in touch with us to discuss replacing the windows and doors at her home.Although the property is not listed, our client wanted to retain the character of her home which meant replacing the windows and doors with a product which matched the originals – so it had to be steel! Clement EB20 steel windows and doors provide the stunning slim frames of the original fenestration but offer a much improved specification, making them the perfect choice.The client said: “I am thrilled to express my utmost satisfaction with the quality and service provided by Clement when they installed our new windows. The professionalism and attention to detail displayed by their team were truly exceptional. The windows have not only enhanced the aesthetics of our home but have also significantly improved energy efficiency. I highly recommend Clement to anyone seeking top-notch window solutions and impeccable customer service. Thank you for a job well done!”

Twickenham Studios was established in 1913 and is one of the UK’s oldest and most celebrated film and TV studios. The Lounge is the Studio's new rooftop bar. This fabulous facility is accessed through brand new Clement steel screens. Made from strong EB24 steel sections, they are robust, but also incredibly slim and elegant. The bespoke doors have genuine T bars and a high glass specification, including Guardian Sun Guard offering solar protection and an argon gas filled cavity which improves thermal efficiency.

Stowford Mill, built in 1787, is one of Devon’s oldest historic industrial sites to still be expanding.Because of its iconic features and characteristic atmosphere, Stowford Mill has long been established as one of the trendiest places to work, eat and shop, bringing commerce and prosperity to the surrounding area, and forcing the town to expand to make room for tourists who just never wanted to leave.Part of this expansion will eventually include Burrington Estates’ eight-acre vibrant community of contemporary new homes. This new development, for which the main contractor is URBN, is due for completion in 2023.Started in March 2018, the existing homes already include Alumasc Rainwater Infinity Steel gutters and downpipes, specified to provide eco-friendly, discreet and resilient water management that will last. Crucially, this system was favoured to the use of plastic systems, to meet the demand for a readily available product that was both environmentally- and price-conscious.As the new development creates a unique new environment in which to live, work and relax in the midst of the historic area, the most important part of the project was to keep the best of the stunning architectural heritage already there, whilst finding innovative ways to incorporate the latest modern building design. Helping to bridge this gap between the historic and the modern, AWMS offered a solution.“Alumasc systems were chosen as it was the project’s requirements to specifically use steel for gutters and downpipes,” David Loader, Key Account Manager at Alumasc, explained.

Hannah Cecil-Harden is a director at de Gournay, a family business which was founded by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney. De Gournay makes the most beautiful hand-painted wallpapers and fabrics and the company’s work is found in some of the finest buildings around the world. As you would expect, every room of Hannah’s London home has been exquisitely decorated. The property has undergone many transformations in the time that Hannah has lived there, but the most recent changes were needed to accommodate her expanding family. Hannah and her husband wanted their house to work better for life with their four young children.All the floors of the house have been updated, but perhaps the biggest change was turning the existing basement into a playroom with adjoining utility and bathroom. Having worked with Hannah and the team at de Gournay on a previous project, Clement was delighted to be asked to manufacture the new steel doors that were included within the designs. We were excited that the new steel doors were to be painted in unique vibrant colours to match the stunning wallpapers that adorn the new space and we worked closely with Hannah and her team to find just the right match. We always say that our bespoke steel products can be painted in specialist hues from across the entire colour spectrum – these doors demonstrate what is possible!Hannah said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Clement Windows on this exciting project which was for a children’s playroom. I wanted to go with bold and bright colours and they were so accommodating about this, everything about the project was handled professionally and with utmost care from conception down to a flawless install. It was an absolute pleasure to work on such a personal project with a business I have collaborated with before and I look forward to hopefully crossing paths again in the future!”

Virgo Fidelis Convent School was founded in 1848. The beautiful Gothic style, club head windows with feature tear drops are a main feature of the building. The original single glazed windows were made from cast iron, offering very poor thermal performance and minimal security. After 100 years the time had come to replace them. Project managers Synergy Construction & Property Consultants were seeking a window system that could not only replicate the original design but would also meet modern performance criteria. Clement’s EB24 steel window range met these requirements.

Berwick Street is a lively and diverse community in the heart of London's Soho district, built between 1687 and 1703. It runs between Oxford Street to the north and Peter Street to the south and is well known for its thriving market which was established in the 18th century, making it one of the oldest markets in London. 90-104 Berwick Street has recently been transformed from an unattractive 1950s block into a stylish, contemporary, mixed use development. Although unlisted, the building is situated in the Core Central Activities Zone and the Soho Conservation Area, so it was vital that any changes made were in keeping with the surroundings. Clement Windows Group was requested to supply and install the custom- made steel windows and door screens used for the shop fronts on the ground level. A combination of products was specified from both hot rolled and cold formed steel profiles all with polyester powder paint surface coatings. These included Clement W40 steel windows which sit beside and above the doors, the Jansen Economy 50 range of single and double doors and Jansen Economy 60 range of bi fold doors.The Project Manager, Ben Styles said “The Clement W40 steel windows and the Jansen Economy doors provided us with the slender, elegant frames we wanted for this Central London development, giving the shop fronts a contemporary look while remaining true to the urban origins of the site. Clement delivered to our timescales, and we would use them again.”

Standing derelict on the south bank of the River Thames, Battersea Power Station renowned for its four chimneys and art deco design is undergoing a massive phased transformation in a multi-billion redevelopment programme.A ComFlor® composite floor system throughout was chosen for a number of reasons including its ability to provide a solution that is strong and robust and one that was capable of achieving the load and long span requirements. It has a low floor self-weight, obtains good load optimisation and offers fast build times.Prodeck Fixing installed over 135,000m2 of our ComFlor® floor decks on this project which will support the flooring system for the whole project using a mix of ComFlor® profiles

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the new landmark Antwerp Port House comprises of a new highly architectural four-storey extension positioned above a restored former fire station. Providing 12,800m2 of office space, the project has given the Port Authority a single headquarters building for the first time.ComFlor® was the preferred flooring option out of five put forward, based on its light weight and cost. The system also provides the required strength, could achieve the required load and span requirements and offered a fast build time.5,000m2 of ComFlor® 80 in 0.90mm gauge, as well as a quantity of ComFlor® 60 in a 1.20mm gauge for the sloped stairs, was used to deliver the flooring solution, all supplied by Dutch Engineering.

1500m2 of RoofDek D100 and D200 structural metal roof decking profiles were used to support the roof system of Hull’s Bonus Arena, a state-of-the art, music and events complex with up to 3,500 concert auditorium capacity that has the flexibility to adapt to a 2,500 all-seated event and 2,000m2 exhibition space plus 800 capacity conference auditorium.

The £64m hospital and healthcare facility on the Orkney Islands is a state-of-the-art clinical environment for the delivery of health services, and ComFlor® composite floor decking played a major role in its construction.

Wakefield has had a sporting boost with the construction of its new Minsthorpe Leisure Centre which was opened February 2018, after the 14-month project was completed on schedule. Facilities at the centre include a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, a 60-station health and fitness club and a group exercise studio.The project cladding design underwent a value engineering programme and the originally specified product was changed to include our Trimapanel® smooth faced insulated panels for the external building envelope.

Industrial building case study using Colorcoat Prisma in Seren White

urbanspec Bike Stores and Bin Stores

In 2014 landmark building No1 Aire Street underwent a dramatic transformation. The Grade II listed, 1930s Art Deco property is in Leeds City Centre Conservation Area. Significant consultation with Leeds City Council planning department and the owner Network Rail’s planners was carried out to ensure the proposals were historically compatible with the existing building. Almost a hundred original steel windows had to be replaced as sympathetically as possible but with a product which would bring improved thermal efficiency. Clement EB24 suite of bespoke steel windows was specified for the project offering high specification along with elegant, robust frame sections.

Project details Charles de Gaulle International Airport is the second largest airport in Europe after London Heathrow. It is located just outside Paris and handles over 50 million passengers every year. For this reason it can be difficult to find the time for maintenance and repairs. "The airports floors have to withstand constant heavy traffic from passengers, staff and maintenance workers. It was therefore important that their repair and paint products were quick to apply, cure and hard wearing." The work that needed to be carried out was at the entrance to Terminal 3 which is the main public transport hub for Charles de Gaulle. For this reason the work needed to be carried out and finished between the hours of 9.30pm and 6.30am. After this time heavy traffic would resume. Our solution The first job was to clean the concrete floor slabs with Watco Concroff to remove all surface contaminants including oil and fats. Watco Concroff contains no solvents or other chemicals that are dangerous for the environment and penetrates even the thickest deposits of grease. The floor was then primed with Tack Coat, an epoxy resin adhesive primer which guarantees excellent grip on the key surface. As Charles de Gaulle is subjected to such heavy constant traffic a standard mortar would not be sufficient to withstand this, for this reason they choose Watco Concrex® Carbon Fibre. As it is as strong as granite it could be smoothed to a thickness of only 3mm, making the surface both waterproof and slip resistant. The Concrex® was subsequently painted with Safety Coat. Safety Coat is roller applied and contains fine, traction enhancing particles embedded in an epoxy resin coating so this coating was ideal for providing a non slip surface for added security.

Design freedom and product flexibility was high on the architects agenda when specifying a mix stainless steel sink tops for the new education workshop and standalone sink pedestals for the artist studio at Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey.The new education space and arts studio known as the Foyle Art for All Learning Studio is part of a restoration and remodelling scheme at Watts Gallery in Compton. The work has been part funded by Heritage Lottery Fund & English Heritage, the finished scheme provides an art studio and education space for around 15 people. The gallery runs workshops for the local community including life drawing, painting and pottery, and an art club for young people.WorkshopGEC Anderson supplied a mix of Made to Measure and Decimetric units. The Made to Measure range for the workshop area allowed the specifier to order to their exact size requirements. The customised sink tops arrived on site in two continuous pieces which incorporated a lower level top to comply with DDA requirements and suit the height of children working in the studio. These items incorporated a plaster trap and sand trap in order to segregate the paints/sands being used in class from the waste water.The Made-to-Measure units included a large bespoke sink bowl 1100 x 340mm in size. There were no joins at the sink bowl, edges or upstands and the 18mm bonded substrate provided rigidity and strength as well as allowing for easy fixing.Art StudioWatts Gallery has run the Artist-in-Residence scheme since 2005 and the new studio provides all the facilities required for the artist to work there in comfort. Here GEC Andersons Decimetric commercial stainless steel sinktop was chosen for the wash area. Manufactured from domestic grade stainless steel, this free standing unit includes a lipped front and side edges, integral back upstand and is mounted on square section stainless steel legs.Mark Edmunds, Quantity Surveyor for Blenheim House Construction said “GEC Anderson was very professional in their approach to the project, delivering on time and to the correct specification.”

Primark’s flagship store on Edinburgh’s premier shopping street has undergone recent refurbishment. This has included the installation of stainless steel grating, supplied by Lang+Fulton, as flooring within the window display. Apart from its stylish contemporary appearance, the grating serves as a light-well, introducing natural daylight to the shopping area in the basement. Product: Stainless Steel

Heslington East Campus Student Residences: Sustainable and Efficient Expansion Alongside the preservation of listed buildings, the University of York is investing in a flagship £130m development for students that promotes wellbeing, community, and sustainability. The initial phase sees 16 brand new student accommodation blocks and 2 communal hub buildings providing flexible social spaces. Surrounded by stunning lake views and natural habitats, the buildings are part of a huge initiative to expand the student accommodation offering.GOALSArchitects Sheppard Robson alongside Graham Construction sought to futureproof accommodation by incorporating multi-use buildings, including catering outlets and social hubs. Key to the brief was using the latest in safety, energy efficiency, longevity, and warranty credentials. Graham Construction’s use of modular external sandwich panels, prefabricated steel bathroom pods, and pre-assembled services distribution racks used Modern Methods of Construction with off-site construction techniques.CHALLENGESThe major challenge was to specify a roofing system that could keep up with the pace of the build, given the typical building was constructed from start to finish in circa 14 weeks.The roof deck comprised of precast concrete slabs which facilitated the works programme for speed of construction and consistency in build quality.Alumasc’s challenge was to find not only a waterproofing solution that was able to keep up with such speed of construction but also to meet a truly sustainable life cycle equalling the lifetime of the building.A key consideration in the design was the roofing materials’ thermal properties. To meet the u-value target of 0.15, Alumasc’s XPS Plus insulation was specified, providing a single layer of 175mm, which reduced the height of the overall build-up when compared traditional XPS.SOLUTIONHydrotech 6125 Waterproofing System / Derbigum Hybrid Upstands For over half a century Hydrotech Monolithic Membrane has been successfully used by architects and specifiers, ensuring some of the world’s most prestigious buildings and structures are kept watertight. With no product failures in over 50 years and guaranteed waterproofing integrity for the lifetime of the structure, Hydrotech offers a total life cycle solution for the building.Hydrotech was specified on the main roof areas for this project as it easily meets individual requirements of the buildings. In addition, the system is designed to last the lifetime of the building or structure to which it is applied, giving long-term waterproofing integrity and no future replacement costs.Applied in a hot liquid state to the deck, and including a polyester reinforcement, the bond of Hydrotech MM6125 is 100% absolute. There is no risk of water tracking below the membrane and because it is monolithic, no possibility of lap failure.DERBIGUM WATERPROOFINGDerbigum sustainable roof system was selected for the upstand areas. This hybrid solution was developed to improve the thermal efficiency in all areas to mitigate against cold-bridging with minimal insulant thickness. Derbigum bituminous membranes are high-performance waterproofing systems offering extended warranties and the highest levels of project support. The upstand zones benefited from Derbigum Mineral which is a mineral surfaced composite reinforced membrane.ROOFTOP MANAGEMENT STRATEGYIn addition to the waterproofing solution the buildings benefit from the full Alumasc rooftop management service. This included the design and supply of safety systems, accessories, and over 20 AOV smoke hatches meeting all British and European standards.Specific safe zones were designed by Alumasc Roof-Pro and positioned around all roofs for safe access. Purpose made clips for installing lightning conductor tape without roof penetration were also provided. All rooftop accessories are part of the Alumasc Roofing specification and therefore can be found back-to-back within the Alumasc 35-year system warranty.PROJECT DATACompletion: Autumn 2022 BuildingType: Student Accommodation ProductApplication: Hydrotech & Derbigum waterproofing systems Certification: BBA Approved & European Technical Approval Architect: Sheppard RobsonMain Contractor: Graham ConstructionAlumasc Registered Roofing Contractor: Tandragee Roofing

Sedlescombe is England's oldest organic wine estate. The new owners have totally transformed the Vineyard's shop and tasting room with a stunning combination of steel and glass being incorporated through the whole building design. The enormous pair of radius head door screens provide a magnificent feature both internally and externally. They are in keeping with the natural surroundings and a fabulous backdrop to the shop. Inside you will find further Clement EB24 door screens and doors used to beautifully partition rooms and allow light to flow through the building.

Framlingham College was founded in 1864.The land on which the college was built was originally part of the Castle estate, left by Sir Thomas Hitcham in 1636 to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. Included in the Governors’ recent £4million development initiative was the restoration of the original metal windows within the schools boarding accommodation. Clement were chosen to sensitively replace the windows in both the Stradbrook and Rendlesham buildings. To replicate the unusual, shaped head existing windows, the Clement W20 range of steel windows was specified with vertical pivots and genuine T glazing bars.

Our client is the owner of this superb 1930s house which is located in a suburb of Manchester. The property is currently being renovated throughout and as the old windows were no longer fit for purpose, the decision was taken to replace them with a product which looked just like the original windows, but offered a much improved specification.The Clement EB20 range of steel windows was chosen, with G+ bars and beautiful fenestra joints. The new windows are dual coloured - a dark bronze was chosen for the outside frames while white was selected for the inside to match the interior.

ASF were approached to manufacture bespoke stainless steel guardrails for Hammersmith Gyratory. For this project drawings were supplied by the client to work from, although these drawings were design intent rather than working drafts.ASF re-drew to a full working draft, 3D modelled and produced a set of GA drawings for approval.Once approved the guardrails were manufactured.Posts were manufactured form 101mm diameter, grade 316 stainless steel and topped with a machined cap with a shallow coned top and deep decorative recess. Rails were from 60mm diameter grade 316 tube. Posts and rails were polished to a high 2k finish and the capes were left machine finished.The finished product is a very stylish and heavy duty, low maintenance guardrail.

Bolton Gate were specified to provide the security grilles for the recently completed extension and refurbishment of the BMW Motorcycle showroom in Manchester. In keeping with the prestigious appearance of the building and high-end motorcycles on show, parallel mesh electric grilles in polished stainless steel were chosen to protect the showroom and external windows. In order to remain unobtrusive during trading hours, the bottom rails and side guides were powder coated white to match the surrounding walls and ceiling. For ease of operation, all grilles were electrically linked to allow simultaneous operation.

The town of Whitchurch in Hampshire is a special place: most of the town is a Conservation Area, the amount of wildlife in and near the River Test means its course and banks are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the town is the Gateway to the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the third largest of Britain's 46 AONBs. The current Town Hall was built by a local landowner, Lord Middleton, in or around 1791, using some of the timbers from the Old Town House that had stood in the centre of The Square, and was demolished in the 1780s. During the 1800s the building had many tenants including the Mechanics Institute and a furniture warehouse.Records show that in the 1900s the building was also put to a variety of uses. The local Magistrate held sessions, two rooms were used to shelter Military Units passing through Whitchurch, and in 1919 the building was used by the National Federation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors. Parish Councils were set up in 1896, but met at the Poor Law Institute (the Gables). More recently, the National Fire Service was accommodated in the lower middle section of the building. In 1946, Midland Bank, (now HSBC) was in the lower right hand corner. The Town Band practiced here, and the British Legion used the upper floor. Recently, an extensive program of refurbishment works has taken place to improve the Grade II* Listed Building. This included new steel doors and windows by Clement for the front elevation. The Clement W20 range was chosen for both, with krypton gas filled units. Ash pull handles perfectly complement the steel doors and Boleyn handles were chosen for the steel windows. Sarah Weir, Clerk at Whitchurch Town Council said ““The Town Council are really pleased with the new windows and door which are modern, practical and in keeping with the historic building”. 

Club Venu is a premier destination for dining, dancing, arts and culture. Set in a beautiful waterfront location, it’s undoubtedly one of the most stunning attractions in North Wales. The architectural plan included a roof terrace on the second floor, which incorporated a balustrade. In total, more than 40 metres of stainless steel Q-line balustrade with glass clamps, handrails and offset handrail brackets were mounted. Modern and minimal in appearance, this solution nevertheless offered considerable time and cost savings. The exterior balustrade delivered unbeatable safety without sacrificing transparency. The result is a stunning, uninterrupted view of the waterfront.

J&P was involved early in discussions with several members of the project team, and using its BEAMCON product, provided a coordinated and value-engineered range of solutions to the multiple fixing requirements on the project. These included brackets that could take vertical shear loads of 72 kN, horizontal shear of 270 kN, tension of 495 kN and a moment of 25 kNm. BEAMCON was used to fix the innovative ETFE cladding “cushions” which give The SSE Hydro its distinctive appearance.

Naylor Lintels have been supplied to another prestigious project. Network Rail awarded the Wakefield Westgate “Gateway” Station project to Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd. The overall scope of the project • The construction of a BREEAM 2011 Excellent rated Station Building including DfT Code of Practice compliant lifts providing step free access to Platform 1 & Platform 2 and an enclosed footbridge • The Station embraces a modern open plan foyer including a travel centre, retail outlets, coffee shops and First Class Lounge • Integrated transport interchange providing a functional forecourt with Taxi/car drop-off, short stay parking and bus replacement facilities

A new £13.5million sports and swimming complex in Blackburn town centre has been constructed to replace the ageing Waves Water Fun Centre. The joint project between Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackburn College will provide for students and residents swimming pools but also a larger fitness suite, a dance/ aerobics studio, sauna and steam room and two sports halls. The scheme, partly-based on Darwen Leisure Centre, will reduce the running costs of the existing Waves complex and reduce the subsidy.