Cembrit’s Westerland and Moorland BBA certified fibre cement slates have helped achieve a Code for Sustainable Homes and a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating for a newly built £30m retirement village in Witney, Oxfordshire. Comprising of one and two-bedroom homes, special suites, and a 60-bed care home, the village specialises in nursing and dementia care. The project is built in an attractive, traditional style which is complemented by Cembrit’s Westerland and Moorland slates.
Based in Hertfordshire, BAM Construct UK worked with roofing specialist Attleys Roofing on the project. Approximately 64,000 each of Westerland and Moorland slates were installed by Attleys with both Westerland and Moorland slates reportedly being chosen for its distinctive and contrasting textures, as well as its BBA certified A/A+ rating.
Alex Attley of Attleys Roofing commented: “We chose Westerland and Moorland for their ease of installation as well as the authentic dressed edges which give a beautiful, traditional appearance that fits perfectly with the aesthetic of the site. The A/A+ rating also contributed to the environmentally-friendly construction goals that were a key target for the project.”
Alongside its environmentally-friendly manufacturing process, Cembrit’s Westerland and Moorland slates are said to have a surface texture and dressed edge similar to that of natural slate. However, unlike natural slate it does not need grading and sorting prior to installation, so it saves time on site. They are easy to work with as they can be cut with hand tools, so no special equipment is required. The slates are finished with a semi-matte acrylic coloured coating to the top face and edges, as well as a tinted high-performance binder to the back face.
