Birmingham Bullring
A scheme aimed at attracting more restaurants to the Birmingham Bulling has been completed. Set around St Martin’s Square, the Spiceal Scheme has created a new area of restaurants and enhancements to the areas public realm.
UltraScape’s Flowpoint was specified, and was instrumental in the area’s successful development. The scheme is on a slope, which leads up to one of the Bullring’s main entrance areas, therefore several flights of steps were constructed. Both make the laying of paving challenging but UltraScape’s flowable grout is ideal for such a construction.
UltraScape Flowpoint was specified for use on this project because it is ideal for urban regeneration schemes, allowing large areas to be pointed quickly, and with ease, then simply washed clean. Due to the product’s rapid setting performance, paving grouted with Flowpoint can be opened to pedestrians in just 1 hour and vehicular traffic after only 4 hours, minimising disruption. Furthermore, UltraScape Flowpoint meets and exceeds all of the requirements of the latest British Standard, BS 7533. This British Standard promotes professional results that can give a minimum construction life of 40 years.
The product is suitable for almost all paving types, including sandstone, limestone, concrete and granite. It is fast and efficient to apply leaving a perfect, stain free finish. Ideal for wide or narrow joints, Flowpoint can accommodate widths of 5-50mm and depths of up to 200mm in a single pass. It is therefore, just as equally suited to irregular granite setts as it is to large profile stone paving.
In addition, Flowpoint is also available in ECO, offering all the regular benefits of the grout but containing 20% recycled material, significantly reducing the consumption of virgin aggregates – a must of seeking BREEAM or CEEQUAL accreditation.
On completion of the scheme the street was opened with a special performance which saw diggers dance with humans on the newly laid paving. Another testament to the strength and characteristics of Flowpoint, a product which achieves 49.6N/mm² compressive strength (28 days).
Bullring is the glamorous heart of Birmingham with over 160 imaginative and desirable shops to explore. Since opening in 2003 Bullring has helped to transform shopping in Birmingham – making it one of the most popular destinations for retail therapy in the UK.
Known both for its’ vibrant mix of shops and restaurants and for the iconic Selfridges building (which was inspired by a Paco Rabanne sequinned dress) Bullring offers the perfect shopping experience with over 160 brands and retailers including Selfridges, Debenhams, Forever 21 and Hollister and more than 40 restaurants and cafés to relax in.
Spiceal Street
Spiceal Street lies in the shadow of the stunning St Martin’s Cathedral, Spiceal Street might be steeped in history but the restaurant scene there is bang up to date.
There are eight restaurants to choose from including the city’s first Browns Bar and Brasserie, locally-run fresh food experts Handmade Burger Co. and Thai fine dining Chaophraya Thai Restaurant.
Instarmac’s Ultrascape range of bedding, slurry and grout, Pro Bed HS, Pro Prime and Flowpoint, which are all BS 7533 compliant were used to ensure the external areas around Spiceal Street will last for a generation and ensure the significantly improved area around the Bullring remains attractive for years to come.
To buy any of the paving products featured in this article, including Flowpoint Grout, why not have a look at our shop.
We also stock a wide range of accessories and tools to ensure you have everything you need for your Flowpoint installation. We can even offer advice, hints and tips for your job to help ensure it runs smoothly – just drop us an email us at sales@thepavingexperts.co.uk or call us on 0845 8621099
