Waterproofing The Shoreham Ropetackle Housing Development

At SOPREMA, we like to think big. We continually invest in innovative, future-proof products and solutions and we frequently contribute to projects that form entire communities and offer residents everything they need. Think of London City Island , which includes residential properties as well as cafes, shops, restaurants and cultural facilities, or Chobham Manor , which was waterproofed with 13,000 m2 of ALSAN PMMA. The Ropetackle Development in Shoreham-by-the-Sea, which was shortlisted for an Inside Housing Development Award, deserves special mention, too. The new development on a former industrial site bordered by the River Adur, the South Coast Main Railway Line and the A283 Old Shoreham Road was completed in March 2021, providing much-needed new housing in the area.

120 HOMES ALONG THE RIVER ADUR 

In 2012, HGP Architects started planning and designing a new housing scheme along the River Adur in Shoreham, followed by detailed design and production together with PMC Construction. Besides the 120 homes – a mixture of three- and four-bedroom houses and one-and two-bedroom apartments – the Ropetackle Housing Development offers residents plenty of places to relax, with a riverfront café, a gallery for flexible community use, a hotel, and a retail space.

In designing the high-end homes, HGP Architects pulled out all the stops: “We wanted to deliver an exemplary scheme for the client, Hyde Group – both aesthetically and from a development point of view”, says Matthew Edwards, Associate Director at HGP Architects. “We introduced numerous types of constructions. The houses were masonry at ground floor level, with steel work and a timber frame above, while the apartment buildings were concrete frames. So, there was a mix of different construction techniques and procurement routes to be factored in and detailed.” 

PARTNERSHIPS GOING BACK ALMOST A DECADE 

The parties involved in the Ropetackle Development project have an excellent working relationship that dates back to 2014, when HGP Architects, PMC Construction, Latchmore Roofing and SOPREMA converted the old fruit and veg market in Southampton into an apartment complex spanning three blocks, with 84 one- and 195 two-bedroom apartment units and nearly 900 m2 of commercial space.

Since then, the companies have been delivering waterproofing solutions to the entire South Coast region together, covering numerous projects and many more in the pipeline. Matthew: “We work on a lot of local developments together, and we are all part of frameworks such as Hyde Housing and VIVID.” What HGP Architects likes most about working with SOPREMA is the amount of support they get. “We develop a design intent, SOPREMA reviews the details and is always very forthcoming with advice. They do a good job on calculations as well.” 

SOPREMA: SERVICE AND SOLUTIONS 

For Shoreham, too, SOPREMA worked closely together with HGP Architects and PMC Construction on the design and specifications. SOPREMA provided technical advice regarding the roof elements and did calculations such as U-value calculations and drainage calculations for the many flat roof areas (especially on the apartment blocks). “Drainage is a critical item even for ground works,” Matthew says. “To get all the drainage in the ground, you need to sort the roof out first, so SOPREMA was involved from the inception.”

The systems used were a combination of SOPRALENE 250 warm roof tapered systems, with SOPRALENE 250 inverted terraced areas. Matthew: “We opted for an inverted system for the roof of the retail unit, on the podium as well as outside the café, in order to have a more robust solution in those locations. After all, the waterproofing is protected by the insulation and finishes, and not trafficked directly.” 

For the balconies, a hybrid solution consisting of SOPRALENE and ALSAN 770 proved ideal. An important advantage of ALSAN liquid waterproofing systems is their compatibility, and the fact that SOPREMA can offer a single-point warranty on the full waterproofing system. Other benefits include the fact that ALSAN lends itself well to application in small areas and that it can be cold-applied, making it particularly useful in projects where safety concerns may prohibit the use of flames. 

WATERPROOFING A 3,000 M2 AREA 

All systems combined, SOPREMA provided a waterproofing solution for an area of 3,000 m2. Questions about the Ropetackle Housing Development or for your own project? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts.