Arcon Housing Association has specified Riven Edgemere tiles from Marley for its new housing development in Manchester. The slate effect concrete interlocking tiles are currently in high demand from housing associations looking for a natural slate aesthetic on a budget.
The tiles have been used on Arcon’s new development of ten properties on the site of the former St George’s Church in Gorton, in the south east of Manchester. The new two and three-bedroom homes, located on Abbey Hey Lane, Abbey Close and Union Street, are part of the Housing Association’s rapidly expanding new build programme. Arcon Housing Association had previously used slate effect clay interlocking tiles but decided to switch to Riven Edgemere in Smooth Grey for this development because they were more cost effective.
David Hutchinson, senior building surveyor at Arcon Housing Association, comments: “We wanted to achieve a slate aesthetic to give a contemporary feel to the new homes but there was certainly no room in the budget for natural slate. The riven surface and thin leading edge of the Edgemere tiles offered us a cost effective close appearance to slate. They look very impressive on the finished houses and blend well with surrounding properties.”
Arcon Housing Association’s new build properties must meet high sustainability and Lifetime Homes standards. Charlotte Hughes, product manager from Marley, adds: “The environmental credentials of Edgemere interlocking tiles are another reason why they are in such high demand for social housing projects, with independent carbon certification, the ability to achieve an A+ rating in the BRE’s Green Guide to Specification and certification to the BES 6001 standard for Responsible Sourcing.”