Hatherley Court, Margate

metroSTOR provides full external refurbishment package

Established nearly 90 years ago, The Riverside Group is a major provider of affordable housing, care and support services in England and Scotland, with over 52,000 homes in management. The Association is responsible for Hatherley Court in Margate, Kent – a complex of 20 flats – where serious issues with anti-social behaviour, together with waste management from the original brick built bin stores; were making it a difficult place to live for some residents.

As a result of these ongoing issues, an environmental improvement project was created by Riverside Group to transform the external areas and car park into an attractive, secure and welcoming communal garden area for Hatherley Court residents.

metroSTOR were contracted to carry out the groundworks and landscaping of the project in its entirety. This included removal of the soft landscape areas, paving and brick built bin store structures followed by new tarmacadam surfacing to provide smooth flowing levels throughout.

The surrounding area of the car park saw the installation of raised timber planters to incorporate both the existing trees and the new multi-stem birch tree planting to create an attractive, eye-catching space that will flourish in the coming years.

The design brief also called for reinforced security of the complex, removing the existing vehicle barriers and installing new 2.4m high-security fencing, along with galvanised vehicular and pedestrian access gates all with pressure-treated softwood cladding to match the new metroSTOR bin stores.

metroSTOR PBM bin stores were the specified solution to the waste control issues accumulating around the communal areas, with outdated brick bin stores failing to adequately contain the waste deposits.

The final stage of the transformation involved installation of the decorative yet highly durable resin-bonded natural stone surfacing throughout the external areas. Using a blend of natural stone aggregate the results are truly stunning including a 2 colour design to denote the walkway to the bin area and external access point.

The entire project lasted just three weeks, with metroSTOR remaining in close liaison with Riverside Group Neighbourhood Managers throughout the process, ensuring that any disruption for the residents of the occupied flats was minimised.

The overall redevelopment is one that all parties can be very proud of. A successful environmental improvement programme that has created a safe, secure and highly attractive area for Hatherley Court residents to enjoy.