Boyle+Summers were delighted to see the new Halfords unit open for business at Blackwater Shopping Park in Farnborough earlier this summer.

The project involved the construction of an extension to the existing L-shaped terrace, creating a new unit which would enable Halfords to relocate from their existing premises elsewhere in the park.

The need to replicate the style and materials used in an early 1990s retail park, while maintaining today’s standards in terms of detailing (and achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’), meant that our technical team needed to produce several unique and challenging details. Despite appearing to be a simple project in plan form, the front elevation alone combined six different materials, all requiring bespoke details at transitions, columns and fenestration.

Extending the tiled roof overhang (concealing a standard clad roof behind) was a particular challenge, in terms of the structural solution, weatherproofing, and providing appropriate drainage to the cladded areas. The portion of tiled roof that needed to be demolished prior to construction was of a sufficient size to enable enough original tiles to be salvaged and reused – resulting in a seamless appearance for the new extension.

The reconstituted stone features of the existing park were replicated in Jesmonite, a composite resin system, allowing precision moulded replicas to be produced in as close a colour and texture match as possible to the 25-year-old weathered stone columns.

In addition to the new Halfords unit, we also provided designs for illuminated totems and improved wayfinding signage, giving the park a more modern and consistent brand appearance as well as improving the experience of the end user.

Our involvement with the park continues unabated, as we progress the technical design package for combining two existing units (including Halfords’ previous home) in to one for a major discount food retailer, due to open next year.