October 20^th, 2008
CEMEX’s new permeable paving used in innovative housing development

20th October 2008: A new housing development in Nottingham, East Midlands is the first commercial location to use CEMEX’s new ReadyFlowTM, the permeable paving which reduces potential flooding through surface water run-off, developed by building materials provider CEMEX UK.    The housing development has incorporated different colours of the paving into a design concept known as ‘Home Zone’, a Dutch idea where roads are laid out in such a way using colour, design and features that motorists are forced to drive with greater care.

The architect and designers at the Staffordshire-based developer, Michael Goodall Homes used over 1000 sq metres of ReadyFlow^TM paving to create safer, self-draining roads at the development in Bulwell.

The high surface area of roads and paving but relatively small scale development of 23 new homes meant that there was not enough land for conventional road drainage and soakaway systems, making it ideal for a permeable paving like ReadyFlow^TM.

The robust road construction features a 350mm minimum hardcore sub-base with a Tarmacadam layer placed above it.  The tarmacadam is drilled through with 50mm diameter holes at 1 metre centres to allow surface water to pass through the ‘sandwich’ and be released slowly into the water table.  

This layer is topped by a geotextile membrane, which stops the sand bed from migrating through into the sub-base.  The paving is laid on top of the sand bed.

It is estimated that currently 80,000 properties are at very significant risk from surface water flooding causing on average £270 million of damage each year.*  It is thought that the new local authority planning regulations, which came into force this month, will create a demand for more environmentally-friendly permeable solutions such as CEMEX’s ReadyFlow^TM. 

The new regulations will require householders to apply for planning permission if they wish to use impermeable paving materials.

Architect for Goodall Homes, Tristan Mosley said “We used a single brindle red colour paving, Burnt Ember for the road and then contrasting reds and golds for the driveways.  It is the first time we have designed along the principles of Home Zone and with the paving we have developed a residential area that is safer and less at risk of flooding.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• For further information and pictures contact Elizabeth Young
  t. 01932 583214 
  e. Elizabeth.young@ext.cemex.com



• *Research results from the Foresight (2004) Future Flooding report www.foresight.gov.uk



• Customers can get information on the Readyflow^TM range by contacting the helpline on 0800 667827



• In recent years, the number of areas such as roads, pavements and buildings which are sealed by impermeable materials has increased. Rainfall which would normally be absorbed and retained by the ground is now often diverted off the sealed area, into the sewers and rivers. This results in the overload of sewers, river flooding and the risk of pollution into the water course. Use of SUDS allows a specified amount of water to be retained and then discharged in a controlled manner leading to reduced rainfall into sewers, cleaner rivers and streams, less pollution, improved ground water levels and water and air to the plant and tree roots.



• CEMEX is a global building materials company and leading supplier of cement, ready-mixed concrete and aggregates. In the UK, CEMEX also has a significant share of the asphalt, concrete block and mortar markets. The company has a national supply network in the UK with over 500 locations, to ensure that quality building materials is available to customers locally. For more information, see www.CEMEX.co.uk or www.CEMEX.com