761 GRP shower pods for 20-storey development led by McAleer & Rushe
New contract for major London scheme
Offsite Solutions has announced its latest contract win in the student living sector – a £2.4m project to manufacture 761 GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) shower pods for McAleer & Rushe. The pods are for a new 20-storey development at Wembley Park, developed by Greystar.
This is Offsite Solutions’ second contract for McAleer & Rushe and will involve the production of standard and larger accessible and adaptable floorless enhanced GRP bathroom pods.
Designed by HTA, the 770-bed scheme will be operated under the Canvas brand and is due to open to its first occupants in September 2025.
Innovation in GRP finishes
The shower rooms will feature a new metro-style brick bond tile-effect finish that avoids the need for grout in the wet areas, significantly reducing maintenance. Pod manufacturing will be completed by Spring 2024.
Client perspective – Greystar
Harrison Hart, Development Associate at Greystar, said:
“As a business, we are driving the use of offsite construction for bathrooms for the majority of our student schemes as it aligns with our ESG commitments. Pods generate less waste through more efficient use of materials, less traffic to site, provide a better working environment for the bathroom fitout, and quality is better with significantly reduced snagging at practical completion.”
“Design development for the bathrooms on this project has been an incredibly quick process and has been completed at an earlier stage than if we were using in-situ bathroom construction. It is then possible to see the first off pod early on to verify and refine the design detailing, and to inform the design of the student bedrooms. It also provides a benchmark for quality control.”
“Having one single supplier is very helpful to simplify procurement, design and site management, and still gives us flexibility. We also really like Offsite Solutions’ panelised GRP solution because it allows 90° corners that have an enhanced aesthetic compared to moulded bathroom pods.”
Contractor perspective – McAleer & Rushe
Darragh Greenan, Contracts Director at McAleer & Rushe, said:
“The use of bathroom pods for this project reflects our commitment to supporting offsite manufacturing and all the benefits it can bring – increasing efficiency on site, reducing material deliveries and the associated carbon emissions, and reducing site waste. There are also clear quality control advantages as we have the opportunity to assess the quality of the bathroom finishes before going into full production.”
A strategic partnership with Greystar
James Stephens, Managing Director of Offsite Solutions, said:
“We are very pleased to be working on our first scheme for Greystar, which has an impressive portfolio of 120,000 student beds globally. We have a long track record of providing high-quality, low-maintenance bathrooms to developers and contractors in the student sector.”
“There is a clear under-supply in student homes across the UK and demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly in London.”
High-efficiency installation
Sustainably manufactured and fitted out offsite in controlled factory conditions, the finished bathrooms for Wembley Park will be installed on site in just a few hours.
Each pod will be fully fitted out at Offsite Solutions’ factory in Somerset with a wall-hung toilet, D-shaped wall-hung basin, a vanity shelf with solid surface worktop, circular mirror above the basin, a mirrored two-door cabinet, a shower with a riser rail, and a bi-fold shower door.
All pods will be supplied floorless – a highly efficient solution to minimise floor build-up in high-rise residential projects.
The accessible pods will be Part M compliant and include dropdown and fixed grabrails, a low-level basin positioned closer to the toilet, and a lever tap. These bathrooms will have a large-format tile-effect finish.
Designed for modern student living
Greystar is a global leader in the investment, development and management of high-quality real estate. Its latest student scheme at Wembley Park has been designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and includes a wide range of amenities, such as lounges and social spaces, gym, screen room, games room, private dining space, communal study area, cycle storage, and external gardens and podiums.
Long-term performance and sustainability
Offsite Solutions’ GRP pods have been widely used in the student living sector for many years, where robustness, longevity, ease of maintenance, and lower capital and operating costs are key priorities. These pods have a lifespan of at least 50 years and offer significant life cycle cost benefits for retained assets.
More information
For further information call 01278 780807 or email info@offsitesolutions.com.
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