The Blackpool Regeneration Scheme’s new Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) may not seem like a ground-breaking project at first glance, but it marks a significant milestone in UK construction. Through clever design, the project incorporates the country's first Pre-topped Prestressed Double-tees, revolutionising traditional car park construction.
In standard MSCP construction, precast concrete units like hollowcore or prestressed double-tees require a poured deck on top, involving the use of steel reinforcement and screed. However, the introduction of Pre-topped units in Blackpool's MSCP removes the need for this insitu deck entirely, eliminating steel and screed, significantly reducing the carbon footprint, and speeding up construction. This also eliminates the need for follow-on trades, creating a unique, de-mountable structure that is efficient, sustainable, and innovative.
Banagher Precast Concrete, in partnership with contractor Ballast Nedam, supplied 726 Pre-topped Double-tees for the project, making them the first of their kind available in the UK or Ireland. The design of these units was carefully engineered to ensure they met a minimum 3.5 Hz natural frequency for vibration control, all while maintaining a lightweight profile. By increasing the top flange thickness from 60 mm to 115 mm, Banagher eliminated the need for an additional deck layer, reducing the overall deck depth by 60 mm and delivering both time and carbon savings.
The benefits of this innovation are wide-ranging. The lighter design allowed for two units to be transported per load, cutting transport by 363 loads and offering substantial carbon and cost savings. The units were designed with longevity in mind, utilising bolted connections and sealant between joints to create a fully de-mountable structure. This "Design for Deconstruction" approach supports long-term sustainability by ensuring that components can be reused or repurposed at the end of their life.
Given Blackpool's coastal location, the top surfaces were designed to meet rigorous exposure standards, ensuring durability over a 50-year lifespan without the need for waterproofing. Banagher also provided an anti-slip finish to the units at the factory, eliminating the need for onsite finishing and further enhancing the project's efficiency.
Completed in 2023, the new seven-storey MSCP offers 1,306 parking spaces and stands as a testament to the innovation, efficiency, and sustainability that modern construction can achieve. By using precast concrete and offsite manufacturing techniques, the Blackpool MSCP showcases how traditional construction methods can be transformed to meet the demands of a low-carbon future.