Stansfeld Park

Creating an immersive natural environment with anti-slip timber decking

The project specification required excellent safety characteristics around the site, and aesthetic appeal was also essential. The Oxford Trust wanted the development to blend in with the local scenery and provide something of an “escape” from the hustle and bustle of Oxford — for both children and entrepreneurs alike. 

For the rear of the park, this was achieved through using Marley’s renowned AntiSlip Plus® Smooth decking to create a beautiful, natural decking area that people can enjoy in sunnier months, but which will also be usable in wet weather.

Matt Francis, project operations director at The Oxford Trust explained: “The space, from envisioning to delivery of the project, works because of the natural setting of the building within the woodland and pondscape. Standing on site now it looks and feels incredible, it’s brilliant and the decking ties everything together beautifully.”

He continued: “Sitting at the back of our reception cafe area and reaching out into the trees with views over our ponds, our new [Marley AntiSlip Plus® Smooth] decking has become the centrepiece in terms of relating the building to the natural environment that it sits in. It allows visitors to the innovation centre to enjoy the woodland rather than feel like they’re in an office block just off the ring road in Oxford.” 

Bolstering health and safety with anti-slip decking

Since the outdoor area is multi-purpose with high footfall, health and safety was a major concern. The space also needed to be weather-resistant and able to withstand heavy use. 

Due to the steep drops around the back of the development, it was also imperative that the area ties into the building’s fire-exit strategy, with decking wrapping around the property. This meant that the decking area had to exceed the HSE’s minimum requirements for non-slip surfaces and provide reassurance for both the centre and its visitors.

To meet the demanding specifications of the decking area, Beard Construction went to leading decking installation specialist, Deckbuilders (UK) Ltd, with which the company has a long-established working relationship. 

Discussion between the two parties led to the selection of Marley AntiSlip Plus® Smooth decking. It was chosen as the ideal product for the project since it combined the aesthetics, safety, and cost-competitiveness that were required by both The Oxford Trust and the architectural design.

Having used Marley AntiSlip Plus® Smooth on similar projects in the past, Deckbuilders (UK) Ltd was confident that the product would be well suited for the Stansfeld Park project. 

A spokesperson for Deckbuilders (UK) Ltd commented on the product’s outstanding performance, as well as the company’s long-standing relationship with Marley: “We have always worked closely with Marley and have used its products on a number of our projects. In particular, Marley’s AntiSlip Plus® Smooth decking is a high-quality, anti-slip product that ticked all the boxes for this project, and we are confident it will stand the test of time for The Oxford Trust. The support and service received from Marley is fantastic, and we’ll happily recommend them for projects in the future.”

Mr Francis also praised the finished outdoor space, calling it a place that people can enjoy and use safely throughout the year, even in winter months. The anti-slip decking helps to create a link between indoor and outdoor learning areas and provides better access to the unique woodland setting. This will enable young people to both enjoy the natural world and develop a lasting enthusiasm for the environmental sciences.

“It’s going to be a fantastic resource, and the products selected for that area were essential to making that happen.”

To learn more about Marley products and our range of anti-slip decking, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.