Chapelton of Elsick is a visionary new community development situated just south of Aberdeen, Scotland. Led by Elsick Development Company (EDC), the £2 billion scheme includes plans for over 8,000 homes, space for leisure, business facilities, two schools and public parks.Constructed on 2,000 acres of farmland next to the A90, the development offers a variety of properties suitable for a mix of ages, incomes and needs. The first neighbourhood within the development, Cairnhill, sets out a blueprint for a new sustainable community in the region.Renowned architect, Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk (DPZ), designed Chapelton working alongside a team of local architects and engineers as well as the Aberdeenshire locals through the charette process. Landscape architect Laura Scott-Simmons, of Benton Scott-Simmons, shared the Chapelton vision and was intent on using flexible metal edging instead of concrete pin kerbs to create the development’s public footpaths.Simmons preferred Kinley’s AluExcel to traditional concrete because they were able to build in more diverse geometries as the material could be supplied pre-formed to specific radii or manipulated on site when necessary. As a 100% recyclable material, AluExcel also fitted EDC’s sustainable vision. As Aberdeenshire Council would assume responsibility for the maintenance of all public footpaths upon completion of the development, approval of the aluminium edging was required before the installation could go ahead.Kinley worked with Benton Scott-Simmons to present a detailed case to the highways department at Aberdeenshire Council to ensure the edging would be approved and the project could go ahead. The technical support team then ensured that the desired installation quality was achieved by providing specific training for the contractor and supporting a trial installation for approval by the highways department.Due to the scope and scale of the development, it was vital that Kinley remained involved throughout the entire project. From assisting with presentations and obtaining approvals from Aberdeenshire Council, to providing on-site support to the contractors during the installation process, Kinley played a central role in ensuring the use of AluExcel edging was considered a success.
