Hornbeam House, Quebec Way, London, UK

Project Overview

Quebec Quarter is a landmark residential development in the London Borough of Southwark, comprising 368 homes alongside up to 1,600m² of mixed-use commercial space, including retail, leisure and community amenities. Located just five minutes from Canada Water station, the scheme forms part of one of London’s most significant regeneration areas south of the river.

Designed by Alan Camp Architects, the development consists of seven stepped buildings that respond sensitively to the surrounding environment, with material choices and landscaping inspired by the nearby Stave Hill Ecological Park. Biodiversity has been embedded throughout the scheme, with features including retained mature trees, bird and bat boxes, insect habitats and natural landscaping enhancements.

Outdoor living is a defining feature of Quebec Quarter, with extensive private balconies and terraces forming an essential extension of residents’ living space. These areas support wellbeing, social interaction and connection to the surrounding environment, making safety, durability and long-term performance critical to the asset.

As part of ongoing compliance and asset management works, the original timber balcony decking was identified as no longer meeting current regulatory requirements. A full replacement programme was required to ensure resident safety while maintaining the quality and usability of these important external spaces.

Delivering Remediation in an Occupied Environment

Delivered by Stanmore, the project required careful planning and coordination to balance safety, programme efficiency and resident experience across a fully occupied development. Works were undertaken across multiple buildings and elevations, requiring:

• Phased removal of existing timber decking systems
• Safe working within live residential environments
• Careful management of access and resident disruption
• Efficient installation to maintain programme certainty

The need to minimise disruption while achieving full regulatory compliance placed significant emphasis on installation speed, system reliability and ease of handling on site.

A Compliant, Future-Ready Balcony Solution

To meet these requirements, Dura Composites supplied Dura Deck® Aluminium Free-Drain 18mm as a direct replacement for the existing timber balcony boards.

The aluminium system provides a fully non-combustible solution aligned with current fire and safety regulations, while delivering a significant upgrade in durability and whole-life performance. Its lightweight profile enabled rapid installation across occupied properties, supporting an efficient, phased remediation approach.

The free-draining surface enhances slip resistance and water management, improving day-to-day safety for residents while reducing the risk of standing water and associated maintenance issues. Unlike timber, the aluminium decking will not rot, warp or degrade over time, ensuring consistent performance across the life of the asset.

Dura worked closely with Stanmore to provide design support and coordination, ensuring seamless integration with existing balcony structures and efficient delivery across the programme.

Rapid Installation with Long-Term Performance

The use of a lightweight, modular aluminium system enabled fast, controlled installation across multiple occupied units, significantly reducing programme duration and resident disruption compared to traditional alternatives.

Engineered for durability and consistency, Dura Deck® Aluminium provides a long-term solution that removes the ongoing maintenance burden associated with timber decking. This supports asset owners in reducing whole-life costs while maintaining a high-quality finish across residential environments.

In addition, the aluminium used within the system contains a high proportion of recycled content and is 100% recyclable at end of life, supporting a more circular approach to material use and aligning with broader sustainability objectives.

Results and Impact

• Full replacement of non-compliant timber balcony decking across an occupied residential development
• Installation of fully non-combustible aluminium decking aligned with current regulations
• Rapid, phased installation minimising disruption to residents
• Improved safety through enhanced slip resistance and drainage performance
• Long-term durability with no risk of rot, warping or degradation
• Reduced maintenance requirements and lower whole-life cost
• High recycled content aluminium with 100% end-of-life recyclability
• Preservation and enhancement of key outdoor living spaces for residents

Working within occupied residential buildings always brings added complexity, particularly where safety and compliance are critical. The Dura aluminium decking system allowed us to deliver a consistent, compliant solution while maintaining an efficient installation programme across multiple plots. The lightweight nature of the system and ease of installation helped minimise disruption for residents and ensured the project progressed smoothly from start to finish.

Project Team at Stanmore

Our Specialists

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