The Ventnor Close development is a flagship initiative within Swindon Borough Council’s strategy to provide high-quality, fully accessible homes for residents with complex physical needs. Beyond meeting essential accessibility criteria - such as wheelchair accessible layouts and adapted wet rooms - the design mandated modern building materials that guarantee longevity, high performance, and exceptional safety standards.

Specifying Ceramapanel A1 Fibre Cement

Quattro Design Architects sought a façade material that was both aesthetically pleasing and met stringent safety and durability requirements. The chosen solution was Valcan’s Ceramapanel A1 Fibre Cement Cladding in the warm, with an earthy tone of "Fired Clay."

This product was selected for several key reasons:

Ceramapanel is classified A1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1 ensuring the highest level of fire safety.
The "Fired Clay" finish from the Natural Textures range offers a modern, subtle appearance that blends with the surrounding landscape and existing housing, providing visual appeal.
Fibre cement is renowned for its resilience. The panels are resistant to rot, fungal attack, and pests, ensuring that the bungalows maintain their appearance with minimal maintenance required from the council or tenants over decades.

Ceramapanel has also been tested to a life expectancy of over 60 years with minimal maintenance requirements.
The cladding complements the project's overall green credentials, which include advanced energy-saving technologies like air source heat pumps, solar panels, and MVHR systems.

Expert Installation and Project Completion

Main Contractor Rigg Construction (Southern) Limited expertly installed over 250m² of the cladding. Their team utilised a robust mechanical approach, employing a rivet fixing method with Valcan’s VitraFix colour-matched rivets for a clean, integrated aesthetic that prioritises durability and security. This method ensures the facade is weatherproof, highly durable, and contributes positively to the thermal performance of the highly efficient new homes.

Construction began in May 2024, culminating in practical completion and handover at the end of 2025. The completed Ventnor Close bungalows set a new benchmark for accessible, sustainable council housing, providing safe, modern, and energy-efficient homes for those who need them most.