Stamford Double Pitch ‘Exceeds Expectations’

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL are proud to have delivered a significant sport facility development for the historic Stamford Endowed Schools.

SSL were appointed as project lead with a remit to provide a full design service, secure planning permission, and oversee the construction of a double hockey pitch facility.

Various specialist survey works were carried out, scrutinized by the SSL Team and factored into the design process in order to ensure a robust construction. By applying such attention to detail during the design stage, we were able to ensure the proposed development would be considerate from a planning permission perspective.

Stamford Endowed Schools Director of Estates & Facilities, Stewart Dorey commented;

“I recently had the pleasure of working with SSL and I have nothing but positive things to say about the experience.  From start to finish, they were professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful in helping us determine the best course of action for our sports facility.  Not only did they provide us with a comprehensive evaluation of our current sports surface, but they also took the time to listen to our concerns and goals and amend the brief where required.  They were able to provide expert advice on the best materials and installation methods to meet our needs and budget.  Throughout the process, they kept us informed and up-to-date on progress and were always available to answer any questions we had.  The final result exceeded our expectations and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

I would highly recommend SSL to anyone in need of expert guidance and advice for their sports facility. Their expertise and professionalism truly set them apart from the rest”.

The facility, designed to achieve FIH National performance standards, includes two full size hockey pitches installed by SIS Pitches, both incorporating a certified sand dressed synthetic turf surface complete with contrasting coloured surrounds.

We are delighted to have played our part in enhancing the sports facilities at Stamford and also pleased to receive more positive feedback on the services provided by the SSL Team.

Hockey for Heroes Partnership Announcement

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL are delighted to announce an exciting partnership with Hockey for Heroes.

Hockey for Heroes raise vital funds for Help for Heroes, a charity providing support for men and women that leave the Armed Forces as a result of physical or psychological wounds.

SSL Managing Director Steve Wilcockson explains, “The Hockey for Heroes team work tirelessly to raise funds to help wounded veterans to get on with their lives. As a former member of the armed forces I can appreciate what an incredibly important role they provide, not only for ex-military personnel, but also for their families and friends. At SSL we have strong links within hockey with approximately 1 in 10 of the hockey pitches in England certified by the FIH having benefitted from our independent consultancy services. The hockey club network needs access to better quality facilities and we look forward to providing our support to the Hockey for Heroes community”

Hockey for Heroes have been active since 2012 and use the sport of hockey to drive their fundraising. Joel Forrester, Managing Director commented “Hockey For Heroes are honoured to be officially partnering with Surfacing Standards, who are market leads in consultancy related synthetic pitch projects across the United Kingdom. We have experienced first hand the work of Surfacing Standards and have spoken with many of their clients. The feedback has always been exquisite, therefore It is our pleasure to support the Hockey community, by promoting the work of Surfacing Standards Ltd and introducing friends where possible.”

SSL specialise in synthetic turf pitches and provide a range of consultancy services from pitch advice & survey works, design drawings, planning applications, project specification and overall project management. As a fully independent consultant, SSL work to International Hockey Federation (FIH) requirements. In addition to new build facilities, SSL have extensive knowledge of pitch resurfacing – our acclaimed Pitch Condition Survey service has provided a vital resource for a large number of clubs/facility operators helping to plan and develop pitch refurbishment projects.

To learn more about Hockey for Heroes and hear the various ways that you can get involved and provide support, visit https://hockeyforheroes.co.uk/

Glowing Feedback for Bolton Pitch Refurbishment

Surfacing Standards Limited

Great feedback from another happy SSL client following the refurbishment of the synthetic pitch at Canon Slade School in Bolton!

The synthetic pitch, now in it’s 20th year since being constructed, is now benefitting from a complete refurbishment. Since re-opening the pitch has been used as a training base for Bolton Hockey Club as well as hosting a club initiative to get adults to learn to play hockey.

SSL were initially engaged by a key local funder of the project, who saw the value of engaging with a specialist consultant at an early stage. SSL carried out an extensive survey of the old synthetic pitch and provided the school with independent advice and options, including outline costings, of how the facility could be refurbished.

Following the tender process, administered by SSL, the construction phase commenced on 18th March. The old short pile synthetic turf and prefabricated shockpad was removed, some minor repair works carried out the pitch base, before a brand new insitu rubber shockpad and sand dressed synthetic turf was installed. To help protect the investment, drainage improvement works were also carried out given the facility had suffered from water ingress from an adjacent grassed bank for several years.

18th March 2019 – Works About to Commence

Following various quality control checks carried out by SSL throughout the works, with regular reports provided to the school, on 26th April the revamped facility was handed over for the school to use. With the works being deliberately programmed to coincide with the Easter Holidays, that ensured the pitch was only out of action for 20 school days, meaning minimal disruption to the school’s PE timetable and external community users.

26th April 2010 – Completed Refurbishment

Rachel Costello, Head of PE commented “The new surface is brighter and the two tone colour to distinguish the areas is a great idea for both staff and pupils. The work on laying the new surface was completed to a high standard and the new surface and shockpad is of excellent quality. Currently, the pitch is occupied 86% of available time by football and hockey clubs. We are really pleased with how efficient the team was in completing the project.”

Hockey Club Delighted with SSL Consultancy

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL were pleased to be chosen as specialist sports pitch consultant by Chelmsford Hockey Club and Chelmsford City Council, for a joint project to resurface two synthetic hockey pitches.

Chelmsford Hockey Club boast 16 senior sides and the support provided by SSL throughout the project was vital. As Club President Spencer Wilcox explains; “From a hockey perspective, we’re delighted with both pitches. They play consistently well and have drawn favourable comments not just from members, but also visiting sides. Our pitch is used by juniors aged 5 right up to vets in their 70s so it is genuinely supporting hockey across the generations!…We’re also hosting the O40s regional finals for the second time in June – and hope to get the same favourable comments from the guys (some of whom are ex-internationals) as we got last year. Our pitch is also used by Essex HA for junior and development coaching. As for SSL, we and the council wouldn’t have wanted to enter into this joint project without the support of a consultancy firm – and SSL did an excellent job for us at a sensible cost. So many thanks for that!”

Having been engaged to carry out a condition survey on both facilities, SSL first provided outline costings for different possible design solutions before preparing a construction specification to enable a competitive formal tender process to take place.

Several tenders were received by contractors bidding to secure the contract. SSL completed a detailed commercial analysis of each bid to ensure like for like comparison before assessing each bid against quality criteria.

When works commenced onsite, SSL were on hand to complete a schedule of key stage inspections and also ensure material samples were collected and laboratory tested to confirm compliance with the specification.

With the performance of the shockpad layer being so critical to hockey performance, SSL ensured the existing shockpad layers to both pitches were thoroughly tested as part of the project.

The double pitch resurface provides another important hockey pitch project completed by SSL. And we’re pleased to once again receive such positive feedback from a UK hockey club!