The exterior cladding on the new Banbury Station car park in Oxfordshire has been designed to help the building blend into its environment and was installed by car park specialists Berry Systems.

The number of passengers using the station doubled between 2003 and 2011 making additional car parking capacity a major priority for Chiltern Railways.

McNaughton Architects reduced the impact on the local environment by specifying Glass Sto Panels for the exterior cladding. This means that the residential properties opposite the car park are reflected on the walls of the steel framed, four storey structure. This helps it to blend into the neighbourhood rather than stand out against it. Berry Systems formed part of the design team for this, together with McNaughton and the main contractors, Osborne. Hill Cannon designed the superstructure which was erected by James Killelea.


The panels consist of toughened glass bonded to a carrier board attached to an stainless steel and aluminium rail carrier. They are manufactured off-site which aids quality control and reduces on-site installation time.

As well as the Sto Panels, Berry systems also supplied and installed the capping panels, soffits, internal perforated metal infill panels, the link bridge security and access gate, rail side security mesh and, of course, the vehicle safety barriers for which Berry Systems are renowned, on all the ramps. These barriers consisted of RB1 spring steel buffers supporting a Berry Beam barrier, anti-climb mesh and integral pedestrian handrail.

Berry Managing Director Steve Dunn said: "This project has enabled us to demonstrate our ongoing ability to bring together the installation of several elements of a new car park. Many people know us for our safety barriers but we also have extensive expertise in many aspects of car park construction which can be very useful to architects and main contractors."

The 707 space car park also includes a pedestrian bridge with ticket barrier linking it to the eastern end of the station. Chad Collins, Head of Stations at Chiltern Railways said: "We are committed to investing in our stations to give our passengers a high quality travel experience. The new car park includes a covered walking route to the trains, making it easier to take advantage of our services and is part of a major transformation project set to benefit passengers at Banbury."

For further information call 01902 491100, email sales@berrysystems.co.uk or visit www.berrysystems.co.uk.