South West Lands Residential Development

Background & Client Requirements

Located beside Wembley Stadium, the South West Lands residential development faces unique operational and safety challenges. The client required a custom roller shutter that would serve both everyday waste-management operations and mass-crowd movement on match days, where tens of thousands of visitors pass through the surrounding area.

The client specifically needed a shutter that could:

• Span over 11 metres in width — far beyond standard shutter widths.
• Provide high airflow to meet the site’s fire strategy and ventilation requirements.
• Operate reliably for frequent daily use by waste-collection vehicles.
• Withstand crowd pressure and heavy external footfall during major events.
• Endure high wind loads, due to the exposed location.
• Be delivered within a tight timeframe and controlled budget.

This combination of structural, safety, and operational demands required a highly engineered solution.

Proposed Solution

After assessing the site conditions, fire strategy, and operational requirements, we recommended the GLV-PE Steel Perforated Roller Shutter System.

Key Features of the Proposed System

• Perforated Steel Curtain (GLV-PE)
  Provides excellent airflow and free area to satisfy fire and smoke ventilation requirements.
• Large-Span Capability
  Engineered to safely cover the 11m+ opening, while maintaining operational stability.
• Structural Reinforcement
  Given the shutter’s width and exposed position near the stadium, solid-section support bars were incorporated into the curtain profile to handle high wind loads and crowd pressures.
• Direct-Drive German Motor & Control System
  Chosen for its exceptional reliability, smooth operation, and minimal maintenance — essential for daily service use.
• Ease of Use
  The control system was designed for simple, quick operation, ideal for waste-collection teams and site management.
• High Durability
  Built to withstand both frequent cycling and the dynamic environment associated with major sporting events.

Installation & Challenges

Tight Programme & Budget

With a challenging timeline and strict budget parameters, our team had to ensure precise coordination between fabrication, delivery, site access, and installation crews.

Engineering the Extra-Wide Opening

The 11m span required:

• Specially designed curtain reinforcements
• Enhanced guide systems
• Precise alignment to ensure smooth, reliable operation

Crowd-Flow Considerations

Because the shutter forms part of an exit route on match days, it needed to remain completely secure, safe, and resilient under pressure from large crowds.

Despite these challenges, our team worked meticulously across disciplines — engineering, manufacturing, and site installation — to deliver a robust, fully compliant solution.

Outcome & Results

✅ Fire Strategy Compliance

The perforated design delivered the necessary free airflow to meet fire safety ventilation requirements.

✅ Exceptional Reliability

This was achieved through the direct-drive German motor system and reinforced design, ensuring consistent performance even under heavy use.

✅ Strong & Stable Large-Span Solution

The additional curtain support sections enabled the shutter to withstand significant wind loads and environmental pressure in a stadium-adjacent setting.

✅ Operational Efficiency

Waste-collection teams now benefit from easy operation and quick access, reducing delays and improving daily workflow.

✅ Crowd-Resistant Design

The shutter provides secure, durable protection and safe functionality even during major events with tens of thousands of visitors passing by.

✅ Delivered on Time and Within Budget

Despite the complexity, the project was completed successfully, meeting all requirements and providing long-term value to the client.

Project Summary

This project demonstrated our capability to deliver high-performance, large-span roller shutters in demanding environments. The combination of structural engineering, airflow compliance, and reliability requirements made it a complex installation — but through strong teamwork and precise planning, we delivered a solution that performs flawlessly in one of London’s busiest and most challenging locations.

Client Response

“We were extremely impressed with the level of engineering and problem-solving that went into this installation. The shutter needed to meet strict fire-strategy requirements, cope with event-day crowds, and operate reliably for our day-to-day waste collection—and the team delivered on every front. Despite the challenging width and tight programme, the installation was completed smoothly and to a very high standard. The result is a robust, reliable system that fits perfectly with the demands of our development.”
— Project Manager, South West Lands Residential Development