Client
Borough of Poole
Value
£1.44 million
Sectors & Services
Multi-Storey Car Parks Concrete Repair Condition Surveys Coatings Membranes Cleaning & Preparation Projects
The seven-storey, 1,160-space multi-storey car park serving the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole is a prominent and heavily used public asset, supporting both the retail centre and the adjoining local theatre. In 2017, the Borough of Poole commissioned for the refurbishment to address ageing concrete, outdated finishes and inefficient lighting systems, while ensuring uninterrupted operation.
Completed in twenty-seven weeks, the project transformed the car park into a modern, vibrant and safer facility. The refurbishment was essential to maintain structural integrity, improve user experience, and support the long-term asset management strategy for this key town-centre structure.
Application of protective concrete coatings
Installation of Triflex PMMA DCS-C deck coating system with quartz anti-slip finish
Colour-coded parking bay and pedestrian area markings
Introduction of defined pedestrian routes
Installation of additional disabled and parent-and-child parking bays to DDA requirements
External façade concrete repairs
External façade coating in Dolphin Blue colour scheme
Full replacement of electrical components and containment
The refurbishment was delivered by CRL under challenging conditions, with the car park remaining fully operational on a 24/7 basis throughout the programme. This required careful sequencing, detailed planning and innovative engineering solutions to maintain access while undertaking extensive concrete repairs and upgrades. The reinforced concrete frame was surveyed, repaired and protected to enhance durability, address defects and improve overall appearance. Repairs were followed by the application of protective coatings designed to improve resistance to environmental exposure and ongoing wear from high traffic volumes.
A level-by-level approach was adopted, with each deck completed in a four-week cycle. Works progressed from initial cleaning and surface preparation through to detailed surveys, full electrical replacement, concrete repairs, decorations and deck coating application. To minimise programme duration, CRL selected high-quality, rapid-curing materials throughout. A Triflex PMMA DCS-C decking system was applied across approximately 21,000 square metres, incorporating a quartz anti-slip finish to enhance safety for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Each level was finished with a distinct colour scheme, clearly defining parking bays and extending into communal pedestrian areas. New pedestrian routes were introduced, alongside additional disabled and parent-and-child bays designed to meet DDA requirements. Externally, façade areas were repaired and coated in a Dolphin Blue colour scheme, improving visual appeal and encouraging footfall into the shopping centre.
Electrical works were delivered by CRL’s in-house specialist division, Equilux. A new low-output, wireless intelligent LED lighting system was designed, installed and commissioned, including full replacement of electrical components and containment. This integrated approach demonstrates CRL’s capability to deliver complex concrete repairs and structural repairs UK projects efficiently, combining civil engineering expertise with in-house building services to achieve cost certainty and programme reliability.
"Overall, as a client, we are delighted with the results of this scheme, so much so that we are now looking to secure the funding to enable us to carry out similar refurbishments on two of our other town centre car parks."
Beth Barker-Stock | Borough of Poole | Project Engineer
Durability and long-term performance were central to the refurbishment strategy. Comprehensive cleaning and surface preparation ensured effective bonding of repair materials and coatings, providing robust protection to the concrete frame. The applied coating systems enhance resistance to carbonation, moisture ingress and general environmental exposure, supporting extended service life and reduced maintenance demands.
The Triflex PMMA deck coating system delivers a seamless, waterproof and highly durable surface capable of withstanding intensive traffic while maintaining slip resistance. Clear colour zoning and line markings improve safety and reduce operational wear by guiding vehicle and pedestrian movements. The upgraded LED lighting system significantly reduces energy consumption, with anticipated savings of over 80 percent and a projected payback period of four years. Collectively, these measures improve resilience, reduce whole-life costs and support sustainable asset management of this iconic structure.
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