Walkway Canopies
Kensington Systems is a trusted supplier of walkway canopies to schools, hospitals and businesses throughout the UK.
Our unique offer includes the following:
- Free site survey
- All groundworks included
- Innovative, low maintenance design
“The Spaceshade canopies installed at our new school are very robust and look fantastic.”
Facilities Manager, Perry Court Primary School
Benefits of our Walkway Canopies
Low-maintenance Spaceshade® design
25-year warranty on all SpaceShade® school canopy frames: made from powder-coated aluminium, they are extremely durable and corrosion free.
Integrated gutters and downpipes means there’s no snagging on external fixings and virtually no maintenance required.
The strong aluminium design enables larger spans and fewer uprights, with the option of fixed side panels for all-weather use.
All SpaceShade® canopies are modular, allowing for installation in hard-to-access areas, such as courtyards. This also allows them to be extended at a later date.
All Groundworks Included
Installing a canopy for schools is not just about the canopy itself – you also need to think about groundworks.
We provide groundworks as part of our service. We also project manage the installation process from start to finish. This includes groundworks, installation, resurfacing and final cleanup. See Mark Hall Academy as an example. See Mark Hall Academy as an example.
Our installations are carried out by DBS-checked installers to minimise disruption to your school as much as possible.
Free site survey
One of our specialist surveyors will aim to be at your school within five working days. We will follow up with a no-obligation quote showcasing the canopy design in your school setting. This way, you will know exactly how it will look.
UV & Weather Protection
Our walkway canopy roofs have UV protection and will keep students safe from the sun’s harsh glare and ultraviolet exposure which can be harmful.
Walkway canopies also offer protection from strong winds and rain. They help to keep students safe and dry when moving between buildings.
Our polycarbonate roofs are non-fragile certified.
SpaceShade® canopies are Solar PV-ready. This allows you to install solar panels with the canopies, or at a later date. This helps you meet your de-carbonisation targets.
“The installation was highly professional and we were consulted and kept informed throughout the process.”
Headteacher, Hillside First School
Contact Us Today:
Our range of school canopies & shelters
Kensington designs, manufactures, and installs a variety of outdoor canopies for schools across the UK. Our installation services are available for all types of schools including early years to primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities. We take pride in the quality of our school canopies, and the reliability of our installation work. Call us today and we can talk about the best type of canopies and playground shelters for your school, or see the further in-depth information and videos on this page.
Our range of school canopies
Providing a safe, comfortable and stimulating environment is one of the primary goals of every school. Students need a great place to study, rest and have fun. Our canopies make ideal extensions of the classroom or canteen. They provide a relaxed and interesting environment, make full use of space and add interesting dimensions to teaching.
Covered Walkway Canopies
Kensington offers a range of covered walkway canopy systems for commercial buildings, schools, and other establishments. Our walkways come in a variety of styles and designs to suit your property. Depending on the area or application, we can design and install a canopy that meets your requirements. Give us a call to discuss our products and services with you.
Our covered walkways can be manufactured from aluminium or timber depending on your preference. We also offer several roofing options, including glass, polycarbonate, coloured polycarbonate and solar panels.
Built to Your specification
We offer a complete solution to your shading needs. Whether you require a walkway canopy for a school, office or retail facility, we can build the system according to your requirements. Whatever your needs, we are here to provide for your project.
As part of our service we also provide bespoke CGI images, which help you visualise exactly how the finished installation will look.
Choosing to work with us means choosing a hassle-free installation – we project manage everything for you, from groundworks to installation to final sign-off.
Covered walkways for schools
Our team has years of experience in providing covered walkways for schools throughout the UK. We have designed and installed covered walkway canopies for different educational buildings, from nursery schools to universities.
Our range of walkway canopies is known for its selection of beautiful and durable covers, providing students, staff and guests years of protection from the sun and rain. We have worked with a number of education centres in creating outdoor solutions that make learning environments more comfortable.
We tailor our walkway covers to fit a school’s unique requirements, making sure you have an outdoor solution that perfectly match your needs. With our team’s dedication and professionalism, you can expect us to coordinate with your architect or contractor or talk directly with you in meeting your school’s requirements. We work closely with our clients in ensuring customer satisfaction at all times.
Kensington strives to make outdoor learning fun and safe. For durable and long-lasting walkway covers for schools, talk to our team today.
Solar Panel Walkways
Our Spaceshade® canopies are designed as ‘solar ready’ meaning they are suitable to have solar panels fitted or retrofitted onto the roof.
Walkway canopies can be ideal candidates for a solar panel installation, as they often have a large surface area available for the install. Solar panels are available in different configurations, including as standard panels or solar glass, where photovoltaic modules are laminated into glass sheets. The gaps between the modules allow light through and prevent the underside of the canopy feeling dark.
We’ll do the whole installation for you, including canopy, solar panels and grid connection for a seamless, stress-free experience.
“The Spaceshade canopy systems look fabulous and have been a great addition to both the new and existing parts of the building.”
Architect, Great Hollands Primary School
Case Study – Dene Magna School
Dene Magna School had several buildings which needed to be connected to allow students to move safely around the school.
As part of wider construction work we installed several covered walkways, including over a ramp where the roofs had to be stepped to accommodate the difference in height.
The finished installation has also helped to modernise the look of the existing school.
Case Study – The Deaf Academy
Kensington Systems installed a bespoke steel walkway as part of the Deaf Academy’s rebuilding project.
This was made bespoke to the architect’s specification and creates a stunning feature which also provides a covered link between the two main buildings.
Case Study – King Athelstan Primary School
King Athelstan Primary School needed a way to connect two buildings while keeping children dry and safe while moving between them. They also wanted to create sheltered seating areas in the existing playground.
Spaceshade® walkway canopies were chosen for their appearance and aesthetics. They not only provide a weather-protected passage between classrooms, but have also been extended to provide covered seating in the playground.
Case Study – Castlemead Primary School
Castlemead Primary School installed a Spaceshade® walkway canopy to provide a covered outdoor link between two doorways.
The canopy also doubles up as an outdoor learning area for the school to use.
“Great price, great product and a very personal service.”
Facilities Manager, Downsview Primary School
Covered Walkway Canopy FAQs
What is a covered walkway and what is it for?
A covered walkway is a canopy which is generally installed over an existing marked path or along the side of an existing building. Its purpose is to provide weather shelter for people moving around outside, for example between buildings. Walkway canopies can be manufactured from a variety of materials and can include side walls, heating or lighting according to preference.
How wide should a covered walkway be?
We recommend making a walkway canopy at least 2m wide. This is wide enough to allow 2 people walking in opposite directions to pass each other comfortably, and provide a reasonable degree of weather protection. Making it too narrow reduces the amount of weather protection it can provide.
Do you need planning permission for a covered walkway?
It is always best to check with your local authority whether planning permission is required.
The canopy may fall under Permitted Development guidelines if it is less than 5m from the school boundary and is less than 25% of the total footprint of the building or less than 100 sqm (whichever is less) and has a total height of less than 5m. If you are planning a very large structure however, planning is likely to be required. Kensington Systems can help provide you with bespoke CGI visualisations to help you apply for planning.
Read more about applying for planning permission for your canopy.
What are your lead times?
Covered walkway canopy prices
The cost of your walkway canopy will depend on a number of factors, including overall size, extent of groundworks, and choice of extras like side walls. Canopies which are wider overall tend to cost less per sqm than canopies which are narrower.
What are the benefits of covered walkway canopies?
The main advantage of a walkway canopy is weather protection. Canopies allow students and staff to move safely between buildings without being affected by weather conditions. Protection is further increased by installing side walls. Walkways also help to contribute to safety by providing clearly demarcated routes for people to use.
Can I add side walls to a covered walkway canopy?
Yes, you can install side walls to a walkway canopy and these will provide extra weather protection for users. Side walls can be either glass or polycarbonate, or solid panels if preferred. We can also install doors etc to create a fully enclosed space.
Do you have DBS accreditation?
Yes, our installation teams hold enhanced DBS-accreditation enabling them to work on site unsupervised if required.
How can I expect the canopy installation process to work?
1. Enquiry
You get in touch with us via website, email or phone.
2. Site Visit & Quote
We come to site, do a detailed survey and produce a quote and bespoke visual based on that.
3. Order agreed
We agree an order and a deposit is paid. Our project manager visits site to meet you and kickstart the installation process. Final designs are produced for your approval.
4.Installation
Our groundworkers and installers arrive, securely fence the area and begin work. Work is completed with minimum disruption to your school.
5. Aftercare
We leave the site clean, tidy and ready to use. We’ll be there to support you if you need us again.
What sectors do we work in?
Education
Commercial
Healthcare
Retail
