Project Brief
We provided civil and structural design services for this mixed tenure scheme for seventy-two units for Together Housing on the site of a former sawmill.
Our initial appointment was to assist Vistry with the outline Flood Risk Assessment and drainage strategy, where we highlighted unknowns, e.g., allowing for an additional highway drain due to inconclusive gully surveys. As the project progressed, we helped explore three different options to assess cost implications, ease of construction, and adoptability.
Solution
Having reviewed the existing information, we adopted a beneficial strategy that would increase the site’s developable area and help introduce more sustainable solutions.
We lifted the site levels to avoid the need for a pumping station and a S185 sewer diversion. To help reduce carbon output, we designed-out the need for concrete stepped retainment in rear gardens. To successfully accommodate banking, we proposed reducing a verge and replacing a delineation kerb with a landscaped area. We ensured the rear garden gradients met NHBC Approval and all banking maintained a max 1:3 gradient. Our solutions were simpler and more cost-effective details for the contractor to construct and will reduce the long-term maintenance liability for Together Housing.
To achieve S38 Highways approval, we collaborated with the authority’s engineer to accommodate drawing changes. We advised Vistry on the extent of pin kerbs for the highway boundary, indicating what was physically constructable whilst providing a safe, robust, and durable finish. We advised on the optimum highway alignment to minimise the extent of a culvert running under an adopted highway and avoid incurring commuted sums. To avoid damaging tree roots, we designed an adoptable but non-traditional cycle way using a cellular product that met necessary gradients. To achieve Highways approval, we provided extra information, including a typical detail and a case study illustrating the product in use.
