Transport engineering support for new Collaton residential site

Challenge

SLR has been appointed by Cavanna Homes to provide planning support for a new residential site consisting off up to 130 residential units. The site is very steep and ground condition is very poor requiring piling for any structure.

Solution

After obtaining planning approval our team of engineers have provided S278 design, S38 design and S104 design together with private levels and drainage design. SLR has received the technical approvals, and the design has been completed including negotiations with South West Water related to off-site sewer requisition. The main challenges aside from the levels and ground conditions were related to the local residents objecting to the scheme; consequently there were changes to the layout and design. There was also ecological site constraints which required a non-standard approach to street lighting, which had to be also agreed with the Highways Team.

As the final scheme construction cost exceeded the client’s expectations, the new approach is to start from the beginning. SLR has been appointed again to support Cavanna Homes to deliver the new scheme based on the new layout.

Impact

Our engineers provided support through the scheme, by providing initial advice and the full planning and detail design. SLR coordinated the design with other disciplines and supported the client in making required changes to the scheme following received comments.

Surface water drainage created the biggest challenge due to the limited space available and the level differences. SLR managed to provide surface water treatment in the proposed attenuation basin and attenuation within the underground tanks.

SLR is helping the client to reduce the cost of the new scheme by advising on levels, and highways geometry, and proposing solutions reducing the scheme cost. By being involved in the production of the new layout SLR managed to help to deliver cheaper scheme.