With an increasing number of residential developments being built on brownfield sites, ensuring there is robust stormwater management on these developments is vital. When retirement community developer McCarthy & Stone began developing a 46-bed apartment complex on one such site in Kendal, Cumbria, getting the right system was crucial. To ensure an effective solution was in place, contractor Civils and Construction Solutions Ltd worked with Wavin, and its StormForce team.
Getting it right
Due to the potential risks of environmental contamination during intense rainfall, brownfield locations can present a challenge for those delivering below ground drainage. For this reason, effective stormwater management is critical to any build of this kind – a challenge that on this project was compounded by Kendal’s history of flooding. While plans are in place to strengthen the town’s flood defences, its geography means that heavy rainfall is common, and drainage and stormwater systems must be specified accordingly.
Having worked with Wavin in the past, Civils and Construction Solutions Ltd opted to take advantage of the manufacturer’s StormForce service.
End-to-end solutions
Wavin’s StormForce streamlines the stormwater management supply chain, taking care of the various facets of surface water infrastructure, including the design, supply and installation of its sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). It simplifies project management, increases efficiencies, and minimises the risks for contractors and developers as quality and compliance is always guaranteed.
Phil Barnes, Managing Director at contractor Civils and Construction Solutions Ltd, explained: “Getting water management right is always critical for sites like this. We knew we had to work with a specialist drainage provider who could go beyond just giving us the products and offer expert advice in case any unforeseen challenges presented themselves during the project. This was definitely one of the main advantages that came from working with Wavin, as we were able to lean on them for in-depth technical support.”
“We got in touch, outlined the specification, and Wavin simply took it from there in terms of providing the product and progressing with a smooth installation. Being able to hand them the reins to manage the drainage side of things was so helpful as it allowed us to concentrate on other elements of the project. Obviously, you need to be able to trust that specifications will be met, and that installation is completed in a timely manner. Our previous work with Wavin gave us instant confidence and reassurance for these areas.”
Sustainable stormwater management
Wavin’s solution was to integrate several AquaCell attenuation tanks underneath key areas of the development. These SuDS play an important role in protecting urban infrastructure, offering an effective – and sustainable – approach to mitigating the effects of heavy rainfall.
Natural landscaping, such as ponds, swales, and soakaways, offer some level of protection, but in order to make SuDS as effective as possible, it is important to install these types of below ground solutions as well. These innovative storage tanks release water back into the surrounding environment at a controlled rate, working out of sight and out of mind while protecting the surrounding infrastructure from flooding.
Mike Rose, Technical Sales Manager at Wavin UK, explains: “Attenuation tanks are pivotal to the ongoing hydraulic capacity of SuDS, so when Civils and Construction Solutions Ltd approached us saying they needed products which provided easy access and high strength on a brownfield site, we had no hesitation in recommending AquaCell. The units fit the brief perfectly, as they are designed for use in deep applications and underneath roads.”
With plans already in place to use StormForce for future projects, Phil concludes: “There are so many aspects to any building project and letting the StormForce team lead on water management was a massive benefit, helping us complete the project as efficiently as possible.
For more information on StormForce or to request a quote, please visit: https://www.wavin.com/en-gb/stormforce
