A key consideration for the housebuilder at its Cranberry Gardens development in Congleton, Cheshire, was ensuring the site had a future-proofed stormwater management system that would protect the premium houses during both regular and extreme weather conditions. With this in mind, Redrow and civil engineering contractor, Stuart Bowler Contractors, worked with Wavin to design and install a tailored Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) utilising the manufacturer’s AquaCell range.
Protecting a luxury project
Increasingly, to control the impact of a changing climate and the consequences of increased rainfall, housebuilders are turning to SuDS. These are specialist systems designed to mimic Mother Nature, collecting and managing stormwater at the source, allowing it to be released back into the environment via infiltration, and into to sewers and watercourses at a manageable rate.
For the Cranberry Gardens project, which contains over 200 three and four-bedroom homes, it was essential that the system specified was suitable for deep applications, and could withstand both regular and heavy traffic loadings, such as cars and HGVs (for vehicles up to 44 tonnes).
To meet the brief, Stuart Bowler Contractors selected Wavin’s AquaCell, a range of geocellular systems that have been extensively tried and tested, and are BBA approved, for managing excessive rainfall. The range features four types of units – AquaCell Eco, Core, Prime and Plus – which can be used as a standalone system or mixed and matched together in layers to value engineer the most cost-effective solution.
A fast and effective solution with no ongoing maintenance
When it came to the installation, the range provided the project with a multitude of benefits. The units are not only lightweight and easy to handle but can also be quickly assembled on site. In addition, the units can be brick bonded for greater strength and stability and can be mixed and matched to create the optimum installation. These features made the AquaCell system the perfect solution for ensuring the installation adhered to strict budgets and timescales.
The AquaCell systems used on the project, AquaCell LB075 Prime, and AquaCell 6LB200 Plus provided a fast solution in both installation designs with the benefit of no ongoing maintenance. AquaCell Plus has been designed primarily for use in applications where inspectability is required and is suitable for use in all applications. AquaCell Prime is manufactured from specially reformulated, recycled material. It is ideal for use in both shallow and deep applications, such as car parks or landscaped areas.
A key challenge for the project was that the system needed to connect to a concrete manhole. The contractors turned to Wavin’s technical engineering team, which provided design support in creating a bespoke solution to meet the requirement. The end solution utilised the versatility of the AquaCell units to provide a smooth direct connection to the manhole and effectively manage the flow of water.