Multi-disciplinary work on Gloucestershire development shortlisted for regional property award

We are very proud that our work on the Littlecombe development in Gloucestershire has been shortlisted at the Insider Media Southwest Residential Property Awards.

Competing in the Residential Regeneration Project of the Year category, the Littlecombe development is a brownfield regeneration project led by developer St. Modwen, located in Dursley, Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The aim of the project is to transform the derelict engineering works into a sustainable mixed-use development. Nearly complete, the site will provide 600 high-quality homes, a community hospital, doctors surgery, and business park with job opportunities for the local community.

As leading consulting engineer for the project, our work included reclamation, remediation, ecological enhancement and infrastructure engineering. Our civil engineers designed the new river channel as part of the scope to de-culvert 250m of the River Cam. Our engineers also solved the infrastructure problems with crossing the river in three places by bringing forward a main spine road, which reduced the issue of congestion in the main nearby historic town centre by offering an alternative route through the valley.

The structures team designed the river crossings, which included an impressive cast in-situ culvert made to look like an attractive bridge structure with earth embankments. Originally the northern crossing was designed as a bridge and then a large pre-cast box culvert, requiring heavy crane operations with access not suitable for the narrow streets of Dursley. The structures team also, through careful redesign of the internal road system, retained and enhanced parts of the existing southern culvert structure, eliminating the need for an additional complex operation to demolish and rebuild the river crossing. Not only did this reduce disruption to the sensitive watercourse, it also saved time and money.

Additionally, for the northern crossings, an in-situ cast solution removed the need for piled foundations, further minimising disruption and environmental impact. These solutions were the result of extensive collaboration between our team, the ecologists and the Environment Agency, ensuring the project stayed on track while respecting both the local environment and the heritage of the town. The geo-environmental team managed the multiple contamination and settlement risks.

Our director Howel Morris said: “The Littlecombe development is another fantastic example of our team’s capacity to deliver on complex projects with a multi-disciplinary approach. As always, it has been a pleasure to collaborate with St. Modwen as the developer, particularly on such a multifaceted project. It’s very deserving that the team’s achievements have been recognised with this award nomination”.

“With a multi-disciplinary team on the project, we were able to bring a common sense approach to the consulting and design process. Ultimately, this connected the fabric of the historic market town of Dursley and the Littlecombe brownfield regeneration site with minimal disruption and impactful long term enhancement to local amenities and surroundings.”

The award ceremony is to be held on 24 April at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. We have our fingers crossed for our team and wish the best of luck to all those nominated for an award.

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