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Openshaw, Manchester

Openshaw, Manchester

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BWB's involvement in this 40 hectare urban regeneration project commenced when we were appointed by Buckingham Group to act as their Consulting Engineer for a Design & Build tender for the remediation and enabling works for the Openshaw development adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Following the success of this initial phase of a much larger scheme Buckinghams were invited to tender for the remediation and enabling works for an adjacent heavily-contaminated former industrial site. Once again BWB acted as Buckingham's Consulting Engineer for the tender and, once again, we were instrumental in identifying alternative design, remediation and implementation proposals that enabled Buckingham to secure the contract against fierce competition.

The remediation works provided the basis for the delivery of a major commercial and leisure development, turning Eastlands into an international leisure and sporting destination. This high profile development has created leisure and employment opportunities for the wider community.

Key Challenges

The site has a complex industrial past with 13 mineshafts being located on-site associated with coal extraction during the 19th century at Bradford Colliery, a steel and copper works together with other heavy industries. Part of a former gas works encroached onto the north-west corner of the site whilst terrace housing had been present in the south. BWB provided a number of value engineering options in relation to enabling works and infrastructure including site remediation, earthworks and mineshaft/workings treatment to assist the Buckingham group, the Contractor, with securing the project via competitive tender.

BWB ensured a general cut and fill balance of materials on-site so that of a total of some 150,000 m3 excavated material, only 146m3 of material was disposed of off-site. Part of the works comprised stabilisation of two 900m deep mineshafts and BWB designed the stabilisation works so that building on top of the shafts could be achieved. BWB produced the validation reports on site during the earthworks period so that they were immediately available upon completion. We also provided expertise in dealing with service diversions and decommissioning works.

KEY CONTACTS

Ashley Lowe

Ashley Lowe
Service Director
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