Polypipe,
the UK’s leading manufacturer of sustainable drainage and water management
systems, has supplied a drainage and attenuation solution for the £8 million
Haughton Road residential development in Darlington.
The
project saw Polypipe deliver a tailored, value engineered system to meet the
specific requirements of the local water company, Northumbrian Water,
working in conjuction with the main contractor Tolent Living and subcontractor
Hewitson Limited.
The
Haughton Road development project is the largest housing development in the
area in recent history, and is being delivered by the Railway Housing
Association in collaboration with contractor Tolent Living, groundworks
subcontractor Hewitson Limited and designers Coast Consulting Engineers.
The
development will see 73 new rental homes built for local residents, which will
incorporate the site’s historic engine shed, built in 1844.
The
Listed status building will be converted into mews-style homes, guaranteeing
the future preservation and continued use of a historic building closely linked
to the town’s industrial past.
The
original specification for the drainage and attenuation on the development
included a concrete system, however due to their strong existing relationship
with Polypipe, Hewitson Limited asked the manufacturer to design an alternative
option.
Polypipe
worked closely with Northumbrian Water to meet their specific requirements for
the site and demonstrated the capabilities that a Ridgistorm-XL large diameter
plastic pipe solution could deliver, in comparison to a traditional concrete
system.
Engaging in discussions with the full project team, Polypipe
demonstrated that its ability to provide Ridgistorm-XL pipework in bespoke
pipelengths and stiffness classifications made it one of the most adaptable
large diameter piping systems in the UK, and in this instance the ideal system
to meet the project’s needs.
Polypipe’s
proposed system used Ridgistorm-XL engineered thermoplastic large diameter
pipes, with just under 12 metres of pipe supplied in a diameter of 900mm and a
stiffness class of SN2, and 171 metres supplied in a diameter of 1,200mm to a
stiffness class of SN2.8.
The Ridgistorm-XL solution was laid under the road
out of the residential site and will store surface water run-off, before
controlling its release back into Northumbrian Water’s system at a measured
rate.
The
pipes were delivered with spigot and socket push-fit jointing, ensuring
efficient installation on site. Polypipe’s Ridgistorm-XL is robust, reliable
and long lasting, as well as being up to 94% lighter than concrete systems,
making it easier and quicker to handle and install, further reducing
installation time and cost.
In order
to approve the system, Northumbrian Water required rocker and stub connectors
to be incorporated, to join manholes to the main pipelengths. Polypipe adapted
to this request by providing additional lengths of Ridgistorm-XL pipe, cut to
1.25 metres.
Polypipe then worked closely with the project team to reposition
the manholes within the system design as needed, with the shorter lengths of
pipe used as rocker and stub connectors to secure them into the main framework.
Ridgistorm-XL manholes are modular, ready-to-install access points that can be
integrated anywhere in the drainage network system. At the Haughton Road site,
they will effectively control surface run-off flow and facilitate easy access
for future inspection and maintenance.
Rosie
Cheetham, Marketing Consultant at Polypipe, said, “We were delighted that
Hewitson Limited and the project team approached us to supply an alternative,
efficient, and cost effective drainage and attenuation solution for the
Haughton Road site. Our high level of dedicated service and consistent
communication with all parties, coupled with our technical expertise, proved a
great success.
We were
able to deliver a solution that was perfectly adapted to meet both the system
requirements of Northumbrian Water, and the drainage and attenuation needs of
the residential site. This project highlights just how adaptable our
Ridgistorm-XL system can be in meeting challenging or unusual requirements,
with our engineers able to work closely with contractors to find an effective
solution, without reducing system integrity.”
Pat
O’Neill, Contract Manager at Tolent Living, said, “We selected Polypipe’s
Ridgistorm-XL system for the Haughton Road development because it is quick
and easy to install, which was of great importance to our
project schedule. Overall, the system is lighter in weight and more
manageable than concrete solutions, which offered significant safety
benefits for installers on-site. “
