Client: Taylor Wimpey (North East)
Location: Dunston, Gateshead
Contract Value: £5 million
Contract Period: December 2005 – Ongoing
This scheme was for one of our largest clients, TaylorWimpey Homes, and comprised the regeneration of Dunston Staithes (Newcastle Riverside) into a large residential development.
Works were undertaken throughout highly contaminated land allowing a new large mixed housing development on the banks of the River Tyne. The site was previously the site of an old gas works and was also the location for the Gateshead Garden Festival (1990). A large remediation scheme was undertaken before the construction and installation of roads, sewers and plot works followed by hard landscaping and paving works including the installation of street furniture. Works have been phased to suit market conditions, with flexible programming over a number of years. The award winning design was carried out by Wayne Hemingway.
Project Description
Works comprised of remediation, infrastructure and enabling works, which was phased due to the size and complexity of the site. Hard and soft landscaping and streetscape works were carried out on the completed phases. The drainage works have involved the installation of over 1,600m of pipework to date, with pipe diameters ranging from 150mm to 1,200mm.
Drainage Challenges
Due to the contaminated ground conditions with high levels of hydrocarbons special PPE consisting of nitrile suits, gasmasks and gas monitors along with shower facilities were all essential during the laying of all sewers below the depth of one metre.
Environmental Considerations
- A 30m exclusion zone was installed extending from the Staithes to the working area preventing disturbance to wading birds feeding on the mud flats.
- Storage of the excavations from the deep drainage was contained in a plastic membrane lined bunded area for the period where testing could be carried out till the correct strategy for the cleansing and recycling of the material could be correctly formulated.
- No over-pumping of water was allowed to go directly into any drain or water course until it had passed through a settling tank.
