Bridgwater MLR Phase 1

Design & Build award

Project Team
Client: Hallam Land Management Ltd
Design: Halcrow Group Ltd
Construction: John Sisk & Son Ltd

The Project
The project was undertaken as part of the plans to redevelop the area of North East Bridgwater to provide a new sustainable neighbourhood as a natural extension of Bridgwater itself. This area will be fundamental to the regeneration of Bridgwater, in particular through the provision of new jobs and new types of employment opportunity as well as a range of new homes.

A new Regional Distribution Centre for WM Morrison’s supermarket occupies the northern part of the site while a number of new housing estates are linked through the provision of a new Main Local Route (MLR) to the town of Bridgwater. The project focuses on providing new transport links for both the housing developments and the Distribution Centre, as well as providing a temporary link road to enable construction traffic to access all areas of the site.

A sustainable urban drainage system was introduced on site to allow for the upgrade and incorporation of the existing deep water rhynes and King’s Sedgemoor Drain Outfall, which currently drain this area of the Somerset Levels.

New dedicated cycleways, footpaths, bus stops and pedestrian crossings have been introduced to link the existing neighbourhood along the Bath Road with the new development with a new signalised junction providing access.

 

Scope of the Works

• Construction of an Emergency/Construction access from the A39 Old Bath Road as part of the enabling works.
• Construction of a 1km new Main Local Route (MLR) from the A39 Bath Road to the proposed four arm roundabout to the north of the site.
• Construction of a Commercial access road 7.3m in width from the proposed roundabout to the WM Morrison Regional Distribution Centre.
• Upgrade of the existing junction between the A39 Bath Road and the Old Bath Road.
• Construction of a new signalised junction on the A39 Bath Road to allow permanent access to the new development.
• Installation of a Sustainable Drainage System to include new and improved drainage Rhynes across the site, including an improved outfall to the Kings Sedgemoor Drain.
• Provision of a Footway/cycleway and 9.0m maintenance corridor along the MLR containing proposed services and development foul sewer.
• Supervision and co-ordination of all service diversions and new supplies feeding the site.

Parties Involved

• John Sisk & Son Ltd
• Halcrow Group Ltd
• Hallam Land Management Ltd
• Somerset County Council
• Parrett Internal Drainage Board
• Western Power Distribution
• British Telecom
• Metropolitan Utilities
• Wessex Water
  

 

Use of CEEQUAL
The decision to undertake a CEEQUAL Assessment for the project was taken by John Sisk & Son Ltd and their designers Halcrow Group Ltd. as part of their ongoing efforts to improve their environmental performance. Participation in the scheme was not a client requirement.

Environmental and ecological matters were a high priority at all stages of the project from the planning application through to the landscaping works. As the project involved construction adjacent to an existing established community on the A39 Bath Road, consideration for and consultation with neighbours and the local community was important to ensure disruption was kept to a minimum. As this was the first CEEQUAL Assessment undertaken by John Sisk & Son Ltd, the advice of the CEEQUAL Verifier was invaluable and lessons learned have been carried forward to future projects.

Areas where the project scored well included:

• Landscape – A Strategic Design Code was prepared for the area of North East Bridgwater which was then adopted by Somerset County Council. Ongoing consultation was held with SCC throughout the design and construction phase to ensure that the finished works were to the highest standard and provided links to the existing community. The design was upgraded to incorporate the latest specification introduced by SCC. New public amenities such as dedicated cycleways, footpaths, pedestrian crossings and bus stops were also incorporated.
  

• Water Resources & The Water Environment - The new site drainage system was designed to maximise the usage of the existing deep rhynes or drainage ditches which are common on the Somerset levels. The existing rhynes were upgraded, new rhynes were established and an attenuation area was introduced to provide extra capacity for the site. A detailed maintenance plan and access was incorporated in consultation with the Parrett Internal Drainage Board.

• Material Use – Minimal material was removed from the site and any material excavated was either reused or stockpiled for treatment. Lime cement stabilisation was carried out to site won material and this material was then reused as a capping layer in the road make up. Wick drains were installed to the roundabout area and surcharging was applied to induce settlement which negated the need for excavation and replacement of unsuitable fill materials.