VHE Project Update September 2016

Rylands Garage, Birmingham – Birmingham City Council

Following our Phase 1 works on the site during November and December 2015, which included the removal of redundant fuel tanks and interceptors from the site, exploration for LNAPL contaminants and the removal of hydrocarbon material for Bioremediation, we returned to site in May to deliver Phase 3 of this remediation project.

Along with the demolition of a public house and foundations, concrete slabs and foundations across the site were removed for crushing and subsequent reuse on the site. The below slab made ground was re-engineered to a depth of 2 metres across the whole of the site to create the platform for planned development. VHE also erected new fencing with 50% of the material being reclaimed from the former fencing to secure the boundary. The project was completed according to programme in July.

We were awarded the contract after successfully completing a neighbouring remediation project for the Homes and Communities Agency at the Serpentine AMH site in Aston, Birmingham.

Sighthill Transformational Remediation, Glasgow – Glasgow City Council

Following on from a period of design, classification of materials, site investigation, site clearance works and service diversions the VHE team temporarily removed the standing stones of Sighthill Park – known as the Sighthill Megalith – in order that they can be replaced in a new location on completion of the works.

The £250m regeneration of Sighthill will see the remediation of historical contamination both in-situ and ex-situ, in particular Galligu, and will also include demolition, deep grouting, drainage diversions and infrastructure works.

Derby Gas Holder 6 and 7 Demolition – National Grid

Both gasholders have now disappeared from the Pride Park skyline leaving a vast open space following dismantling by VHE. Stockpiled steel plate is being removed for recycling and will be followed by the removal of the bedding sand from the concrete slab. A small section of above ground pipework is to be removed and the site tidied up. The project completed at the end of August and the programme is ahead of schedule.

The demolition project is part of a continuing demolition programme with National Grid to release property for development.

North Gawber Colliery, Barnsley and Rossington Colliery, Doncaster – Harworth Estates

This large remediation project at the former North Gawber Colliery has been completed since our February project update, house builders Avant and Harron Homes are now on site. VHE have also completed the remediation works at the former Rossington Colliery.

Dalmarnock, Scotland – Clyde Gateway

We were awarded the package of outfall works to facilitate development of the Dalmarnock IUIF sites (Integrated Urban Infrastructure Framework) which comprise a network of sites on which VHE have previously undertaken a number of phases of remediation.

Some of the former uses of the sites include a Chemical Works, Iron Foundry and a Gas Works. The outfall works involved installing surface water drainage in both the highway and within the proposed development area to depths of 5 metres.

This project work commenced in February 2016 with installation of well points to allow safe dewatering, these were installed using trenchless and thrust bore techniques to avoid a network of underground services. The works completed May 2016.

Flass Lane, Castleford – Harworth Estates

We have had further success with Harworth Estates having secured the contract for Earthworks and Infrastructure at Flass Lane. The development will ultimately support more than 500 residential units and a new link road. The works include 160,000m3 earthworks, surface water and foul water sewers with a pumping station and attenuation pond. A new site entrance and sub-station will provide provision of services to the future development. This site can be seen from the M62 between junctions 31 and 32.

Harlaxton Road, Grantham – National Grid

As part of our ongoing remediation framework projects we have undertaken the remediation of a lorry park for National Grid Property Holdings.

This project required the installation of approximately 4000 square metres of interlocking cellpave and cellular units, manufactured from recycled plastic and filled with gravel, to form a suitable HGV self-draining hard wearing surface. The project has recently been handed back to the client ahead of programme.

Wildlife Habitat Area – Yorkshire Wildlife Park

In a most unusual setting for VHE teams, we recently concluded site works involving embankment strengthening to the open side of a gas main easement running through an area of the wildlife park. Having removed vegetation and soft silts, steps were cut into the existing slopes for a tie in and embankment strengthening was extended in to a large pond using self-compacting stone laid on a geo-textile.

All works had to take place outside the easement area, apart from two plant crossings which were constructed at approved locations to allow both plant access and import of material to the works. The specification was for the stone to be placed into the pond and trimmed to design shape, constructing strength to the easement slope. For minimum disturbance to the surrounding areas material was transported within site using a dumper and placed in the pond with long reach excavator which was also used for landscaping works.