We are thrilled that one of our projects has won the Regeneration category in the RICS awards for the South West area. There were 45 schemes shortlisted in total and this award honours exceptional improvements to urban, rural or coastal areas. The judging panel were looking for evidence to show that the scheme has improved the built or natural environment in a way that has contributed to the viability of the area.
The judges said that they were impressed with the quality of construction, site remediation, urban design and careful detailing of the scheme. However, more impressive is the impact the development is having on the area through additional trading activity and the general buzz created on what has been for decades a blighted site on one of the main gateways into Bath.
This scheme of high quality student accommodation development by McLaren Property Ltd provides 330 bedrooms of accommodation in varying forms in 3 accommodation blocks and a row of townhouses. The environmentally sensitive site had previously been used for industrial purposes since the early 1800s containing gas works, a water driven mill and more recently, offices and a vehicle workshop and petrol station.
Located over a drinking water aquifer immediately adjacent to the River Avon, this proved quite a challenge. However, in partnership with our supply chain, HWA provided a robust ground investigation and remediation strategy for the site. This involved the removal of tar pits, slurry filled gasholder bases & fuel tanks and on-going groundwater monitoring to prove the natural attenuation of the residual impacted soil.
In order to remove constraints from the site a Combined Sewer Overflow which was originally flowing through the centre of the site was diverted to the perimeter. HWA were key to the negotiation of this with Wessex Water and the Environment Agency.
The new buildings were constructed from a cold rolled metal framed building solution and clad in a mixture of materials to the suite the site’s status within a World Heritage Site. This included White Lias stone, brickwork and standing seam cladding.
HWA were employed by Midas to undertake the post contract construction design of the structures, substructures, site drainage and external works on this project with Stride Treglowan Architects.
All winners will go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final on 14 October 2016 for a chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category.
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