Earthworks support and installation expertise for Southsea redevelopment project

When it comes to enjoying the benefits of new or redeveloped sites within the community, little attention is paid to the work behind the scenes. In the case of this earthworks support project for Ashley Groundworks, the work was actually beneath the scenes.

Our client, Brymor Group Southern, engaged us for a project in Southsea – the redevelopment of a disused site. The site, previously the home of retailers John Lewis and Debenhams, was being converted into a bespoke Hilton Hotel, featuring a gym, cinema, bars, and more.

Brymor is a privately owned, award-winning construction company with a focus on making a positive impact on the communities it serves, and they entrusted us with a key component of the project:

• Installing a foul water holding tank and associated pipework, including a rising main.
• The tank was an essential part of the planning conditions for the redevelopment, requiring careful planning and execution.
• Strict standards were met to ensure the tank’s stability and functionality, integral to the project’s success.

Our involvement in the project began with extensive earthworks to excavate the loading bay for the tank installation and would end with us returning the site to its original condition. The site presented a few challenges to the installation, including high groundwater levels, limited operational space and concerns around ground contamination.

Key to success here was the earthwork support – creating a temporary structural support for the working area to prevent the collapse or weakening of the excavation site.

To achieve our objective of ensuring a safe and efficient installation while restoring the site to its original condition, and tackle the challenges presented by the site, we followed a structured approach:

• Pre-installation planning: Coordinated the delivery of materials, plant, and labor to align with project needs and timelines.
• Site preparation: Marked out the tank area, removed the existing concrete slab, and reduced the ground level to a safe depth for the tank installation.
• Framework construction: Built a robust frame for the tank installation.
• Collaborative design support: Partnered with Pro Mech to design and install a custom earthworks support system. Pro Mech contributed by:
  • Designing the support system and driving sheet piles into place around the excavation frame to ensure safety and stability.
• Tank installation: Installed the tank, specially designed by SPEL Products to BS EN 13121 standards, and secured it in place with a concrete base reinforced by vertical steel mesh for added strength.
  • During the concrete pour, we filled the tank with water to balance the pressure and maintain structural integrity.
• Drainage connection: Connected the building drainage to the existing system via a rising main, using supplies from Rouden Pipetek.

The final step was to backfill the area and restored the hard surface to its original state, completing the project within the designated timeframe and planning conditions.

The project was a success – completed according to the specifications set out by Brymor and well within the designated time frame. All planning conditions were met, allowing the main construction works to proceed as planned.

The successful installation of the foul water tank not only facilitated the Hilton Hotel development but also showcased our expertise in earthworks support and construction earthworks.

If you’d like to chat about your next earthworks support project, click here to get in touch with us today.