Cheltenham High Street East, Public Realm Improvement

“Public realm embraces the external places in our towns and cities that are accessible to all; everyday spaces that we move through and linger within, the places where we live, work and play.” Anon

Cheltenham town centre is a popular regional shopping destination entertaining significant numbers of visitors throughout the year.  These numbers are further supplemented by tourists attending the many festivals and events, culminating in the annual Gold Cup at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Cheltenham Borough Council, supported by the local Highway Authority, Gloucestershire County Council, and with additional funding by the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF), proposed a major public realm improvement.

Overall Masterplan Visualisation (© Cheltenham Borough Council)

The main High Street shopping area has been a pedestrian zone since the 1980s.  Over the intervening period, some sections of the High Street have become dilapidated; damaged by heavy vehicles servicing the shop fronts, poor quality reinstatements to utility excavations, and with blocked or ineffective surface water drainage.

The Stilwell Partnership were pleased to be appointed to provide the professional civil engineering that would revive the tired townscape and create a quality environment. Our role was to interpret the conceptual designs to current technical standards and produce engineering drawings and specification for construction. Completion was programmed to coincide with the opening of Cheltenham’s new John Lewis flagship development in Autumn 2018.

The improvement would include high quality natural stone paving, efficient surface water drainage, additional public seating, and provide biodiversity by soft landscaping,  and an area for cultural events.

Phase 1 Visualisation (© Cheltenham Borough Council)

Appointed in December 2017 against a tight timescale, the detailed design was to be presented for Client approval in mid-February 2018, immediately followed by the (s278) technical submission to the Highway Authority.  Tender Documents for construction were to be issued shortly afterwards.

The Stilwell Partnership successfully met each of these key milestones, enabling the procurement process and legal agreements to progress on schedule for this first £700,000 section.

The Stilwell Partnership continues to play a key role working with the Project Managers & Quantity Surveyors, Faithful & Gould, and the Cheltenham Borough project team.

We will update the blog as construction progresses.

All images are subject to copyright and are used with the kind permission of Cheltenham Borough Council.

 

Nick Stilwell, Stilwell Partnership’s founder, celebrates 25th anniversary

In May 2017, Nick Stilwell of the Stilwell Partnership celebrated 25 years in business. The Surrey based practice of consulting engineers has always “punched above its weight”, and over the years has made a major contribution to the disciplines of road safety, transportation, and highway engineering.

Stilwell’s first client proposed a major development on a site in Holmethorpe. The site was locked within a triangle of busy rail lines with highway poor access.  Substantial infrastructure improvements, including a new rail bridge, were required to open the site for much needed housing.

To reduce the construction costs and potentially improve the viability of the development, the Stilwell practice introduced the traditionally risk-averse British Railways to a popular Swedish technique of rapid rail bridge construction.  This bridge construction technique has subsequently been adopted and widely used for many new rail bridges throughout the UK.

The Holmethorpe project was to play a substantial part in the growth and development of the practice.  For the next 20 years, the company progressed the project from Public Inquiry to Planning Consent and then through detailed design and construction, to completion.

Also in the 1990s, the District and Boroughs of Surrey had responsibility for the traffic management, road safety and highway engineering.  To improve efficiency, the Stilwell practice offered to take on their staff and provide a shared engineering resource for these Authorities.  This successful arrangement provided essential engineering services to several Boroughs including Surrey Heath, Elmbridge and also Surrey County Council.

In this role, the practice wrestled with the worsening problem of traffic congestion and delays at busy or complicated roundabouts.  The conventional approach of building yet more roads or larger junctions was not a sustainable solution.  Therefore, the practice looked at new ways of reducing congestion by guiding motorists through the junction, quickly and safely, from the approach to their exit.

Experimenting with white lining and surfacing, the practice developed the Spiral road markings technique.  Initially trialled at Camberley’s Meadows interchange in 1995, the technique was so successful it was adopted as good design practice by the Department of Transport.

Spiral road markings continue to be used throughout the UK to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety.  Many road junctions constructed today could not operate efficiently without that pioneering work by the Stilwell practice.

Responding to the requirements of public and private sector clients, the practice offered an increasing number of civil and municipal engineering services.

The practice was appointed civil engineer for the design and supervision of West Wales Airport improvement.  Part funded by the Welsh Parliament, this prepared the airport to become a centre of excellence for the development and operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, (Drones).

In the summer of 2007, areas of the UK were subjected to the worst flooding for many years.  The Stilwell Partnership produced a strategy for Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, an area severely hit by the floods.  Using CAD systems, historic flood information from different agencies was combined to reveal weak spots in the surface water drainage network.

The practice continues to advise local authorities, developers, and parish councils on the potential impact of Flood Risk and flood alleviation measures.

Most recently, the practice played a key role designing the highway junction infrastructure for the award-winning Pont Briwet road rail bridge in North Wales.

The Stilwell Partnership continues to make a significant contribution to Road Safety.  Nick Stilwell is a member of the Parliamentary Advisory group on Transport Safety, and the Association of Road Safety Officers.  In 2009, the Association presented the practice with the “Award for Outstanding Contribution”.

The Stilwell Partnership continues to promote good practice by sponsoring the Southern Region of the Institute of Highway Engineers.  In addition, Stilwell Road Safety, a not-for-profit venture, aspires to introduce a culture of Road safety from early school days throughout childhood and older to combat the increasing number of road deaths in the 17-25 age bracket.

The practice has been involved in many high profile and prestigious private and public projects over this 25-year history, and looks forward to meeting the challenges of the future.  In 2016, the Stilwell Partnership merged with a like-minded group of practices, the Patrick Parsons Group.

Construction & Environmental Management Plans

Construction Management Plans (CMP) are increasingly required by Local Authorities as a condition of the Development’s Planning Consent.  CMP aim to reduce the impact of the construction operations on the local area.

Following many traffic road accidents involving construction traffic, these Plans also aim to identify potential hazards and identify appropriate road safety measures.

The Stilwell Partnership’s experience in Traffic Management, Road Safety and Highway Engineering has proved particularly applicable to the production of CMPs.

In London, a Construction Logistics Plan (CLP) is required. A CLP should improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of deliveries to that location.  It should also identify unnecessary journeys, and deliveries that could be made by more sustainable transport modes, to help reduce congestion and minimise the environmental impact of freight activity.  Particular emphasis is placed on road safety.

• Oakforest Properties Limited had Planning Permission in the London Borough of Barnet, for four 2-storey family dwellings together with the formation of hardstanding to provide 5 car parking spaces. Existing buildings on the site were to be demolished. Planning Conditions were satisfied by our CLP in July 2016.

• This small urban residential development for a private client in Paradise Street, Cambridge, satisfied Planning Conditions in February 2017 with our CMP which included additional consideration of Dust Management,

• Our CMP produced for a 3 ha Solar Farm near Titchfield, Fareham, for Jardin Smith International and their Planning Consultant WSP Planning and Architecture of Reigate, successfully obtain Planning Consent in March 2017.

In each case, we carried out an assessment of the volume of traffic and types of vehicle.  Using Autotrack to model the vehicle swept paths, we checked the manoeuvrability of the construction traffic to negotiate the site access.

For larger sites, we identify suitable access routes for construction traffic from all directions.

App C TSP-LFH-P3025-02 – CMP Proposed Route

A major part of the Construction Management Plan concentrates on road safety of the other road users around the access and along the directed routes.  Highway sightlines and road conditions are assessed along the main access routes to determine what measures can be introduced to minimise the road safety risks to other road users.

Our full methodology to prepare a CMP including a Dust Management Plan considers the following:

• The Site and Surroundings
• The General Construction Strategy and Logistics
• Site Waste Minimisation Measures & Dust Generation
• Construction Management and Site Controls
• Vehicle Types Required and Delivery Procedures
• Mitigation Measures for Construction Traffic
• Security and Health & Safety
• Details of Any Hoardings
• Materials and Plant Storage
• Implementation and Monitoring
• Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety
• Consultation with Residents, Neighbours and Office Users

We have the experience to efficiently produce an effective Construction Management Plan, to the satisfaction of the Local Authority, and practical needs of the Contractor.

Building For Schools: Resolving Highways & Traffic Issues

We have added a new section to our website describing our specialist contribution to the Building for Schools Programme and our continuing efforts to improve Road Safety around schools.

The Stilwell Partnership have successfully supported many School Building projects throughout London and the South East.  Considering issues of road safety, traffic congestion and parking, we identify safe and sustainable access arrangements for pupils, parents, and staff.

Resolving Highways and Traffic issues may be the key to a successful Planning Consent.  Our contribution can smooth the project’s progress from initial Concept, through the Planning process, and onto successful Completion.

School Expansion

To help St Joseph Catholic Primary School achieve Planning Permission for their expansion in Ealing, our Transportation Assessment evaluated the traffic generation and car parking associated with the development.  We produced a School Travel Plan recommending sustainable transport measures to minimise the impact on the local road network.

Claremont Fan Court School in Esher, planned a new sports hall.  In addition to assessing the traffic impact we produced an engineering design solution for improvements to the access road, new car park and “section 278” improvements to the adjoining public highway.  To help implement their planned expansion we designed alterations to the site drainage network and carried out a Flood Risk Assessment.

Traffic and Parking Problems

Hart District Council in Hampshire was concerned with the continuing traffic and parking problems around a number of schools and the resulting impact on road safety.  We undertook site studies and proposed a range of traffic management measures to improve road safety in the area.

Stilwell Road Safety for Schools

The Stilwell Partnership has been innovating and pioneering road safety solutions for over 20 years.  Our not for profit social enterprise srsCULTUREforSchools aims to instil a lifetime of road safety culture to our children by improving attitudes towards the safety of self and others and encouraging safe behaviour in the road environment.

Other Successful Schools Project references

Ark Blacklands Primary	Fleet Primary School
Ilford & Kingston Primary	Grayswood C of E Infant School, Haslemere
St Blasius Academy Shanklin	St Bartholomew’s School, Haslemere
Clandon C of E Primary	Tweseldown School, Church Crookham
Yateley Primary	The Charter School
Cheam High School	The Royal Junior School
West Byfleet Infant School	St Dunstan’s Primary School

Challenging Housing Development in Horley Gets Planning Consent

Despite setbacks during the Planning process, perseverance pays off.  At the end of May 2014, WSP Architecture & Planning of Reigate submitted a Planning Application for a development of up to 46 high quality dwellings in Horley, Surrey. The development was to be located on land at the rear of an existing cul-de-sac, requiring highway access between existing houses.

The Stilwell Partnership were appointed to provide the following specialist engineering services for the Planning Application:

A Flood Risk Assessment & Drainage Strategy.  Developed in full consultation with the local drainage officer, the strategy ensured that the site complied with policy for restricting and attenuating surface water run-off, and reduced the risk of flooding in the wider area.  This was achieved through tactical spatial planning and widening of watercourses to provide additional flood plain storage in the west of the site, an area subject to historic flooding.

A Transportation Assessment and additional Highway design services.  The Transportation Assessment reported that the site was in a sustainable location with good links to public transport, shops, and employment opportunities.  The highway design proposed a 5.5m width carriageway with 1.8m wide footways on either side from the cul-de-sac to serve the new residential properties.  This also included improvements to the lane, a small roundabout and other sightline enhancements.

The Stilwell Partnership reports and design proposals addressing Flood Risk, Drainage and Transportation were accepted by the Local Authority without comment.  Despite this, in July 2015, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council rejected the Planning Application referring to Planning Policy issues.

An Appeal was submitted in January 2016, heard in October, and in November, perhaps about 3 years after the development was first conceived, the Planning Inspector allowed the Appeal.

The Stilwell Partnership are pleased to be associated with this successful outcome.

New Marriott Hotel, Cable Street, New Cross, City of Manchester

 

The Stilwell Partnership supported the successful Planning Application by Axcel Property Developments Ltd for a new Marriott hotel providing multidisciplinary design advice including Highways & Transportation, Drainage, Low Carbon Energy and Noise Assessments.

A full Planning Application was submitted for a 172-bedroom hotel on the brownfield site of a surface car park in Cable Street in Manchester’s New Cross area. The development comprised the hotel (Class C1) with associated public realm, landscaping and other associated work. Proposals included a café bar, fitness centre, meeting rooms and associated servicing areas.

Our package of engineering design services included:

A Transport Statement of the development’s transportation impact on the local highway network. Our assessment considered sustainable forms of transport, including opportunities for walking and cycling, and the accessibility to public transport. We also considered servicing and emergency vehicle access. Our assessment concluded that the development could be accommodated without detriment to vehicular flows and road safety.

A Drainage Strategy, to minimise the impact on the wider area from surface and foul water from the proposed development. The very confined site limited the range of sustainable drainage options. An attenuation solution was identified to control the surface water run-off.

The Noise Assessment highlighted the application site was in a relatively noisy area impacted from road traffic noise on the A665 Addington Street.  Mitigation action proposed triple glazing to the bedrooms on the assumption the hotel would have air conditioning, to control internal noise levels to meet the standards set by WHO and BS 8233:2014.

Manchester City’s Planning Policies place great emphasis on decentralised energy schemes in the City centre. Using our CHP modelling software, the Sustainable Energy Assessment determined that the proposed development would be able to potentially contribute towards a future local district heating scheme and achieve an improvement of at least 15% CO2 emissions based on the predicted energy demand.

 

See the project sheet here: http://stilwell-ltd.co.uk/Projects/Cable_Street

 

Pont Briwet Transportation Improvement Scheme Wins the ICE Wales 2016 Innovation Award

The annual Institution of Civil Engineers Wales Cymru Awards, celebrates outstanding engineering achievement across the country. The 2016 Awards Ceremony was held at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff on Friday 17th June and was hosted by ICE President Sir John Armitt, ICE Wales Cymru Chairman David Rowlands and Chairman of the Judges’ Panel, Christopher Craufurd.  Award winners were announced to an audience of more than 250 industry leaders in Wales.

The winner of the Innovation Award was the Pont Briwet Transportation scheme, a £16.5 million rail and highway upgrade including the Pont Briwet viaduct over the Dwyryd estuary in Gwynedd. The scheme had already won the 2016 Transportation Project of the Year by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation of Wales at their annual dinner in January.

The new viaduct replaced a Grade 2 listed timber structure, carrying a single track railway and a single lane toll road. Originally constructed in the 1860s it required a major costly intervention to extend its life span. Speed restrictions of 20 mph were imposed on both road and rail traffic.

The viaduct is a pioneering bridge solution as the longest fully integrated road/rail viaduct in the UK.

A rail halt, again using precast concrete for the majority of the work, was constructed on the south side of the bridge and both approach roads were widened and improved throughout their entire length.

As member of the design team and a key associated organisation, The Stilwell Partnership provided highways and drainage aspects of the civil engineering design of the approach roads and adjacent junction improvements.  This included cycleways and pedestrian access to the new bridge and the rail station.  The civil engineering design included production of Construction Drawings and the Specification for Highway Works.

The judges liked the way in which the scheme fitted into the environment. The use of precast concrete for the majority of the structure resulted in a quicker and safer construction. The removal of single carriageway working and traffic lights has significantly improved the traffic capacity on an important tourist route.