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26/02/2008 Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City
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Client: Logic Homes - working in partnership with Genesis Housing Group
Architect: Social Housing Partnership
Employers Agent: Philip Pank Partnership
Procurement Route: Partnering - PPC 2000
Contract Sum: £3 million
Commencement Date: August 2006
Completion Date: April 2007
Project Description: A former English Partnerships site which involved the demolition of a redundant scout hall, vehicle workshop and associated buildings to provide 21 units ranging from 1 bedroom flats to 4 bedroom houses for affordable housing, providing a mix of affordable rent and low cost home ownership.
Project Challenges: The site had significantly high levels of contamination arising from its previous use as a vehicle workshop. Full site remediation using traditional stripping and backfilling techniques was carried out before work started on the site.
McCann Homes was able to mitigate the extent of site stripping and removal by carrying out extensive soil sampling operations which identified the ‘contamination hot spot’ areas. A remediation strategy was then agreed with the Environment Agency to minimise the impact on the site, the surrounding area and the disposal facility required.
The redundant site had developed a partial ‘established use’ as an informal parking facility and means of access to the woodland area at the rear of the site. Through acquisition of an adjacent site and consultation with local residents and the community, McCann Homes were able to re-provide this parking facility on a permanent basis and provide access through the development for residents to continue with their woodland walks.
Protection and integration of the woodland area during the design and construction works was achieved by putting up a secure hoarding to help prevent dust and debris encroaching on the natural habitat of the woodland area. A permanent but sympathetic ‘green’ perimeter fencing was erected to the woodland boundary at the end of construction operations to distinguish sensitively between woodland and private areas.
The design for the project utilises landscaping and a subtle mix of natural external finishes, colours and textures including brick to integrate it with the woodland area.
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