Burghill Traffic Calming

Burghill, Herefordshire

Client:Herefordshire County Council Sector: Services:Civil Engineering Link Design Lead:Ben Latcham

Link were appointed by Herefordshire County Council to support the S106 works to the village of Burghill. The works consisted of passive traffic calming measures to be introduced through the section of the village where a school was situated. Further works to improve the pedestrian access and safety of the school were also completed.

In order to improve the safety of the area, traffic calming measures such as white line marking, dragon teeth, gateway design and new 20mph while lights are flashing signs were introduced.

This forms part of larger S106 works throughout Herefordshire to improve the safety for pedestrians, residents and school areas. Link are involved in a number of other traffic calming projects with Herefordshire County Council. Safety is of the upmost importance, which is why Link believes that these works in Herefordshire are key.

Team Member Contact

Ben Latcham

Senior Engineer

MEng (Hons)

Chatterley Valley

Chatterley Valley Development Site, Stoke-on-Trent

Client:John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd / Harworth Estates Sector:Development Infrastructure Services:Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Link Design Lead:Neil Shuttleworth

Link were appointed by John F Hunt Regeneration Ltd (JFHR) to undertake the infrastructure design for Harworth’s development site in Stoke. The project scope was to construct the site infrastructure and create a number of development plateau’s in preparation for the future vertical build.

This site has a highly variable topography (falling over 50m along its length) and a number of constraints including shallow mine workings and mineshafts, significant depths of made ground, a public right of way and the West Coast Mainline bordering the site boundary.

Our design included:

  • Full 3D modelling of the earthworks (>700,000m3 of cut and fill);
  • Geotechnical design and validation including ground treatment by surcharge and monitoring;
  • On-site highway and street lighting to adoptable standards (via a Section 7 agreement with Staffordshire County Council)
  • Surface water and foul water drainage systems including two large attenuation ponds.
  • Liaison with Network Rail (NR) for any necessary precautions, approvals, or modifications in proximity to the railway infrastructure.
  • Review of historic coal mining reports and records and design of treatment for shallow workings and a number of mineshaft caps across the site.

Link undertook a number of value engineering exercises to optimise the drainage design and simplify the ground treatment approach, whilst ensuring the end product would satisfy the client performance specification.

Team Member Contact

Neil Shuttleworth

Director

MEng (Hons) CEng MICE

Cardiff BMX Racing Club

Llanrumney, Cardiff

Link was appointed by Cardiff BMX Racing Club to undertake the design of the flood risk and drainage elements of the development of a BMX track and associated facilities.

Link’s team prepared a package of work in support of a SuDS Approval Body application, which included:

  • On-site drainage strategy drawings;
  • 3D design of attenuation ponds and conveyance swales, to discharge surface runoff into the wetlands to the south at a suitable location. Completed in co-ordination with relevant design team parties;
  • Long and cross sections of the proposed ponds, swales and outfall arrangements;
  • SAB Application Documents.

The site had a tight boundary defined by existing fencing and high levels of groundwater and surface water flooding had been experienced in the area. In spite of these constraints, Link designed a robust drainage strategy both on-site and beyond the boundary to the point of outfall.

Team Member Contact

James Hall

Graduate Engineer

MEng (Hons)

Team Member Contact

Ferdi Jafar

Principal Engineer

BEng (Hons)

Three Lions Yard at St George’s Park

Needwood, Burton on Trent.

Client:TanRo, The FA Sector:Development Infrastructure, Leisure Services:Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering Link Design Lead:Fez Osman, Ferdi Jafar

The FA commissioned Link Engineering to offer structural and civil engineering services for the construction of Three Lions Yard at St George’s Park in Needwood, Burton on Trent. The project involved building a new storage facility and the infrastructure for access, parking, and the service yard. Link’s role stared from the very initial scoping stage of the project through to the planning application and on site delivery.

The proposed site was located on the former ground staff depot which was fully replaced by the new facility. The ground staff needs were integrated into the new scheme along with FA required uses including analytical room and equipment storage.


The surface water drainage system was designed utilising SuDS with a restricted connection to the existing site outfall. Foundations were traditional pads founded on near surface competent materials.

Following the tender process, TanRo were appointed on a Design and Build contract and Link was novated to them. As part of the contract phase of the scheme Link provided full civil and structural engineering services supporting TanRo with the successful completion and handover of the project to the FA.

The scope of works included:

Civil Engineering Design:

  • Private drainage design to building regulations, including attenuation
  • Specification of a suitable flow control device;
  • Production of Drainage and Highway planning support;
  • External construction design. Including construction make-ups, kerbing and construction details in accordance with the consented Materials Plan;
  • Earthworks design and specification.

Structural Engineering:

  • Provide structural scheme design information for the superstructure and substructure elements to inform the tender process.
  • Provide performance specification for the design of subcontractor design items such as first floor offices, staircases etc.
  • Liaison with TanRo to discuss and comment on their construction proposals.
    Review of subcontractor design information.
  • Design of all substructure elements (excluding warehouse slab).
  • Provide specifications, designers risk assessments and calculations for submission to Building Control.

Team Member Contact

Ferdi Jafar

Principal Engineer

BEng (Hons)

Team Member Contact

Fez Osman

Senior Structural Engineer

BEng (Hons) MSc Civil Engineering

Flowserve

Hawton Lane, New Balderton, Newark

Client:Lovell Homes Sector:Residential Services:Civil Engineering, Planning Support Link Design Lead:Robert Gill

Link was appointed by Lovell Homes to undertake the design of the highway and drainage elements of a residential development in Newark, comprising of 309 new homes.

Link completed the production of a package of work to supplement the reserved matters application, which included:

  • Horizontal Geometry Assessment and masterplanning support and input
  • Swept Path Analysis
  • Proposed Levels Design
  • Proposed Drainage Design
  • Cut and Fill/Earthworks Design

This site was very complex with regards to the earthworks strategy due to the existing land use leaving foundry sands on site, the shape of the site and the site being very flat. Considering all of these factors, Link devised a detailed earthworks strategy, outlining the movements of the different materials on site. There was particular attention paid to the re-use of materials to minimise the material removed from site.

Image 1 – Link Engineering volumetric assessment of various site arisings
Image 2 – Illustrative Masterplan (Credits: Lovell Homes)

Team Member Contact

Robert Gill

Director

MEng (Hons) CEng MICE

Croft retail park, wirral

Caldbeck Road, Bromborough, Liverpool

Client:Caddick Construction, Redsun Projects Limited Sector:Logistics Services:Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering Link Design Lead:Chris Hadjivassilou

Link was appointed by Redsun Projects Limited to prepare a detailed Civil and Structural design for a logistics development comprising of circa 71,000 sq ft commercial development across 4no buildings, external yards, car parking and site access. The proposed detailed design was to be in accordance with TR66, TR34, National House Building Council and Wirral Borough Council, United Utilities design standards in line with the planning applications details, including:

  • Detailed Civil and Structural Engineering design to support tender and construction;
  • Foundation design;
  • Pavement, kerbing, drainage and external works construction make-up;
  • S278 and S38 access and estate road design;
  • S104 adoptable drainage design;
  • Post novation services within a D&B contract.

The largest unit was pre-purchased and developed to suit purchaser requirements, including additional steelwork within the main portal structure, curtain walling, a large canopy and additional foundations to support a future mezzanine structure.

Link have been commissioned to continue to support this development during construction through a novation agreement with Caddick Construction. Under Caddick, Link have been able to Value Engineer elements of the drainage based on site conditions (high bedrock) encountered on site, returning a saving to the client.

Team Member Contact

Chris Hadjivassiliou

Director

MEng (Hons) CEng MICE

windsor olympus academy

Perrott St, Birmingham.

Client:BAM Construction Sector:Education Services:Civil Engineering Link Design Lead:Jas Johal

Link were appointed by BAM Construction Ltd to design and agree a full S278 detailed design with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) for Windsor Olympus Academy, on the site of the former Merry Hill Allotments, Perrott Street, Sandwell. The Academy access works off Perrott Street for 2no. access points to provide a circulatory one way for access and egress to the academy. Offsite works also included the provision of linear parking provision along the western channel line of Perrott Street which included the provision of 2no. uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.

The proposed detailed design was to be in accordance with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council design standards in line with the consented planning applications details, including:

  • Full 2D and 3D design
  • Pavement and Kerbing constructions
  • Road markings and signage to TSRGD
  • Swept path analysis
  • Stage 1/2 Road Safety Audit responses

Team Member Contact

Robert Gill

Director

MEng (Hons) CEng MICE

Russell’s hall hospital

Dudley, West Midlands.

Client:AHR, MAT Ltd, Summit Healthcare Ltd Sector:Health Services:Building Investigation, Structural Engineering Link Design Lead:Nick Hirschman

Link was appointed by AHR Architects and MAT Ltd. on behalf of the ultimate client, Summit Healthcare Ltd & the facilities managers at Russell’s Hall Hospital, on a variety of complex alteration and extension projects.

New bed store:

This project involved construction of a new build bed store on the ground floor in a confined internal courtyard.

The projects challenges included a host of existing services, including a main foul water sewer serving a main wing of the hospital, which had to remain in operation during the construction. Link Engineering devised a unique foundation and structure which cantilevered one side of the building to avoid services diversions, saving considerable time and cost and thus making the project feasible.

New Pheno Scanner Installation:

Following the success of the bed store project, Summit Healthcare recommended Link Engineering to the fit out contractors, MAT Ltd. who were making the necessary alterations to the existing hospital building to enable installation of the new Pheno Scanner on the first floor.

The Pheno Scanner is a highly vibration sensitive item of equipment and thus, the existing structure needed to be modified to be able to comply with the HBN 03 and the SCI Guide P351 criteria, for control of vibrations in hospitals, together with Siemens own specific and exacting deflection criteria and fixing locations.

Our scope involved investigating the existing structure and carrying out detailed analysis to enable structural strengthening. A 3D model was created and a detailed finite elements analysis carried out to enable new strengthening steel to be installed.

The project was further challenged by the need to retain the extensive services ducts and other equipment in full operation in the ceiling void, in which the work was being carried out, often limiting location, lengths and sizes of steel beams.

Team Member Contact

Nick Hirschman

Director

BSc (Hons) CEng MIStructE

Barking 278, barking

Alfred’s Way, Barking

Client:Bridge Industrial Sector:Development Infrastructure, Logistics Services:Civil Engineering Link Design Lead:Chris Hadjivassilou

Link were appointed by Bridge Industrial to lead discussions with TfL and obtain S278 Technical Approval for the required improvements to an existing access onto the A13 Alfred’s Way, Barking.

The proposed detailed design was to be in accordance with Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and Transport for London design standards in line with the consented planning applications details, including:

  • Full 2D and 3D design and setting out
  • Pavement and Kerbing construction
  • Road markings and signage to TSRG
  • Stage 1/2 Road Safety Audit responses

The scope included detailed discussions with TfL and RMS to agree the final arrangement and construction requirements while considering site constraints, timescale risks and costs for our client. Ultimately, our input included detailed negotiations to support commuted sums calculations and the final S278 agreement between our client and TfL.

Bridge Industrial broke ground in September 2022 and has some interesting features being a Net Zero Carbon Development. You can read more about it below.

Team Member Contact

Chris Hadjivassiliou

Director

MEng (Hons) CEng MICE

vale road

Stourport-on-Severn

Client:Tricas Construction Limited Sector:Residential Services:Civil Engineering, Planning Support, Structural Engineering Link Design Lead:Robert Gill

Link was appointed by Tricas Construction to assist their proposed development of 33No. residential dwellings on a brownfield parcel of land previously occupied by Chichester Caravans on Vale Road, Stourport. Link’s brief included supporting their planning application and detailed design phases of works, with residential properties across 3no blocks with 3 – 4 Storeys.  This included detailed design and Technical Approval of the access works under a S278 Agreement with Worcestershire County Council.

Our team worked with Tricas from RIBA Stage 2 (Concept) right through to RIBA Stages 5 & 6 (Construction and Handover) for Civil and Structural design elements.

The proposed detailed design, post planning included:

  • Full 2D and 3D design and setting out in support of a site wide volumetric exercise;
  • Foundation design based on Vibro Stone column ground improvement (with performance specification provided by Link);
  • Bespoke masonry superstructural design;
  • Precast concrete floors;
  • S278 detailed design and approval with WCC Highways;
  • Onsite private external levels and pavement constructions;
  • Foul and Surface water drainage design including SUDS features;

Team Member Contact

Robert Gill

Director

MEng (Hons) CEng MICE