28 June 2023
Project: Home Farm, Whittlebury
Size: upto 14 residential dwellings complete with nessasary infrastructure, parking and access.
Disciplines working on the project:
About the project:
Nineteen 47 commissioned M-EC to conduct a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary, pre-planning technical investigations and solutions to fulfil the reserved matters conditions associated with an outline planning application that was submitted in 2017.
To support the initial outline planning application in 2017, M-EC's Geo-Environmental team undertook a Phase I Desk Study to assess the contamination risk within the proposed development area. The study also covered the area's history, geology, and environmental context. The findings indicated a low to moderate contamination risk, leading the team to recommend an intrusive ground investigation.
The proposed development comprises up to 14 residential dwellings, complete with necessary infrastructure, parking, and access. It is located on the northwestern side of Whittlebury, where the former Home Farm Business Park was situated. The project has since received unanimous planning approval from the committee.
To address the reserved matters conditions, M-EC provided technical support in various areas, including flood risk assessment and drainage strategy, a topographical survey, vehicle tracking, road safety audit, and transport/highway liaison.
The flood risk team conducted a comprehensive risk assessment and devised a drainage strategy that encompassed detailed information such as diameters, invert and cover levels, gradients, dimensions, and more, pertaining to all components of the proposed drainage system, including pipes, inspection chambers, outfalls/inlets, and attenuation basins. Cross sections of all control chambers, along with hydraulic curves provided by manufacturers, were required for hydro brakes and other flow control devices. Additionally, a complete specification was needed for any permeable paving.
Given the objective of addressing the reserved matter conditions, the strategy predominantly relied on what was previously submitted and granted as part of the outline planning. The team's approach involved directing surface water flows to a proposed attenuation basin located on-site, which would discharge at a controlled rate of 2.5 litres per second into the existing ditch network along the western boundary of the applicant's land. Foul water, on the other hand, was designed to outfall into the existing public sewer running along Church Way.
M-EC's transport team collaborated with the architect to ensure that the internal highway design and layout adhered to adoptable standards. They conducted vehicle tracking to assess future highway safety, and a Road Safety Audit was performed to identify any potential safety issues associated with the proposed schemes. Subsequently, a designer response to the audit was prepared, highlighting any concerns and opportunities for improvement.
To capture the complete technical aspects of this development, the Geomatics team undertook a topographical survey to determine the overall development's topography. This survey provided accurate and valuable information regarding site levels, boundary identification, and natural/man-made features.
We thank our clients and the wider team for the successful outcome of this planning application, and we look forward to following this development through to fruition.
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