Watery Lane is a strategic site north of Lichfield. Its first phase is a 107-acre site by originally led by Redrow, now operating as Barratt Redrow. Known as Curborough Lakes, this phase comprises 678 homes, primary school, craft centre and shops, care home, air cadets’ centre, sports fields and public open spaces. Land promoter, IM Land is promoting additional land to the east of Watery Lane, which could provide up to 1,000 new homes.
Our involvement began in 2013 when our Flood Risk & Drainage, Geo-Environmental, Transport & Civils teams supported the initial planning application with viability assessments and reserved matters drawings, enabling IM Land to bring the site to market. Following the successful land sale, our Civils & Structures teams were retained to undertake detailed design work. This has included multiple sectional agreements throughout the scheme as well as major S278 works to Watery Lane railway bridge, Eastern Avenue, Netherstowe Lane and Wood End Lane. In addition, the on-site detailed designs have included S38 and S104 technical approvals, and external works and private drainage for phase 1.
Due to the proximity of the second site (to the east of Watery Lane), the biggest challenge has been to adapt the infrastructure design. This site, which IM Land is currently promoting, is expected to create 1000+ new homes and the only viable route for its foul water drainage is through phase one.
Working closely with Xylem, the pumping station manufacturer, we have been able to account for the huge amount of additional pump infrastructure, separate build phases and rising main installation, meaning the wider development will simply connect in. Part of this has included a new siphoned outfall chamber to connect with the existing trunk sewer. This detailed design was complex because it required a manhole and pressurised sewer connection to sit above ground. In addition, the trunk sewer also serves a large portion of Northern Lichfield so it was important the connection was designed so it could be built without blocking flows to such an important sewer.
Our detailed design work for this phase also extended to storm drainage. To avoid South Staffs Water’s trunk high pressure water main, which originally crossed the site, we designed a system that could be constructed in close proximity to the water main without impacting it. This saved considerable time and cost as it meant the water main did not require relocation.
One final challenge related to the site’s existing fishery ponds, which are being retained, and how these could connect with the development’s new SuDS storm attenuation. Using sonar surveys provided by the client, we were able to determine existing levels, how all the ponds connected, and subsequently design our infrastructure to ensure it had no direct impact on how the ponds operate.
Homes are now under construction at Curborough Lakes, with the first properties ready for occupancy in Spring 2025.
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