Delivered by Railway Housing Association in collaboration with contractor Tolent Living, the Haughton Road development project is one of the largest housing developments in the area’s recent history. It will include 73 new rental homes and incorporate the site’s historic engine shed, built in 1844. The Listed status building will be converted into mews-style homes, guaranteeing the future preservation and continued use of a historic building closely linked to the town’s industrial past.
The original specification for the drainage and attenuation solution included a concrete system, however, due to a strong existing relationship, Hewitson Limited asked Polypipe CGU to suggest an alternative option.
Polypipe CGU worked closely with Northumbrian Water to meet their specific requirements for the site and demonstrated the capabilities that a Ridgistorm-XL large diameter plastic pipe solution could deliver, in comparison to a traditional system. Engaging in discussions with the full project team, Polypipe CGU demonstrated that its ability to provide Ridgistorm-XL pipework in bespoke pipe lengths and stiffness classes made it one of the most adaptable large diameter piping systems in the UK and, in this instance, the ideal system to meet the project’s needs.
Polypipe CGU’s proposed system used Ridgistorm-XL engineered thermoplastic large diameter pipes, with just under 12 metres of pipe supplied in a 900mm diameter and stiffness class of SN2, and 171 metres supplied in a 1200mm diameter to a stiffness class of SN2.8.
The pipes were delivered with spigot and socket push-fit jointing, ensuring efficient installation on site. The Ridgistorm-XL solution was laid under the road out of the residential site and will store surface water run-off, before controlling its release back into Northumbrian Water’s system at a measured rate.
In order to approve the system, Northumbrian Water required rocker and stub connectors to be incorporated to join manholes to the main pipe lengths. Polypipe CGU adapted by providing additional lengths of Ridgistorm-XL pipe, cut to 1.25 metres. Polypipe CGU then worked closely with the project team to reposition the manholes within the system design as needed, with the shorter lengths of pipe used as rocker and stub connectors to secure them into the main framework. Ridgistorm-XL manholes are modular, ready-to-install access points that can be integrated anywhere in the drainage network system. At the Haughton Road site, they will effectively control surface run-off flow and facilitate easy access for future inspection and maintenance.
Pat O’Neill, Contract Manager at Tolent Living, said: “We selected Polypipe CGU’s Ridgistorm-XL system for Haughton Road because it is quick and easy to install, which was of great importance to our project schedule. Overall, the system is lighter in weight and more manageable than concrete solutions, which offered significant safety benefits for installers on site.”