It's all down to intelligent water management designed into the project to include green infrastructure as well as managing stormwater run-off to prevent flooding.
The design includes a range of Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation’s [Polypipe CGU] innovative products to capture, control and reuse stormwater.
Over 1,300m of Permachannel was installed to capture the stormwater before passing it through Permafilter Biomat units, removing contaminants from the car park surface. The treated water is then stored within Permavoid and Polystorm cells, ready for controlled attenuation and re-use.
Polypipe CGU utilise the water stored in the attenuation tank to cascade into a separate system which would be provided to the tree pits for irrigation, reducing mains water feed to these areas.
The area, now a sustainable and green public space with its injection of vitality, is encouraging people to not only shop, but to visit and linger; the planting offers aesthetics and beauty, whilst attracting much-needed biodiversity. Plus, ultimately making shopping a more pleasant experience.
Phil Tomlinson, Market Development Director, said: “The intelligent engineering of this scheme meant that the attenuation system created a cascade within the design, which allowed some stormwater to be used for irrigating the tree planters. This project demonstrates how a combined approach to stormwater management and tree irrigation can produce a bespoke solution which is best fit for the project and end purpose. There is flexibility in the products we have to work with and an ever-growing range of knowledge and best practice which means that an all-encompassing solution can be considered on most projects.”