New housing development continues to gather pace nationwide as the Government seeks to hit its target of 300,000 new homes per year.
This momentum is seeing development occur on a wide variety of sites – from green belt to brown and grey belt, in both urban and more rural locations.
The use of ‘green belt’ land for new housing development has been widely debated. However, the harnessing of ‘grey belt’ land – lands previously used for functions such as car parks, garages and so on – is increasingly widespread as the stock of other land types becomes depleted and local authorities and developers seek to maintain the required pace of development, in addition to remaining brownfield sites.
However, irrespective of whether the land is green, grey or brown belt, while there are inevitable commonalities in some areas, such as drainage and stabilisation, each individual location will present its own challenges when it comes to aspects such as site preparation and access.
All of these issues must be addressed proactively and thoroughly if the progress of the project is to be as smooth as it can be, and its impact on its surroundings mitigated as far as possible, which should be a key goal of every project and contractor these days.
When it comes to issues such as ground stabilisation and drainage, it is vital to deal with each individual project considering its own unique set of ground conditions. Drainage will require appropriate product selection to remove excess water from the site surface. The same applies to ground stabilisation, where the need for a robust surface for access roads and site buildings may entail the use of a piling rig. Here, ensuring adequate access for the required plant will be a key consideration.
Some particular challenges can arise when it comes to the redevelopment of sites in heavily built-up areas, such as disused multi-storey car parks. Here, consideration needs to be given not just to the issues created by demolition of existing structures and the impact of this on neighbouring plots and occupants, but to issues such as access and storage. Urban streets, and indeed the site itself, may not be well-suited to the ingress and egress of larger plant vehicles or lorries delivering product to site. Similarly, limited overall space will almost inevitably mean limited space for storage of product before it is used.
This is a clear example of where it will pay dividends to engage from the earliest possible stage with a reputable merchant, able to precisely schedule deliveries using smaller vehicles if required, to ensure the right items are on-site when needed.
At some sites, action may be needed to deal with excess water, with attenuation tanks a popular solution. Where the tank is to be buried underground, a solution will need to be devised to excavate sufficient space to accommodate the tank. There are a number of options here and innovations in design mean that solutions are now available which have drastically reduced the quantity of earth that may need to be excavated and removed from site. This is another area where the advice of a reputable merchant can be key in reaching the most efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.
Where there is a need to reduce noise, for example, on a development close to a motorway or other major road, an acoustic bund or embankment may be needed. In other instances, a retaining wall may be needed if adjacent sites are constructed at different levels. In either of these instances, early consideration of the use of earth-moving equipment, and indeed the delivery of extra material to site to create these barriers, should be considered early on to assure rapid progress prior to the main build. Again, a merchant can advise on and supply the most suitable silt fences and membranes to deal with the movement of water emanating from these changes.
Contractors should also consider the possible presence of invasive plant species. Much has been written about Japanese knotweed and while this can be a problem, it is by no means the only plant that can cause disruption. Onca again, the most suitable root and weed barrier solutions can be recommended and supplied by a merchant to minimise issues later on during the build, and beyond.
It is clear that early engagement with a reputable merchant, using them as a trusted advisor and consultant rather than purely a supplier, will afford the opportunity to deliver benefits across the three areas of savings – time, cost and carbon – through enhanced planning and an optimised choice of lighter and space-saving product solutions.
Indeed, a proactive approach in this area has been shown to cut vehicle movements to and from site by as much as 75 per cent, with a positive impact on the environment and an associated reduction in overall costs – which will be welcome news to developers seeking to minimise cost and positively impact their bottom line.