renaissance has begun work on a £32m scheme to deliver a large industrial unit in Newcastle-Under-Lyme called Novus Point. Delivered for Cole Waterhouse and Pevril Securities, the project will deliver 300,000 square feet of light industrial space.
Set on a brownfield site that once featured a stock car racing track, renaissance has been brought in to deliver the considered engineering they’re known for.
Groundwork
Because of the site’s previous use, there is a basin effect at play where the ground indents and forms a bowl. While this might be ideal for stockcar racing, it’s problematic when building a large industrial unit.
The first thing we were tasked with was a cut-and-fill exercise where we remodelled the ground to provide the appropriate foundations for the building.
Surface water management
We were also tasked with the delivery of a viable surface water management solution to limit discharge. With the water channelled to a nearby watercourse, we had to control the discharge rate to ensure the brook wouldn’t be overwhelmed.
To limit this rate, we designed a detention basin to retain the short and long-term surface water storage requirements, with the added benefit of bringing biodiversity to the site.
The structural frame
Working with the design team, we also provided our engineering expertise for the formal specification of the frame. With construction now underway, the project is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2022.
