Case Study – Ecclesbourne Reach

Duffield, Derbyshire

Overview

Ecclesbourne Reach is a residential development in Duffield, Derbyshire comprising four detached individually designed prestigious houses. The site was formerly the home of the Derby Colour Works factory and sits alongside the River Ecclesbourne in a rural setting. The properties are traditionally built using loadbearing masonry walls with a coursed stone outer face. The roof structures are traditionally designed with large clear open spans to facilitate further accommodation.

Given the sites proximity to the River Ecclesbourne we worked closely with the client Redmill Industries, Montague Architects and Gisborne Homes to ensure that all works impacting the River were fully approved by the Environment Agency.

Brief

  • Assessment and reporting on existing masonry arch and steel bridges over the River Ecclesbourne
  • Road and footpath design and detail
  • Drainage design and detail
  • Supplementary site investigation for plot specific foundation design
  • Plot specific recommendations for foundation design and detailing
  • Superstructure design for stability, loose steel beams, padstones, masonry piers, traditional cut timber roofs
  • Plot specific structural drawings
  • Discharge National House Building Councils (NHBC) technical queries relating to structure and site remediation
  • Check supplier’s calculations and drawings for structural compliance
  • Attendances at design team meetings

Solution

  • Mexe analysis of existing brick arch bridge to determine SWL limit
  • Drawings specifications and site inspections of the porous paving to the carriageway, footway and private drives incorporating SUDS principles
  • Design and detail a pumped foul drainage system
  • Rainwater harvester scheme for the plot storm water run off
  • Embankment stability using geo-textiles
  • Applications to and meetings with the Environment Agency regarding works on the river bank and new river crossings
  • Deep trench fill foundations through variable alluviums onto gravels with one plot piled due to ground instability
  • Large open plan roof structures involved the use of steel beams and frames in the roof
  • Check each house type in turn for compliance with Part A of the Building Regulations and NHBC Guidelines and provide supplementary structural calculations where required