Top Wighay

Project: Top Wighay Farm Development

Location: Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

Client: Homes England, Nottinghamshire County Council & D2N2, on behalf of Balfour Beatty

Area Covered: 9,205m²

Solution: SUREGROUND™ Reversible Soil Enhancement System

The Top Wighay Farm development for Homes England, funded by D2N2 and Nottinghamshire County Council will create 805 new homes, land for employment purposes, a local centre and a new primary school with associated infrastructure. Balfour Beatty required compounds, haul roads and a temporary culvert crossing in order to undertake the works.

Soil Science were approached as their SUREGROUND™ Reversible Soil Enhancement System offered a number of benefits to the scheme. Site restrictions meant that deliveries could not take place outside the hours of 09.00 and 14.30, the high volume of stone required for the traditional design could not be viably delivered within programme.

The programme of works was further improved by the installation of a temporary culvert crossing by Soil Science in conjunction with the other access works. The proposal to use SUREGROUND™ was further supported by improved environmental and commercial performance.

Rigorous pre-start testing ensured the enhancement design achieved the specification and that subsequent decommissioning upon the completion of works will successfully return pH and Nutrient to the original DEFRA indices, offering regrowth in previously enhanced soils.

The design consisted of a 350mm subbase stabilisation with 150mm of unbound type 1 stone surfacing, achieving a strength of 30% CBR. The reduction from 400mm of recycled stone improves maintenance costs throughout the one year design life of the surfaces. The client subsequently applied asphalt surfacing in areas to meet specification.