Hawthorns 70

About

Saxon Safety were appointed as Health, Safety and CDM advisors by MINT Property, to assist them with their duties under the CDM regulations. The project consisted of ground clearance and surveys, where underground structures were found and removed.

Then the construction of multiple industrial units, the largest of which is a 72,000 sq.ft. Warehouse with offices, passenger lift, 144 space car park, 3 phase 800 amp power and security fencing all around the 3.5-acre site. The site had industrial units to three sides, and a railway line to the rear.

Challenges

The ground was full of structures from the sites previous use as a railway yard, these all needed to be identified, and method statements prepared to allow for the safe removal of them. The railway to the rear of the site posed a challenge, and risk assessments and method statements had to go to Network Rail for approval.

This needed to consider protection for the railway from all of the site’s activities. Additionally, when the design changed and piling was required, a plan for how to get the required Vibro-stone columns in place without affecting the railway needed to be produced and agreed before works could commence.

The lifting was an interesting challenge, with ground bearing capacities across the site being so varied, careful consideration of the crane to be used, and the point loading of the crane when lifting was vital.

This was a great project to be part of, lasting over two years with complex civil engineering and large prefabricated components making this an interesting site, working for a valued client.