Soft Ground Challenges Development Access

Engineering design which will meet challenges posed by poor ground conditions close to a small town West of Brighton, will be key to opening up a new 600-house development.

The A27 at Lancet, a coastal village just 10 miles from Brighton in West Sussex, falls under the jurisdiction of Highways England.

Permission to develop a new roundabout on the road has been granted to The Community Stadium Ltd, who are behind the New Monks Farm development, next to Shoreham Airport, which includes 600 new homes as well as an IKEA superstore, community park and a school.

However, creating the roundabout was not as simple as first envisaged. HBPW Partner, Martin Todd, takes up the story: “The area earmarked for the new roundabout  is poor, presenting the threat of long-term settlement so there was a limit to its load bearing capacity without some kind of engineering intervention.

“In light of this we designed a load bearing platform which runs around the perimeter of at least half of the roundabout. Around 328 pre-cast concrete piles are being driven into the ground and a flat slab concrete deck placed over them.”

The A27 can then be diverted around the new roundabout without threat of any subsidence, thanks to the additional support provided by the load-bearing platform, giving contractors and, ultimately house owners, retailers and shoppers unimpeded access to the site.

“There was always the risk of significant road settlement in this area but, thanks to our engineering solution, developers will be in a position to progress the site without threat of any sinking ground,” added Martin.

Client:                              The Community Stadium Ltd
Contractor:                      Buckingham Group