CLIENT: Aurora Living

CONTRACT DURATION: 2018 Ongoing Phased Works

Aurora Living awarded Union Contractors (Midlands) Ltd the works to carry out civil engineering and groundworks on a new housing development called Cranford Grange, which is being built on the Former Atlas Metal Works site in Smethwick, West Midlands where 184 properties are being built on this 3.8-hectare site.  All works were subject to NHBC inspection. Works have been phased to prior to house construction and follow on works after construction of houses are completed for landscaping and road and footpath works.

Building Foundation Works

Prior to laying foundations, bulk earthworks were carried out.  Building foundation works included ring beam on piled foundations, pods and traditional block and beam, including piling mats, with the floor levels being 150mm above ground level. 

Two types of house were built on the site, traditional brick-built houses, and modular houses that were built off site, with exterior walls finished on site.  All service and all drainage associated with the houses were connected to the pre-installed services on site, as well exposing mains for final service connections to the houses.

Drainage Works and Services

On this project all housing and wider site drainage requirements were installed, including a water attenuation system (Geolight Crate System) storm sewers including gully’s and manholes, off site sewer connections and foul sewers including manholes.  Petrol interceptors were installed to ensure that there was no pollution going into the nearby canal adjacent to the site.  Section 104 adoptable sewer works were included within the project.

All main service trenching / ducting works were carried out, street lighting etc.

Roads and Pavements

All new road and pavement requirements installed on the new housing estate which includes a new bell mouth access road into the new estate, roundabout structure and pedestrian crossings on the estate as well as the installation of bollards.  Highway works included Section 38 and Section 278 works.

Landscaping Works

All hard-landscaping works are included within this project, including all requirements to the front, rear and side of the properties and driveways for the houses, as well as topsoil requirements for the front and rear of the properties and other areas of the estate that are subject to soft landscaping.

Screen and retaining wall works were also carried out.