KEY PERSONNEL:
PROJECT CHALLENGES:
Future-proof design that will facilitate disability support; precautionary flood defences appropriate to site
155 social housing units on a challenging riverside site
The site is located on a floodplain beside the Burren River. Flood defences, including a berm wall, allowed the site to be developed for 155 houses and apartments in traditional masonry with timber roof trusses. The substructures are entirely precast, with piled foundations supporting precast pile caps and ground-beams supporting precast ground floor slabs.
The drainage infrastructure had insufficient capacity for the development, but TAYLOR+BOYD worked closely with NI Water to enable foul and storm drainage to be connected to the local system once upgrading works would be completed, and to provide a major pumping station to handle drainage until such an upgrade.
A robust flood risk assessment was carried out and the scheme was developed to include flood storage areas. Any flood waters breaching the flood defences would be directed to drainage pipes or roadways into these storage areas, where they would dissipate into the ground. These storage areas are located in the green amenity zones spread across the site. The levels across the site were raised and the houses also raised in order to provide further protection against flood water, in addition to that afforded by the berm.
TAYLOR+BOYD worked closely with DRD Roads Service and the design team to provide a difficult right-hand turning lane.
Whilst some units were designed for specific disabled needs, all houses were designed to include a future through lift at 1st floor and the roofs were designed to include a future hoist, should they be required.
