Clophill Road, Maulden
- Client: Peter David Homes
- Architect: Saunders Boston Architects
- Contractor: Oak Developments
- Project type: Residential (Development)
- Size: 25 units
- Location: Clophill Road, Maulden in Bedford
- Structural and civil engineering design
Our role
We were engaged to provide full structural and civil engineering design for this residential development, consisting of 25 units in Maulden. Our involvement came through a direct recommendation from the contractor, Oak Developments, following a successful collaboration on a previous project.
Project requirements and design process
The development included a combination of houses and a small block of flats, requiring comprehensive and careful structural and civil engineering input.
Key considerations were:
- Structural design of houses: These consisted of traditional load-bearing masonry units, with suspended beam and block floors. The first floors were supported by engineered posi joists, and the roofs were constructed using trusses.
- Design of the apartment block: The small block of seven flats utilised load-bearing masonry walls. A localised steel frame was incorporated to support the undercroft parking area, ensuring the required structural stability. Precast floor planks were used on the upper levels, providing a durable and resilient flooring solution.
- Managing site levels: One of the most complex aspects of the project was the significant 6-metre fall across the site from back to front. Our team carefully designed the structural and civil solutions to accommodate these challenging levels while ensuring stability and compliance within regulations.
- Drainage solutions: The site’s varied ground conditions required a tailored drainage strategy:
- A pocket of sand on the site allowed for two homes to discharge surface water to soakaways.
- The rest of the development faced poor ground conditions, necessitating surface water attenuation at the front of the site. This was controlled via a restricted discharge into the public surface water network at a maximum flow rate of 3.00 litres per second.
- Foul drainage was collected and discharged into the existing foul drainage system within the road at the front of the site.
Conclusion
This project successfully overcame a range of structural and civil engineering challenges, from complex site levels to tailored drainage solutions for mixed ground conditions.
By integrating traditional and engineered solutions, we delivered a robust and efficient design that met both the client’s and the contractor’s expectations. The repeat appointment highlights our reputation for delivering reliable and practical engineering solutions within the residential sector.
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