Debden Grange, Saffron Walden

Perega has been providing civil and structural engineering services to Retirement Villages (RV) for over seven years, and recently completed the final phases of the new 1.6Ha Bury Water Lane development in Saffron Walden, Essex. Our involvement went from concept to completion. We provided support through the pre app, full planning application, detailed design and development of specification to monitoring and advice during the construction phase.

We carried out due diligence services including review of the existing surface water and foul drainage, flood risk assessment, evaluation of earthworks, investigation of contamination and review of the highway works requirements. This included strategies for risk mitigation and design including budget costs.

Through the early design stages we developed a cut and fill strategy for this challenging sloped site. This required a terraced solution with retaining walls split over three levels. The surface water solution was also complex with the local water authority requesting a two-stage cleansing SUDS solution, utilising permeable paving, which added considerable cost to the development. After liaison and tabling various solutions we managed to reach a cost effective agreement. We liaised with the Highways Authority to finalise the access road design, which included a new roundabout, road widening with retaining structures, new footpaths, lighting and gullies and entering a Section 278 agreement.

Our experience influenced the final recommendations for Bury Water Lane’s design. Balancing our knowledge of our clients requirements, whilst utilsing our engineering expertise to deal with site constraints, statutory authority demands, budgetary limits and programme pressures.