Case Study
Newport Innovation Park
Delivering a multi-utility network infrastructure to a flagship Innovation Park development
Newport Innovation Park is a development of 43 industrial and commercial business units on the outskirts of Newport,Shropshire and is a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council (T&W) and Harper Adams Agricultural College. T & W appointed Harlaxton to provide all utility primary infrastructure, electric, gas and water, with laying of BT ducts for the whole development in liaison with Balfour Beatty, the main contractor.
“By working closely with T&W Highways and liaising with local residents, Harlaxton Engineering was able to build up a good relationship with the community and complete a very complex project quickly and efficiently whilst keeping disruption to a minimum.
Group Manager, Engineering and Project Delivery, Telford & Wrekin Council”
The challenges
- Capacity – existing DNO electricity capacity was insufficient for demand, gas and water networks also required reinforcement
- Logistics – point of connection to grid was 3.1km away, with most viable route through the urban area of Newport town
- Complex design – engineering solution required to deliver efficiencies for both customer and contractor across the provision of all of the utilities
- Covid19 – work began in March 2020 and continued through the pandemic, operating under strict government guidelines
Solution
Single trenching along a common route for all utilities. Electric, water and BT crossed main A518 trunk road together at one end and water and gas at the other, forming the starting point for multi-utility common trenching, providing significant cost savings for the customer. Harlaxton also utilised ducting along the length of the site spine road for the electricity to enable a simple cable pull when the offsite reinforcement works were completed and the initial two sub-stations were ready to be installed and energised on site. The use of electric ducts for the HV electric greatly assisted the customer’s onsite road infrastructure build programme.
Services provided
- 4.815 MVA electricity supply
- 3.1km of excavation works crossing A518 trunk road
- 2 x 800kVA substations for phase 1 built on site with all mains designs to allow for future capacity
- Collaborative working – regular communication local residents & businesses so they were aware of our programme to minimise any inconvenience to them whilst street works excavations were being undertaken
- Experienced design and project management team to cope with complex engineering challenges
Results
- Defined and delivered a cost-effective 3.1km offsite route at minimal inconvenience to local residents and businesses
- A fit for purpose utilities network designed and built for future expansion as the development of future phases progress
The offsite 3.1km route design and engineering considerations were a complex challenge to which the Harlaxton team worked closely with T&W highways managers to define the most cost-efficient route of least resistance and inconvenience to local residents and traffic flow management. The Newport Innovation Park potential business customers now have the facility of a fit for purpose utilities network that will be expanded as the development of the commercial units progress over the next phases and years of construction.
- Harpwood House
October 20 2022 - Priory House
October 20 2022 - Newport Innovation Park
September 28 2021 - Kinoulton Court
July 10 2020 - Eskdale Road
July 10 2020