The restrictive access and tight confines of a site in a busy residential area of Bristol, made it ideal for offsite methods, with factory manufacturing and close collaboration key to the successful delivery of this challenging project.
Hadley Group have over 50 years of experience and expertise in cold rolled section profiles. This combined with in-house design, engineering, detailing and site installation, means the team are highly experienced in delivering high quality residential projects – even in the most difficult situations.
Located on the south bank of the River Avon near Bristol, Lydstep Terrace is a development of nine family townhouses, each has been designed to provide character with a modern approach to family living.
This project was within a re-development site in a highly populated area of Bristol in very close proximity to neighbouring properties on three sides and a park situated opposite. Ensuring positive relationships with local residents was a high priority and key factor for the developers RBH Properties, maincontractor Swinhay Ltd and Hadley Group. The site itself was difficult enough, then added into the mix were the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions, which in turn heightened residents’ concerns due to their close proximity to the development site.
Government advice was that construction should continue during the lockdown where safe to do so. Developments such as Lydstep Terrace are essential in providing quality accommodation to ease the housing crisis – a demand that does not diminish despite the pandemic. Although not designated as key workers, construction teams have a crucial role to play in safeguarding housing requirements as set out by the UK Government.
Close Collaboration
All parties concluded that the development should progress, despite the challenges presented by the site and the additional working restrictions. The very close collaboration of all construction partners and regular detailed communications made this possible.
Risk assessments and method statements were revised and amended, with on-site procedures to ensure be adhered to whilst installing the structure. Maintaining ongoing safe installation processes and working with the utmost professionalism was hugely important.
A key factor in achieving social distancing was the small number of workers in the Hadley site installation team, which included a crane operator. So, the works were able to continue under significant control, care, and caution.
Steve Chesters, Commercial Manager for Hadley Steel Framing said: “This project is testament to the power of collaboration and through our offsite construction delivery for light gauge steel framing and steel framing systems, works could continue when other traditional methods of construction would have had to stop.”
A Systematic Offsite Approach
Part of Hadley Group, Hadley Steel Framing offer high levels of technical, structural and design expertise, along with unrivalled installation standards and quality. The adaptable steel framing system (SFS) was delivered and installed easily on-site, overcoming the access challenges, and was used for some of the developments most critical components.
Through the significant benefits of offsite construction, Hadley Steel Framing’s panelised offsite manufactured structure was not only fast to install but was constructed with a very small labour force. In addition, the panelised steel framing system reduced the number of deliveries to site, decreasing the inconvenience to neighbours and the difficulties of navigating the tight approach which contributed to the overall programme success.
The use of Hadley Steel Framing’s light gauge steel profiles helped the project team to complete the build in a timely manner, which ensured crucial deadlines were met. The installation and erection were structurally complete in 10 weeks and finished in just 12 weeks. The system utilised to deliver this scheme comprised of 100mm light gauge steel framing – panelised as a cold rolled structure, 150mm deep concrete composite floors, mansard roofs, steel pan stairs with concrete tread infill steel joists and hot rolled steel balconies.
Hadley Group, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 were able to internally manufacture and supply the profiles and factory panelised assemblies by adapting its manufacture and assembly processes to comply with social distancing requirements to guarantee that production kept going and panels continued to be supplied to the project.
Chris Hughes, Director at Swinhay Ltd said: “Clear deadlines and milestones were set out at receipt of order from Hadley, these dates have been met throughout the design phase and installation on-site. The erection of the steel frame has been installed like clockwork, there have been several challenges in delivering Lydstep Terrace, access to the site being one, Hadley’s team have been a pleasure to work with and proved that a tight small site is no problem.”
“When the COVID-19 restrictions were enforced we thought we would have to close the site, Hadley have been able to continue as they are in complete control of their supply chain and the installation on-site. This has enabled the project to progress at pace through these very difficult times.”
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