Case Study

The Grand Exchange, Bracknell

DBR delivered an all-risk enabling package of a former bus garage to facilitate The Grand Exchange residential development comprising 242 apartments as part of £770 million redevelopment of Bracknell centre.

Key Information

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Client - Seven Capital
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Start date - January 2020
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Site - The Grand Exchange
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Status - Completed
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Area - 0.62 ha
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Location - Berkshire
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Former Use - Various / Bracknell Bus Depot
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Programme - 12 weeks

The Challenge

Located in a commercial / retail area off Market Street, Bracknell, the former bus depot extends to 0.6 ha and sits adjacent to the local council office and Network Rail land (housing an electrical sub-station).

The site had a long history of various land uses and comprised areas of hardstanding, commercial unit and a vehicle garage with two above ground diesel tanks, fuel dispenser station and bus cleaning facility.

Further to demolition of above ground structures the all risk remediation contract required the removal of all slab and relics with remediation of hydrocarbon impacted soils, with full validation to meet site re-use criteria.  Works were to be engineered to provide a working platform for The Grand Exchange residential development to comprise 242 apartments and exclusive resident facilities with collaborative co-working space as part of £770 million redevelopment of Bracknell centre.

The Solution

The enabling phase remediation works were completed by DBR between January and  March 2020 and comprised:

  • Removal of all hardstanding and relics in conjunction with a watching brief for visual and olfactory contamination;
  • Crushing of all slab and footings in line with DBR WRAP protocol;
  • Decommissioning of site drainage system and interceptors with off-site tankering of silts and free oils;
  • Off-site disposal of all hydrocarbon impacted and surplus soils;
  • Agreement of  RAMS for works in the BAPA co-ordinated with a watching brief from Network Rail;
  • Site re-engineering to development platform level with temporary grip installations to protect site given delayed build contractor commencement;
  • Validation testing and reporting to regulatory approval.
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We worked successfully with DB Remediation on the remediation and grubbing up of the former Bus Depot in Bracknell, Buckinghamshire. The project was particularly complex due to the site location and key project stakeholders, such as Network Rail and the Local Planning Authority. However, as a key member of the project team, Dafydd engaged with the team and provided the necessary professional support to ensure the enabling works package was a success. The proactive, collaborative and flexible approach that the team at DB Remediation employ is unique and has brought a refreshing outlook to the challenging environment of brownfield remediation.
Jonathan Russell, Associate Project Manager, Fellows Consultants

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