Project Description
Design and construct 13no. 40m x 20m crane hardstandings to be used in the construction of a 13 turbine wind farm.
The Challenge
The site is in a sensitive ecological and archaeological location. During excavation of the crane hardstandings, archaeologists kept a watching brief and a number of flint and other artefacts were found. It was therefore very important that the design and construction of the crane hardstandings was sympathetic to the local environment, but without compromising the ability of each pad to achieve a minimum bearing capacity of 200kpa
The Solution
Forkers Renewable Energy chose the Truckcell porous plastic paving system, supported by a free draining subbase, to surface 50% of each of the 13 crane hardstandings. The other 50% of each hardstanding was surfaced with Type 1 stone and this combination provided a SuDS solution, enhanced by the post installation grass seeding of Truckcell pockets.
The Forkers Group had previous and substantial experience of the Truckcell system through their long association with Severn Trent Water. It soon became clear that Truckcell; with its environmental credentials, rapid installation time, competitive cost and ability not only to cope with rigorous loading, but also to provide a grassed appearance – ticked all the boxes for the Wadlow scheme.
Truckcell is a heavy-duty permeable plastic paving grid designed for heavy load-bearing traffic including HGVs, trucks lorries and cranes. Manufactured from recycled plastic, Truckcell porous paving blocks are permeable and suitable for SuDS source control.
The ABG Service
ABG provided subbase thickness calculations and design advice and coordinated deliveries to suit the project program.
