Double award for Midland Quarry development
The innovative redevelopment of the Midland Quarry site in Nuneaton has been recognised with an award double.
Hot on the heels of national success with the National Ground Engineering Award in February 2009, Warwickshire County Council has picked up two ICE Midlands Awards - The ICE Midlands Award for Construction and ICE Midlands Geotechnial Award, both for outstanding examples of Civil Engineering Construction and Geotechnical Innovation.
Chris Nason, Warwickshire County Council’s Design Services Group Manager, said: “The Midland Quarry project combines technical innovation, recycling on a grand scale and conservation with careful construction along with health and safety control to turn two derelict sites into valuable development land and achieve a regeneration double whammy.”
Chris went to explain how the project came about and worked: “The project addresses the problems of dereliction at two sites owned by Redrow Homes (Midlands) Ltd where, individually, redevelopment was not economically viable.
"The Willans Green site near Rugby had surplus stockpiles of foundry sand and the Midland Quarry site at Tuttle Hill, Nuneaton was a disused quarry with historic excavation up to 75m deep.
“By combining the two sites, the viability of the development has been assured at both sites and this acted as a catalyst for investment and environmental enhancement of the two communities in the Midlands.
“The focal point of the works at Midland Quarry, Nuneaton was the construction of what is one of northern Europe’s largest reinforced earth structures. This structure and partial filling of the quarry was completed in August 2008. This great achievement is recognised by these national and regional awards.”
Warwickshire County Council has been actively involved in the planning, design and construction stages of this project along with Arups Consulting Engineers, the developer Redrow Homes, and contractor Blackwell.
Chris Egan also welcomed the award on behalf of Pride in Camp Hill, saying: “Midland Quarry is Phase 4 of the original Masterplan for Camp Hill – the original vision for the quarry has stood the test of time and is producing the praise that we now see.
"PinCH has worked creatively to combine the imagination of the private sector and their engineering excellence, this excellence now reflected in the recent awards.
“We are absolutely delighted at the news, the work at Midland Quarry is truly inspiring and the awards are testament to the hard work of all involved.”