Avove deliver significant time and cost savings during the delivery of Severn Trent’s Smart Parc programme
Innovative collaboration offers significant benefits to Smart Parc project for Severn Trent
As a leading provider of infrastructure and engineering services, we are committed to delivering exceptional results through a careful combination of innovation and sustainability. This was recently demonstrated as we supported Severn Trent with the construction of a new 6.3km pipeline from the Derwent Valley Aqueduct to Spondon, responsible for supplying water to the Smart Parc food processing plant and reinforcing Derby Zone 1.
Of course, to successfully deliver a project of this size and scale it was essential that our teams collaborated throughout, working diligently to complete the necessary works within the strict time and budget requirements outlined. Through an effective blend of programme, design, project and construction management, each challenge was successfully addressed, leading to significant long-term benefits, both environmental and logistical.
The challenge
At the outset, we recognised that the works carried a unique set of challenges that would require expert planning to overcome. Besides the environmental compliance challenges that we take seriously on all our projects, it became clear that there were also complex engineering challenges to resolve. These included:
- Completing works across major crossings, roads, railways, canals and attenuation ponds, through the utilisation of directional drilling and tunnelling.
- The project spanned arable and pastureland, requiring ground investigations, permissions and tailored access solutions to complete.
- Navigating under-pressure connections and flow management systems, whilst ensuring all works adhered to our rigorous operational standards.
An example of these challenges included the A52 crossing, which, to be successful, required early stakeholder engagement to ensure the necessary approvals were granted so that works could progress in a timely manner.
The approach
To ensure the project was completed within a three-year timeframe, whilst adhering to technical, regulatory and environmental requirements, it was vital that we adopted a structured and coordinated approach to guide activities through the programme lifecycle.
Collaborative in its nature, this approach ensured that risks and opportunities were effectively managed to maximise benefits, with technology utilised in a way that allowed roads and railways to remain operational throughout. This facilitated efficient resource allocation and maintained momentum across all project phases.
- Early Contractor Involvement (ECI): Enabled collaborative input from ALL stakeholders during the preliminary stages, fostering innovative solutions and reducing downstream risks.
- Buildability and Optioning Reviews: Ensured that design considerations focused on the project outcomes and affordability. By leveraging team expertise, construction plans were optimised to meet quality and efficiency benchmarks.
- Integrated Design Delivery: Capitalised on coordination mechanisms such as BIM (Building Information Modelling) to align design outputs with structural, scheduling and operational requirements.
- Focused Management: Emphasised our approach to proactive opportunity assessment, risk resolution and strategic decision-making to maintain momentum.
- Aligned and Structured Commissioning: Brought alignment between operational systems and project specifications, bridging the gap from design to delivery with consistency and quality assurance.
The solution
The Smart Parc programme aligned with Severn Trent’s organisational goals of sustainability, biodiversity and environmental responsibility, and it was through proactive collaboration that we were able to deliver an effective solution, whilst achieving significant time and cost savings.
- Early Stakeholder Engagement: This project demonstrated our expertise in delivering innovative solutions and securing critical approvals to ensure the programme of works was not delayed.
- Proposed Project Route: Through careful assessments of the proposed project route, we confirmed that the chosen path represented the most cost-effective and practical solution, considering C-MeX, low carbon and biodiversity.
- Design Management: During the detailed design phase, we identified alternative solutions that delivered significant savings, including the use of twin directional drill shots to bypass approximately 270m of land.
- Modern Construction Methods: We utilised construction methods that would reduce disruption to roads and railways. For example, shafts were constructed using a top-down caisson method, which avoided temporary shoring solutions and addressed specific ground conditions identified in the initial investigations.
- Robust Cost Management: Value engineering initiatives, such as desktop assessments, provided cost-effective solutions whilst minimising the risk of budget deviations.
- Powerful Collaboration: The strong relationship between project teams facilitated proactive problem-solving, enabling a quick resolution of issues, without escalation.
The benefits
Our team’s commitment to innovation and sustainability not only ensured the successful delivery of the Smart Parc programme, but it also uncovered a wide range of important benefits including reduced costs and carbon.
Reduced costs
Cost reductions achieved through design rationalisation enhanced the project’s value without compromising its quality.
Timeline acceleration
The programme’s efficiency ensured earlier access to critical infrastructure, with the water supply operational well ahead of projections.
Sustainability
Environmentally responsible practices were embedded throughout the project, aligning with Severn Trent’s sustainability goals.
Carbon reduction
We significantly reduced the carbon footprint by avoiding unnecessary emissions from transporting and processing new materials.
High-quality infrastructure
A combined focus on operational efficiency and targeted engagement helped deliver high-quality infrastructure.
The results
This project showcases the possibilities that can be unlocked through an effective blend of innovation and collaboration, with our suppliers, partners and teams synergising to the benefit of Severn Trent and its customers. Not only was this essential pipeline delivered with an exceptional degree of structural integrity, but it also exceeded expectations in terms of its cost and delivery time.
Importantly, all the works were carried out sustainably and the project achieved a significant reduction in carbon emissions that aligned with Severn Trent’s goals. Our combination of best-in-class expertise and extensive engineering experience was pivotal to the project’s seamless delivery – this is why we continue to invest in our people and practices, ensuring we remain at the cutting edge of the industry.