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The Following report was
commissioned by the North Haugh Group in October 2010:
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North Haugh Site, St Andrews
The above site has been identified as
a potential location for the new Madras School and as a result of a Fife
Council briefing on its suitability Elders Consulting Engineers were
requested by yourself to carry out a visual walkover of the site and to
report on any potential development difficulties which could cause the
site to be technically challenging.
Our walkover was carried out on 1 November 2012 and consisted of visually
inspecting the site to the south of the pond, the Swilken Burn, the land
to the west of the Burn (The Arboretum) and the wooded area immediately to
the south of the A91. No intrusive inspections were undertaken and this
report relies on observations made on site. |
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Site Development
Access
Access to the site could be achieved by extending the current University
road network or else by a junction off the new proposed A91 distributor
road.
We understand that access from the new facility to the Station Park
playing fields is required and that an underpass crossing of the A91 is
proposed. The construction of this would have minimal impact on the A91 as
it could be tunnelled without disruption to traffic ( the road is already
elevated above the adjacent ground ): any temporary closure could be
accommodated, however, by diversion onto Station Road.
Car parking would be to the north of the site, the lower level area to the
south west of the pond or the 'Arboretum'.
Building Location
The ground profile is reasonably flat although sloping upwards to the
south of the site. In order to achieve drainage falls and softer ground
the building could be located towards the middle to south of the site.
Ground conditions appear to be good for constructing on given the
extensive development on adjacent sites by the University and it is likely
that conventional strip foundations would be appropriate
for this site. It would, however, be necessary to carry out a thorough
ground investigation to substantiate this view.
The majority of the site was dry and firm except for the area nearest the
existing University access road which was soft.
Drainage
The facility would be drained by way of a suitable SUDS regime. Rainwater
discharge could be filtered and attenuated as necessary before discharging
into the existing pond. A suitable SUDS design incorporating land run-off
would result in the pond receiving rain water infiltration at the same
rate, or better, than it does at present. Cut off drains and remote
retaining walls from the new building would prevent rainwater inundation
from the higher ground above the new facility.
The current, low lying area, of the site immediately to the south east of
the pond which is currently holding water could be effectively drained by
the installation of field drains, again utilising controlled discharge
into the pond .
Foul drainage from the new building could be discharged into existing
sewers if possible or else taken to a new SUDS system such as an on site
wet land. It should be noted that there are various SUDS solutions and
further research and design would be undertaken to determine the most
appropriate for this particular site. The Swilken Burn can also receive
rainwater run-off although, as it is currently silted up and overgrown, it
will require to be cleaned out in order to achieve its full discharge
potential.
Utilities
The existing utilities provision has not been considered as part of this
report and further consultation with the service providers will be
required.
Conclusion
In our opinion this site is technically well suited to be developed due to
ease of access, good ground conditions and the existing SUDS provision and
there appear to be, on the face of it, no particular issues which could be
considered to be abnormal development constraints except for the underpass
access.
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