Afon Taf High School: 3G Pitch Installation
Carrick Construction was appointed to construct Afon Tafs pitch and surrounds, being built to...
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Key Facts:
- Sports construction
- Sports surface improvement
- Technical consulting
- Event support
- Sustainable water management
- Habitat management
Project Summary
STRI was appointed by Blackpool Council to design a series of natural grass sports pitches to form part of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, part of the Government Industrial Strategy to enable economic growth and support local businesses.
Following this, Carrick Construction then installed the playing surfaces and infrastructure needed to exact specification. This came in the form of a high standard 11-hectare multi pitch sports field for use by the local community.
Challenges
Due to the proximity of the site to Blackpool Airport, special consideration was needed right from the offset of the project. The stripping of site topsoil needed to be completed in a phased manner to reduce the impact of dust on the airport runway. During construction, the UK was hit by Storm Francis, making this phased stripping of topsoil and the remainder of construction even more challenging.
The site was constructed on a former military hospital, so archaeological surveys had to be undertaken before any excavation and stripping could commence, shortening the time the work could be completed in.
The main challenge identified was in relation to the drainage strategy for the site. A ground investigation confirmed that infiltration rates were not suitable to discharge water to soakaways and due to the proximity of Blackpool Airport’s runway, water features such as attenuation ponds or swales were not able to be constructed, due to the risk of increased bird strikes.
Solution
STRI’s design team focused on establishing an effective way to maximise the 11 hectares of available space by developing a multiple pitch platform to allow for multiple sizes and orientations depending on the scenario required.
To maximise the available space and allow suitable gradients for winter games pitches, comprehensive earthworks were required. Surface levels were re-contoured for surface runoff to be directed away from the airport site and into the sports drainage system.
STRI’s digital design team modelled the site to develop a ‘balanced’ earthworks model negating the need for Carrick to import or export materials, creating a sustainable and low impact earthworks strategy.
A phased approach to clear the vegetation was implemented once a site survey was finalised, encouraging any wildlife to migrate towards a designated biodiversity protection zone.
Excavation of the main carrier drains and associated flow control and silt trap manholes followed next. Care had to be taken to ensure works only commenced when surface conditions allowed to not compromise the topsoil or soil structure.
Cultivations were carried out to relieve any superficial compaction before Carrick conducted final levelling and seeding in late-September, using a blend of hard-wearing perennial ryegrass cultivars.
Initial maintenance was carried out by Carrick and STRI before the pitches were handed over to Blackpool Council in September 2020.
THE RESULTS
The site was successfully transformed from rough terrain to a high quality 11-hectare sports field that can be configured to accommodate various pitch layouts and sizes for a range of different sports and levels.
The work carried out by Carrick Construction and STRI enabled The Blackpool Cup, an international youth football tournament, to return after a 7-year spell of being played outside of Blackpool.
A sustainable design met the requirements of the client by designing a balanced earthworks model to negate the need to import or export materials from site.
This was a collaborative project between STRI and Carrick Construction and we’re delighted to have provided a fantastic surface for members of the local community to play sports and enjoy.
Find out more
Read more about our expertise in sports pitch construction, design, drainage and water management or get in touch today to discuss your requirements.
