Engineers appointed for £60 million regeneration scheme
Consulting engineering firm, Paul Waite Associates, has been appointed civil & structural engineer on Skipton Properties’ £60m Grove Mills mixed-use regeneration development in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Our firm is developing internal steelwork structures that will link old mill buildings, with a new luxury scheme comprising 53 townhouses, and 354 one, two and three bedroomed apartments along the riverside.
The engineers are designing the internal structures of a former mill building that will house bespoke, showcase offices for Skipton Properties – as well as completing civil engineering works including the construction of highways, retaining walls and drainage.
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway will run through the Grove Mills development which will also feature 3,000 sq metres of office space, a crèche, a gym, a health club, shops, including a mini-market/post office, a swimming pool and a cafe.
The complex will include parking for more than 700 cars – 95 per cent of which will be housed underground, new pedestrian and cycle links will be built on the banks of the River Worth.
Paul Waite managing director of Paul Waite Associates commented: “Grove Mills is the latest in a series of high-profile projects which Skipton Properties has commissioned us to work on. The site is particularly challenging owing to the river that runs through it, which has involved us raising the levels and designing a five metre high highway retaining wall.”
The firm is working with an existing building to provide clear span floor structures, without the need for internal columns (as original) and to ensure even spread of load onto existing masonry walls, without the need to carry out remedial foundation works. The building also incorporates a modern, lightweight additional storey at roof level.
The housing site has been filled to increase levels to make more efficient use of the available land and reduce slopes within the development.
Other areas include highways layouts and co-ordination between different disciplines responsible for the different areas. Drainage design has also been undertaken, with the need for drainage to pass under the River Worth. Minor works will be carried out within the existing mill building to provide a show flat, prior to beginning the main building works which will offer apartments and shop units.
Brian Verity managing director of Skipton Properties added: “The expertise of Paul Waite Associates in the areas of steel frameworks and construction is ideal for this project. Our offices, which are due to be completed in 2008 will symbolise our growth and spearhead the regeneration of a currently redundant part of Keighley.”
Work is due to start on site later this year and the first houses are expected to be completed by mid 2007.
