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Fryston & Wheldale reclamation
Introduction
The award-winning Fryston & Wheldale reclamation project is part of the National Coalfields Programme funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and project managed by Yorkshire Forward.
Summary
The award-winning Fryston & Wheldale reclamation project is part of the National Coalfields Programme funded by the Homes and Communities Agency. Yorkshire Forward, as recognised experts in reclaiming colliery sites, was asked to manage this project as well as two others owned by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council.
“This challenging project reclaimed a 98 hectare site which surrounded a village with 76 homes.” said Ian Bramley, our Head of Coalfields. “The bridge that provided the only access to the village needed replacing, which meant we had to build a two kilometre-long temporary road for the villagers and construction traffic.”
The £10m works were undertaken by Birse Civils Ltd, appointed through Early Contractor Involvement. It involved excavating and burying 1,500m3 of Japanese Knotweed, creation of an eight hectare platform for another 150 houses, excavating and engineering over 250,000m3 of material, laying eight kilometres of bridleways and footpaths and the incorporation of 50,000m3 of amelioration material to provide suitable growing medium. An existing coal dock on the River Aire was transformed into a marina, over 30,000 trees planted and specific measures were undertaken to enhance ecology and biodiversity.
The project was awarded a CEEQUAL Whole Project Award of Excellent for waste minimisation and other sustainable development activities. It also received a Considerate Constructors Award, thanks to its extensive consultation with local people and it was also awarded the Linda Grant Health & Safety Award 2009 by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.
