On behalf of Network Rail and the Council, Northpoint delivered a Geoenvironmental Ground Investigation to assist design and materials management.
Project Description
Network Rail is considering new infrastructure and access onto the East Coast Main Line. Northpoint was appointed by the local authority on behalf of Network Rail to assist with overall design by completing a comprehensive geoenvironmental ground investigation.
Our remit on this project was twofold. Firstly, Network Rail required geotechnical design information to assist with their project requirements. Secondly, as Principal Contractor on the project, the local council require a land contamination assessment. Because of the sites historical use, we characterised the ground to assist with materials management and waste disposal.
Masterplan Proposals
The Central Park area of Darlington is a 74 acre development site. Once completed, the development will include vast areas of new homes, education centres and commercial properties.
Brief History
The area where we conducted the geoenvironmental ground investigation was formally part of extensive railway land. This included a large engine shed, a rail turntable and numerous siding.
Consequently, the brownfield use of the land has left extensive areas of contaminated land and hazardous materials.
As a result, the ground included ash, spent waste materials and buried infrastructure. Areas of fuel oils and asbestos were abundant in the shallow soils beneath the site.
Ground Investigation
Our geoenvironmental ground investigation was strategically designed in order to provide sufficient information to the client. We specified limited for road and pavement design. We also fully classified contaminated materials identifying both risks to the public and construction workers.
Above all, Northpoint’s RISQS (Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) approved engineers put health and safety at the heart of all operations conducted at the site. This meant we could meet the minimum industry standards required by Network Rail working on their land.
