SearchCoypool Park, Plymouth
The Challenge:
The site formerly known as Imerys China Clay, Marsh Mills, at Coypool, Plymouth is to be redeveloped to accommodate 560 new homes, a social centre, kindergarten and a school. For more than a century, the 70 acre site has been used for the industrial production of China Clay. This has resulted in a legacy of derelict buildings, naturally occurring radiation material (NORM), asbestos containing materials and ground contamination (hydrocarbons) at the site. Additional development constraints included a strict tree protection order (TPO) on all mature trees, numerous protected species (bats, badgers, slow worms, reptiles), sensitive surface water course (River Plym), and offered home for around 150 deer, which freely migrated between the site and the surrounding fields.
On this regionally high profile project, Cognition Land and Water Limited was confronted with the challenge of carefully and sensitively demolishing all above ground buildings and structures, removal and offsite dispose all Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) and NORM features/hotspots, breakout of all remaining slabs and hardstanding and remediation of residual contaminated soils (hotspots). All Cognition’s works were planned and conducted with careful consideration of the surrounding community, environmental permitting and ecological constrains. The removal of contaminated NORM has also allowed the discharge of the existing Environmental Permit associated with the presence of NORM.
The Approach
The main elements of the project were as follows:
- Removal and offsite disposal of all asbestos containing materials (ACMs)
- Demolition of residual structures
- Removal of NORM hotspots
- Removal of slab and hardstanding
- Bioremediation of hydrocarbon hotspots
- Validation of ground conditions beneath hardstanding
- Produce Verification Report for planning condition discharge
The Outcome
Cognition successfully cleared 800 tonnes of asbestos sheeting and residual asbestos fragments found in soil and demolished all above ground structures, recycling all materials and producing compliant aggregates for reuse on site. In collaboration with NUVIA, our specialist nuclear subcontractor, all NORM features and hotspots were removed along with extensive underground pipework. Significant environmental enhancements have been achieved throughout the project mitigating loss of bird nesting locations, tree replanting, establishment of new bat roosts and 98% of soil reuse on site. Demolition and NORM works commenced in May 2019, and handover and demobilisation of site was achieved out in February 2021. Works were successfully completed efficiently and effectively throughout despite the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic during the works.
