Houghton Colliery Retail Park

Our Approach

Portland attended a series of up front meetings with the architect to agree on the size and location of pertinent structural members.  Once the contractor was introduced to project, Portland worked collaboratively with them to select the appropriate techniques and materials within their knowledge and supply chain.   This approach ensured that all parties involved were aligned to achieve the client’s aspirations. 

Following completion of the ground investigation, it was determined that several existing mine shaft entries were present on the site.  Following discussions with the Coal Authority regarding the proximity of one of the shafts to Unit 1, it was agreed to adopt a piled foundation solution for this unit.  The piles were taken down through the collapse zone of the mine shaft, ensuring that in the unlikely event of a shaft collapse, the building would remain stable and unaffected.  As no mine shafts were present near Unit 2, ground improvement was undertaken in the form of vibro stone columns.

The steel frames for both units were designed in conjunction with the relevant developer’s specifications in the building envelopes and features proposed by the architect.

As part of the development, a piece of artwork was created, a sculpture which symbolised and celebrated the site’s previous mining heritage.  Portland verified the connections on the artwork and designed the foundations required to support this 5m tall sculpture.

Our decision to vary the foundation solution on Unit 2 generated a saving with regard to time and cost, along with reducing the building’s carbon footprint when compared to adopting a piled foundation solution throughout.   In addition to this, from adopting ground improvement instead of specifying mass fill concrete a further saving would have been achieved.