Project background
Stane Park project in Essex was delivered by MD Groundworks as a sub-contractor on behalf of our respected industry leading client and was of a 10-month duration consisting of the electrical supply to 10 commercial retail units. There was an offsite 11kV cable route of approximately 2km installed in the highway into a new dual transformer substation on site. Works were inclusive of substation fit out, transformer and switchgear installation, commissioning, and cable terminations – both HV and LV. Also installation of site wide LV cables to meter points and service heads.
The cable route was fed from a UKPN Primary Substation along a residential and commercial neighbourhood. We excavated a trench of approximately 450mm width x 900mm depth, laid ducts, backfilled and reinstated the highway surface to HAUC specification.
There were 7no Joint Bays on the route with cable installation taking place approximately every 250m for the 11kV cables. 4000m of HV cable were installed without error or cable sheath damage.
Services delivered by MD Groundworks
MD Groundworks delivered site management, supervision, welfare, offices, storage and compound. Also, Highways liaison, HV/LV cable installation teams, HV/LV Cable Jointing teams, ground workers, plant operators, heavy lifting teams (covering Grab Lorry, HIAB Crane Operator, excavators, dumpers, and winch operators).
Project benefits and outcomes
Programme and performance were monitored at weekly site meetings between the client and site delivery team. This project was located only 40 minutes from our storage and yard facility in Wickford, Essex which assisted in reducing the project carbon footprint and its impact upon the environment.
The project was completed on time and on budget to the satisfaction of all duty holders including the client, the local DNO – UKPN and the Local Authority Essex County Council.
To summarise:
- Complied with NRSWA and arranged Traffic Management with Section 50 Street Works Licences arranged with the Local Authority Essex Council
- MD Groundworks were highly commended for the quality of their work by the Local Authority
- Works completed on 30mph roads and dual carriageway
- Supplied qualified and competent staff
- Supplied and operated all plant inclusive of appropriate excavators, dumpers, floor saw, cable winches and Grab Lorry
- Procured and managed the requirement of all project related materials and resources.
- Processed, managed surplus and waste material
- Excavated 450mm width trenches on roads and verges and 750mm trench on road crossings.
- Laid 125mm rigid ducts
- Surrounded cable ducts with sand
- Reinstated to Department of Transport Specification for Reinstatement of Openings in Highways Fourth Edition May 2020
- 250m cable pulls for 11kV cable and up to 450m LV cable pulls
- Cable jointing and cable testing to DNO requirements
- Installation of substation equipment
- Installation of substation earthing
- Testing and commissioning
- HV/LV energisation
