The brief

After a factory fire burned down the building previously on site in Halesfield, Telford, the construction of two new factory units was commissioned by the developer.

ISB Contracting Ltd won the tender for the project, bringing Keyline onboard at the earliest stage to assist with the drainage specification. To meet the site’s requirements and prevent flooding, the drainage system would need to handle a large volume of surface water, safely dispersing the water in a sustainable manner.

The team at Keyline’s Telford branch supported ISB Contracting Ltd – with whom they have built a long-standing working relationship – in finding the right products for the job, to deliver the project on time and within budget. 

The challenge

Two factory units surrounded by car parks and paving create a large surface area for water runoff – and could lead to flooding after rainfall if drainage is not managed correctly, potentially causing serious damage to local businesses nearby. 

When dealing with a huge volume of surface water on a commercial site such as this, a high capacity, efficient drainage system is essential for flood prevention. And with Net Zero targets playing an ever increasing role in the strategy of business leaders, sustainability must also be considered from the ground up – making the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) a clear priority.

Ticking these boxes must all be done within the parameters of the project; ensuring the drainage aspect is delivered on time and on budget sets the rest of the build up for success.

The solution

As well as an excellent relationship with the contractor, Keyline Civils Specialist has close connections across the supply chain. Collaboration is key to unlocking value for projects, and by facilitating communication between contractors and suppliers, we’re able to help provide the best outcomes.

Steve O’Toole, Regional Sales Key Account Manager for Keyline, commented, “We’ve worked with Michael and the team at ISB for eight years, and built a really good relationship in that time. They know they can rely on our knowledge and expertise, and the communication between us – which is so key to a smooth process – is fantastic. We see guys from the site come in every other day, and we have weekly meetings to make sure everything’s on track.”

Our Telford team worked closely with the contractor to find the best solution. For this project, Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation was identified as the supplier best placed to meet demands, with a Polystorm system – a geocellular water management solution for deeper applications – specified. 

SuDS for flood prevention

A close relationship with Polypipe allowed Keyline to communicate the needs of the project effectively, helping the supplier settle on a solution that would not only provide the best outcome, but the best value. 

The full system included three attenuation tanks to process the large volume of surface water, holding it underground and then allowing it to disperse at a flow rate via a flow control unit in a flow control chamber into the watercourse. The RIDGISTORM Check Vortex Flow Control Chamber provides a hydraulically efficient means of flow regulation that does not use moving parts or require power to operate – simple to install and virtually maintenance free, they offer an excellent long-term sustainable drainage solution. 

To give the system extra credence for sustainability, in this instance, Polystorm-R modular cells were used – made from 100% recycled material content. The cells help with localised flood alleviation and surface water management for loaded applications at greater depths. The specification also used Polypipe’s twinwall surface drainage system, Ridgidrain, which has a high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility to resist high traffic loads.

The Polystorm system is a fantastic example of how SuDS can be used to mitigate flood risk sustainably. The new site will be built with flood prevention in mind, and thanks to close collaboration, the project is set to be a success. 

Michael Bailey, joint-founder of ISB Contracting Ltd, stated, “We’ve always worked well with Keyline. I get on well with Steve, and I know any issues we can always come to them to sort it. Everything runs very smoothly – the project is on track to be delivered on time, with the drainage section 85% of the way there.”

With the drainage works at the Halesfield site almost complete, ISB Contracting Ltd can continue with a construction project that has flood prevention built-in.