Polypipe delivers an innovative solution for £8m Darlington development

Polypipe has supplied a drainage and attenuation solution for the £8 million Haughton Road residential development in Darlington. The project saw Polypipe deliver a tailored, value engineered system to meet the specific requirements of the local water company, Northumbrian Water, working in conjunction with the main contractor Tolent Living and subcontractor Hewitson Limited.

The Haughton Road development project is the largest housing development in the area in recent history, and is being delivered by the Railway Housing Association in collaboration with contractor Tolent Living, groundworks subcontractor Hewitson Limited and designers Coast Consulting Engineers. The development will see 73 new rental homes built for local residents, which will incorporate the site’s historic engine shed, built in 1844. The Listed status building will be converted into mews-style homes, guaranteeing the future preservation and continued use of a historic building closely linked to the town’s industrial past.

The original specification for the drainage and attenuation on the development included a concrete system, however due to their strong existing relationship with Polypipe, Hewitson Limited asked the manufacturer to provide an alternative option. 

Polypipe worked closely with Northumbrian Water to meet their specific requirements for the site and demonstrated the capabilities that a Ridgistorm-XL large diameter plastic pipe solution could deliver, in comparison to a traditional concrete system. Engaging in discussions with the full project team, Polypipe demonstrated that its ability to provide Ridgistorm-XL pipework in bespoke pipe lengths and stiffness classifications made it one of the most adaptable large diameter piping systems in the UK, and in this instance the ideal system to meet the project’s needs.

Polypipe’s proposed system used Ridgistorm-XL engineered thermoplastic large diameter pipes, with just under 12 metres of pipe supplied in a diameter of 900mm and a stiffness class of SN2, and 171 metres supplied in a diameter of 1,200mm to a stiffness class of SN2.8. The Ridgistorm-XL solution was laid under the road out of the residential site and will store surface water run-off, before controlling its release back into Northumbrian Water’s system at a measured rate.

The pipes were delivered with spigot and socket push-fit jointing, ensuring efficient installation on site. Polypipe’s Ridgistorm-XL is robust, reliable and long lasting, as well as being up to 94% lighter than concrete systems, making it easier and quicker to handle and install, further reducing installation time and cost.

In order to approve the system, Northumbrian Water required rocker and stub connectors to be incorporated, to join manholes to the main pipe lengths. Polypipe adapted to this request by providing additional lengths of Ridgistorm-XL pipe, cut to 1.25 metres. Polypipe then worked closely with the project team to reposition the manholes within the system design as needed, with the shorter lengths of pipe used as rocker and stub connectors to secure them into the main framework. Ridgistorm-XL manholes are modular, ready-to-install access points that can be integrated anywhere in the drainage network system. At the Haughton Road site, they will effectively control surface run-off flow and facilitate easy access for future inspection and maintenance.

Rosie Cheetham, Marketing Consultant at Polypipe, said, “We were delighted that Hewitson Limited and the project team approached us to supply an alternative, efficient, and cost effective drainage and attenuation solution for the Haughton Road site. Our high level of dedicated service and consistent communication with all parties, coupled with our technical expertise, proved a great success.

We were able to deliver a solution that was perfectly adapted to meet both the system requirements of Northumbrian Water, and the drainage and attenuation needs of the residential site. This project highlights just how adaptable our Ridgistorm-XL system can be in meeting challenging or unusual requirements, with our engineers able to work closely with contractors to find an effective solution, without reducing system integrity.”

Pat O’Neill, Contract Manager at Tolent Living, said, “We selected Polypipe’s Ridgistorm-XL system for the Haughton Road development because it is quick and easy to install, which was of great importance to our project schedule. Overall, the system is lighter in weight and more manageable than concrete solutions, which offered significant safety benefits for installers on-site. “