Polypipe plays a part in new future for Birmingham's Wholesale Market

Polypipe has supplied a range of market-leading plastic piping systems to Birmingham’s new £50 million Wholesale Market.

The new Wholesale Market has been relocated to IM Properties' development The Hub in Witton, just 3 miles north of the city centre, and in close connection to the M6 and A34.

The new facility includes a 241,885 sq ft warehouse facility, containing nearly 80 business units selling meat, fish, poultry and horticultural goods. The site also hosts a 450 space car park, and protects the status of the market as the biggest of its kind in the UK.

A broad range of Polypipe Civils and Infrastructure products have been installed at the site, including Ridgidrain and Ridgistorm-XL large diameter piping system for surface water drainage, Polystorm-R for surface water attenuation, Polysewer and EN 1401 sewer pipes for foul water. A range of cable protection systems for vital electricity supplied to the buildings at the 18 acre site has also been provided.

The team at main contractor Benniman Construction specified the Polypipe products as an alternative to systems made from traditional materials such as concrete and clay piping, following advice from Groundworker EP McEvilly; who cited the ease with which Polypipe’s plastic systems, which are much lighter in weight than traditional solutions, could be installed – a major factor on a project with a tight timeframe.

To manage on-site surface water run-off, 18,750 Polystorm-R cells have been installed underneath the site’s proposed outdoor car park and vehicle access areas, to capture and attenuate up to 3,555m³ of stormwater. The Polystorm-R system is environmentally sustainable, providing the market with a low maintenance, reliable system.

900m of Ridgidrain surface water drainage pipe was installed along access roads and around building parameters, which then connected via manholes into 32m of 900mm Ridgistorm-XL large diameter pipe, to manage the high volume of water from the site before releasing into the main sewer network.

Polypipe EN1401 sewer pipe is connected to over 1km of 150mm Polysewer pipes and fittings to help manage the flow of foul and waste water from the site buildings and business units, providing a long life, low maintenance gravity system that is resistant to chemicals and abrasions.

In addition, over 10km of ENATS class 2 specification Ridgiduct Power cable protection was installed. This system is low in weight, flexible, durable and high in strength to deal with any loading on site, and it was used across the site to protect vital electricity supplied to the new buildings.

Dave Meenaghan, project manager at EP McVilly, comments: “This project had very tight timescales, so we were happy to recommend Polypipe’s plastic products in favour of concrete and clay materials. We find their products quicker to install with excellent reliability, and it has kept this important project on track.”

Rosie Cheetham, Marketing Manager, at Polypipe adds: “The wholesale market is such an integral part of Birmingham’s commerce and community bringing in £50m to the city each year. We are delighted to supply a wide range of surface water drainage and sewerage products to such an important project.”