Preliminary Ground Investigation Report Burslem Port, Stoke on Trent
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Water July 2011 Preliminary Ground Investigation Report Burslem Port, Stoke on Trent Prepared by: ............................. Prepared by: .... Peter Jones Daniel Stannard Senior Engineer Principal Engineer Checked by: Checked by: .................................................... Daniel Stannard Victoria Griffin Principal Engineer Senior Consultant Approved by: ............ Chris Paterson Director Preliminary Ground Investigation Report Rev No Comments Checked by Approved Date by - First Issue DS CP June 2011 AECOM House, 63-77 Victoria Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3ER Telephone: 01727 535000 Website: http://www.aecom.com Job No 60140243 Reference 60140243/29/GEO/02/- Date Created June 2011 “This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited ("AECOM") for the sole use of our client (the "Client") and in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM.” This document is confidential and the copyright of AECOM Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. q:\projects\municipal infrastructure - stoke on trent - highways and civils professsional services term contract\burslem port\ground investigation report\ground investigation report geo.02.issue.docx AECOM Preliminary Ground Investigation Report Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................ 0 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 2 Site Location, Description and Development History .................................................................................................... 5 3 Ground Investigation ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 4 Ground Conditions.......................................................................................................................................................... 22 5 Contamination Assessment ........................................................................................................................................... 25 6 Foundations and Ground Engineering .......................................................................................................................... 32 7 Recommendations for Further Works ........................................................................................................................... 35 8 References ....................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix A – Geotechnics Factual Report Appendix B – Summary of Geochemical Test Results Appendix C – Preliminary Design Brief Appendix D - Guidance on AECOM Approach to Contaminated Land Risk Assessment Figure 1 Proposed Scheme Layout Figure 2 Site Location Plan Figure 3 Proposed Ground Investigation Plan AECOM Preliminary Ground Investigation Report Executive Summary On the instructions of Stoke on Trent City Council, on behalf of Renew North Staffordshire, AECOM Limited has carried out a Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Desk Study and exploratory ground investigation of the site of the former Burslem Canal. The project was commissioned in order to obtain and collate information on the geotechnical and environmental characteristics of the site and thence to assess potential geo-environmental risk issues, identify potential geotechnical constraints and provide recommendations for the proposed reinstatement of the waterway. The proposed reinstated canal is indicated on Figure 1. The site of the former Burslem Canal is located in the Middleport area of Stoke on Trent, approximately 0.5km south of Burslem town centre. The former canal, which branches from the Trent and Mersey Canal, covers a corridor of approximately 0.6km in length, and is located within a former industrial/residential area running in a valley in a north south direction. The site location is shown on Figure 2. The Burslem branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal was opened in 1805. Wharfs and associated buildings are shown at the northern end of the canal in 1877. At that time the surrounding area comprised both residential and industrial development comprising earthenware/pottery manufacturing and a number of collieries. The canal branch is reported as suffering a series of major breaches commencing in the late 1940s, eventually resulting in closure in 1962. The superficial geology of the site comprises Made Ground overlying Alluvium and /or Glacial Till. Below the solid geology comprises the Etruria Formation overlying the Upper Coal Measures. A number of seams have been worked within the latter stratum. Both the superficial and bedrock aquifers are classified as Minor Aquifers, with a High Vulnerability rating. The nearest Watercourses are the Barnfield Brook and Trent and Mersey Canal located immediately to the eastern and southern boundary of the site. An exploratory investigation comprising six trial pits has been undertaken along the alignment of the former canal to ascertain the nature of the canal infill and embankment. The results of the investigation suggest the Made Ground locally contains elevated concentrations of heavy metals, hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds. Potential asbestos containing material was also encountered in the Made Ground at one location, associated with demolition materials. The preliminary findings suggest that the geo-environmental risks may be perceived as low to moderate. Ground contamination is a material consideration under planning legislation. The site may be regarded as land affected by contamination and it is anticipated that further works will be required in order to meet requirements set out in the new model conditions Planning Policy Statement 23 Planning and Pollution Control (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2004). Ground remediation, if required, is likely to include excavation, removal, treatment and or disposal of the backfill material within the former canal. Detailed ground investigation and remedial options appraisal will be required in order to confirm this preliminary assessment. The principal engineering hazards include the presence of Made Ground, adjoining over-steepened slopes, buried sub- structures, obstructions, variable ground conditions and compressible strata, perched groundwater, old retaining walls and mining subsidence. The Made Ground on site is highly variable with unpredictable engineering properties and therefore, where significant thickness is present, it may be unsuitable for the support of structural loads without some form of treatment. Alternatively, structural loads may be transferred to competent geology present at depth using some form of driven or bored pile. A detailed inspection of on-site and adjacent structure by an experienced structural engineer is recommended. Structural cores will also be required where retaining walls are to be assessed for re-use. Further investigations are recommended to comprise series of boreholes along the proposed canal alignment, at the crest of adjoining slopes and at the proposed footbridge location in order to confirm ground conditions. In addition trial pitting (and structural cores where appropriate) are proposed to investigate existing foundations to adjacent structures and retaining walls, locate services/sewers and investigate areas of potential contamination. An indicative layout for the proposed ground investigation is shown in Figure 3. 1 Introduction AECOM Preliminary Ground Investigation Report 2 1 Introduction 1.1 Aims and Objectives AECOM has been commissioned by Stoke on Trent City Council on behalf of Renew North Staffordshire to provide civil engineering advice in relation to the proposed reinstatement of the former Burslem canal branch. As part of this appointment, an exploratory ground investigation has been undertaken in order to obtain preliminary information on the geotechnical and geo- environmental ground conditions on the site. 1.2 Development Proposals The proposed development comprises the reinstatement of the watercourse on the line of the Burslem Branch Canal, which extends from a point adjoining the Trent and Mersey Canal, alongside various industrial and cleared sites to the back of Furlong Mills in Furlong Lane, Middleport. The proposed restoration is illustrated in Figure 1. The site area considered by this study is indicated on Figure 2. 1.3 Reference Documents In the preparation of this report reference was made to the following documents: - AECOM, May 2011. Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Desk Study Report – Burslem Port. R eference 60140243/29/GEO/01/-; hereafter know as the Desk Study Report - Geotechnics Limited, May 2011. Ground Investigation at Burslem Port Stoke on Trent. Factual Report. Reference PC114591; hereafter known as the Factual Report. 1.4 Scope of Report The scope of works for this project has included the following