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Cwm Gwyddon Primary School
We constructed a new primary school facility at the site of the former Cwmcarn High School, Cwmcarn and introduced an effective low-maintenance SuDs solution.
Schools & Further Education - Wales
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Project Overview
A new state-of-the-art 420 place primary school was constructed at the site of the former Cwmcarn High School, Cwmcarn, including a new bus bay and parking areas.
We were appointed directly to Caerphilly County Borough Council to undertake the Civil and Structural design for the project, including a Technical Advisor role during RIBA stage 5.
The site sits in the Ebbw River flood plain. Early consultation was required with Natural Resources Wales to ensure a Flood Consequence Assessment was developed to meet NRW and Planners requirements, helping achieve a Planning approval. We maximised green infrastructure on the site, coordinating this with the flood constraints and landscape architect design intent, providing an effective low-maintenance SuDS solution. We were responsible for achieving Full SAB consent and had an ongoing relationship with the Caerphilly SAB team. The scheme comprises a SuDS design that is not only sympathetic to the school users but also boosts the amenity and biodiversity of the site, promoting happiness and wellbeing for the children.
The Challenge
Providing sufficient interception to reduce the volumes of water entering the sewer system during a storm event, in an area with minimal infiltration potential.
Our Solution
A combination of swales with weir walls along the length to provide sufficient time for interception and permeable surfacing bounded by a filter drain for conveyance to a dry attenuation basin. This provided the opportunity for amenity/biodiversity planting within the basin whilst retaining the function and aesthetic of the green space around the school site.
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