PROJECTS
Project: Persimmon Homes Cornwall
Location: Liskeard, Cornwall
Client: Persimmon Homes Cornwall
Services: Infrastructure and Drainage
When Persimmon Homes needed infrastructure and drainage experts to support their planning application for 23 residential homes in Liskeard, Cornwall – Calibro came highly recommended by a regional planning manager we’ve worked with before.
Persimmon Homes wanted planning to include public access, open space and infrastructure. We would be providing adoptable and private highway and drainage solutions, whilst bringing our unique, collaborative approach to the wider design team.
And because our work was supporting a full planning application, our designs had to be detailed and robust enough to ensure a smooth consideration and approval process.
The site is relatively steep, which makes designing drainage for the plot and highways a challenge. What’s more, access through the centre of the site had already been partially designed, and it ran perpendicular to the slope.
We also had to make sure that drainage was disposed of in the most sustainable way without increasing flood risk. This meant following the SuDS management train and working closely with our flood risk team to create a sound solution for the community and the environment.
Because our work was supporting a full planning application, our designs had to be detailed and robust enough to ensure a smooth consideration and approval process.
The application has been submitted to the local authority, and is awaiting registration.
Calibro’s collaboration, transparency and unrivalled work ethic shone through on this project. By listening to the requirements of the other design team disciplines, and working together to find sustainable solutions, we delivered an integrated design solution that exceeded the client’s expectations.
We started by performing an initial audit of the existing masterplan and identified significant pitfalls in the proposed site layout when it came to future compliance with building regulations. We were then able to propose alternative solutions which were later incorporated into a revised masterplan.
We designed the plot and highway drainage with the site levels in mind to ensure surface water runoff wouldn’t cause any future flooding.
Infiltration was necessary in disposing of surface water drainage, but we wanted to avoid mass cart away or loss of useable public open space. For this reason, we proposed below-ground infiltration, which meant the amenity space was maximised and the surface water could be dealt with in a sustainable manner, without increasing the loading on the existing public sewer network.
Plot levels were given careful consideration in planning, stepping and retaining wall locations to achieve an optimised and deliverable levels strategy.
“Calibro were fantastic to collaborate with during the application process. They worked tirelessly and in a friendly manner to help us overcome obstacles and produce an efficient scheme and strategy. Calibro took a pragmatic approach to solving the site’s complications and were responsive to our requirements and needs.” – Eve Somerville, Senior Development Control Planner, Persimmon Homes
In the end, we made sure our design was as thorough, practical and cost effective as possible. This will hopefully ensure that the planning application is registered quickly and approved with few conditions.
We designed the plot and highway drainage with the site levels in mind to ensure surface water runoff wouldn’t cause any future flooding.
Calibro has not only been able to identify and present clear and compelling strategies for large and complex site promotions – ones that don’t just rely on costly infrastructure improvements – but they also take a very proactive and innovative approach in the way they engage with key stakeholders.
