Christ Church Academy
Ground Stabilisation
Stabilisation of the upper 300mm of soils to achieve 5% CBR in hardstanding areas and 15% CBR beneath building footprints.
Pile Mat Construction
Vegetation clearance, topsoil strip, cut and fill operations to create a suitable development platform.
Material Management
Implementation of a Materials Management Plan (MMP) to facilitate on-site reuse and tracking of surplus soils.
Project Overview
Dunton was appointed by Willmott Dixon to deliver ground stabilisation and earthworks works at the Christ Church Academy in Yardley Wood, Birmingham. The project formed part of a £19 million Department for Education scheme to deliver a new three-storey secondary school and associated sports facilities.
The works included vegetation stripping topsoil removal, cut and fill operations and stabilisation of site soils to achieve the required bearing capacities for future construction. The programme was delivered during challenging winter conditions, requiring bearing capacities for future construction. The programme was delivered during challenging winter conditions, requiring additional soil conditioning and careful material management to maintain progress.
Project Cost
£275,000
Size
28,000m²
Recycled Materials
100%
Completion Time
12 Weeks
The Problem
The development required the preparation of a large area of land to support the construction of a new secondary school accommodating 1,150 students, alongside extensive outdoor sports facilities. Ground conditions and winter weather created challenges that needed to be overcome to achieve the required platform specifications and maintain programme delivery.
Challenges Faced
- Ground required stabilisation to achieve specified bearing capacities for development.
- Additional moisture conditioning was required to achieve specification.
- Persistent adverse weather increased soil moisture content beyond expected levels.
- Project commenced during winter months.
- Materials needed to be tracked and managed through a Materials Management Plan (MMP).
- Client required all surplus materials to remain on site for future reuse.
The Solution
Dunton implemented its D-Found Soil Stabilisation process to improve the engineering properties of site soils and create development-ready platforms. Earthworks activities were undertaken alongside careful materials management, ensuring surplus soils could be retained and reused across the project. To address the challenging winter conditions, additional moisture conditioning measures were introduced to reduce soil moisture levels and enable successful stabilisation works. The coordinated approach allowed the project to progress despite adverse weather and programme constraints.
Techniques Used
- D-Found Soil Stabilisation.
- Additional moisture conditioning of soils.
- Materials Management Plan (MMP) implementation.
- Stabilisation of building footprints to 15% CBR.
- Stabilisation of hardstanding and car park areas to 5% CBR.
- Cut and fill earthworks operations.
- Vegetation stripping and topsoil removal.
The Result
Dunton successfully delivered the ground stabilisation and earthworks package, providing a stable development platform for the construction of the new Christ Church Academy. Despite difficult weather conditions, the required ground specifications were achieved whilst supporting the client’s objective of maximising on-site material reuse.
The completed works enabled the progression of a major educational development, including a new secondary school building, sports pitches and multi-use games arenas.
Key Results
- 28,000m² site prepared for development.
- Programme completed within a 12-week duration.
- Sports facilities including football pitches and a MUGA supported by the completed works.
- Development enabled for a new 1,150-pupil secondary school.
- Materials successfully managed through an MMP.
- Surplus materials retained on site for future reuse.
- Ground stabilised to achieve 5% and 15% CBR requirements.
- £275,000 earthworks and stabilisation package delivered.
What Our Partners Say
“Dunton’s expertise in land remediation transformed what seemed like an insurmountable challenge into an opportunity for success. Their innovative methods saved us time and money while delivering exceptional results. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
