Reducing carbon impact through sustainable construction practice

Priors Hall Park Zones 2 and 3 have been given the green light by Corby Borough Council and East Northamptonshire Council, so we can now turn our thinking to growing Priors Hall Park for even more families to enjoy the ‘Park Life’.

Central to Urban&Civic’s efforts to reduce their carbon impact as the master developer, is the ability to reduce waste and recycle materials as part of the construction process. With that in mind, Urban&Civic is pleased to be making a planning application to Northamptonshire County Council to extract some small pockets of limestone from the north of Zone 3 for use in the construction of new roads on the site.

There are multiple benefits to this approach:

• The amount of limestone extracted will provide enough material for all of the principal roads in Zones 2 and 3. This means that we will need to import less material on to site, leading to between 4,500 – 7,000 fewer lorry journeys on local roads.
• Achieving planning permission will mean the limestone can be put to good use before the Zone 2 development is built, rather than sterilizing it by leaving it in the ground.
• The limestone can be quickly processed onsite, ensuring it is ready for the start of the road building programme.
• The holes left after the limestone has been extracted will be filled with surface material removed before the roads are built, and with surplus material from the ongoing earthworks. Again, this means we won’t need to transport this material off site.
• The extraction areas will only be used for green open space in the future, so won’t affect future housebuilding.

How might this affect our community:

• The extraction will be an integral part of our earthworks and construction programme, so it shouldn’t be discernable from the current activity in Zones 2 and 3.
• The extraction is expected to take around 9 months. The planning permission would last 12 months to allow for unplanned disruptions (for example, if lockdown rules are tightened).
• All material will be dug out of the ground, so there won’t be abnormal noise, but noise will be monitored throughout to make sure it stays within the guidance levels established through planning practice guidance for mineral extraction.
• Dust effects will be slight and distanced from homes. They will be controlled through an active construction management plan, approved through planning, as with all construction.
• Before taking the decision to apply for planning permission, sampling works were undertaken to confirm the quality of the material. No adverse effects were registered or raised by residents during this period.

This is a landmark initiative for Urban&Civic, one that will enable them to reduce their carbon impact through smart construction choices. We look forward to your continued support.

If you have any questions, or would like further information please email [email protected]