Groundworks & Civils
The Curley Group successfully tendered and were awarded the Groundworks and Civils package at The Cotton Works. A brief description of the operations carried out are:
- Installation of new surface and foul drainage system through a fully operational industrial environment housing active businesses
- Required full traffic management plan and stakeholder communication to allow drainage and on site service connections
- Complex installations, historic services with limited documentation increased excavation risk, vacuum excavation deployed around critical services to minimise risk
- Full construction of internal estate roads, footpaths, traffic islands, ducting infrastructure for street lighting and LV power, signage, kerbing, tactile paving and road markings
- Installation of all sub structure masonry
Structural Alterations to Grade II Listed Mill
Eckersley Mill is a Grade II listed textile mill undergoing redevelopment into a mixed-use commercial building. The structure’s heritage status posed significant constraints on materials, methods, and interventions.
The project’s objective was to sensitively integrate two modern passenger lifts, improve vertical circulation, and adapt internal spaces while preserving the historical integrity of the building. The works formed a critical part of enabling full accessibility to all floors for future public use.
Challenges
- Working within a protected listed structure: original solid brickwork, cast iron columns, and timber beams needed protection
- Design constraints for new lift shafts: required full excavation through existing slab levels and partial removal of internal masonry walls
- Needed to avoid any visual or structural impact to listed external façades
- Limited structural information: as-built drawings were incomplete; many elements required investigation and opening up to confirm construction details
- Tight internal access with minimal room for plant and material movement
Hard & Soft Landscaping
The Curley Group were successful in tendering for the Hard & Soft Landscaping packages. A brief description of works is as follows:
- Granite and concrete block paving for footpaths, plazas, and seating areas
- Installation of pre-cast and granite kerbing and edging
- Excavation and placement of subsoil/topsoil layers with organic amelioration
- Supply and planting of over 80 semi-mature trees and 1,500 shrubs/perennials
- Formation of wildflower meadow banks and turf lawn areas
- Street furniture installation: benches, litter bins, bollards, cycle stands
- Application of bark mulch, irrigation pipework, and tree anchoring systems
