Case Study: Permanent Sheet Pile Basement at Upton Park, London

Permanent Sheet Pile Basement at Upton Park, London

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd have recently completed installation of sheet piles to form a Permanent Steel Intensive Sheet Pile Basement at Upton Park Gardens for Barratt London.

The works are part of the development of West Ham United’s former home by the developer. The site of the Boleyn Ground, which was home to the football team from 1904 until they completed their move to the London Stadium in Stratford in 2016, will become Upton Gardens providing 842no one, two, three and four-bedroom homes spread over 18 buildings.

Ranging in height from three to thirteen storeys, the various structures constructed by Barratt London will be arranged around three gated communal gardens, tree lined streets and the Legacy Route, designed to celebrate the history of the ground.

The final league match played at the Boleyn Ground, which had a seating capacity of over 35,000, was on 10 May 2016 in the Premier League against Manchester United. Demolition of the stadium to make way for the new development commenced shortly after the final game.

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd were approached in late December 2016/early January 2017, by Barratt London and their Consulting Engineers (Aecom), to provide a Contractor Designed scheme for the proposed 135m x 85m permanent basement.

Due to ongoing demolition works, the scheme was divided into two phases; Phase 1 was sheet pile installation for the Energy Centre and Phase 2 was a permanent basement car park for the development.

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd proposed a solution utilising heavy ‘Z’ Section Sheet Piles to take benefit of the superior structural properties and weight efficiencies in providing a predominately cantilever design solution. The solution offered significant benefits over traditional ‘U’ section sheet piles which would have require temporary propping throughout to comply with the deflection limits required in the performance specification.

Furthermore, Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd provided extensive noise and vibration assessment for the proposed installation methodology in order to obtain approval of the design team and local authority. This proactive and collaborative approach to the works ultimately provided Barratt London with significant cost savings over Silent Vibrationless methods which would otherwise have been required to satisfy these requirements.

The sheet piling package on the project was awarded to Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd around March 2017.

Phase 1 sheet pile installation commenced Early April 2017, and involved the supply and installation of approximately 323no 12m-14m long ‘Z’ section sheet piles.

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd were able to offer Barratt London a very short preconstruction period by utilising our extensive stock of Emirates Steel ‘Z’ Section Sheet Piles. Again, this offers programme savings against alternative procurement solutions.

Due to the nature of the prevailing ground conditions (i.e. predominately London Clay from approximately 5.0m below ground level); the pile line was pre-augered in advance to within 2-3m of the proposed pile toe level.

Emirates Steel EZ26-700 sheet piles were then installed using an ABI Telescopic Leader Rig complete with Resonance Free Vibratory Hammer and serviced by a 40Te Sennebogen Telescopic Leader Rig.

To assist with installation of the ‘Z’ section sheet piles, the vibratory hammer was fitted with an ABI MZK1250 Double Jaw Clamp assembly which provide significant benefits for installing the piles.

Phase 2 sheet pile installation commenced Early September 2017, and involved the supply and installation of approximately 390no 11m-12m long ‘Z’ section sheet piles.

Following sheet pile installation, localised areas of clutch welding and shear studs were undertaken to complete basement construction.

The overall works are due to be completed in December 2017.