JOB: SCUNTHORPE UNITED FC’S PROPOSED STADIUM – IRON ARENA
CLIENT: BUCKINGHAM GROUP CONTRACTING LIMITED
DATE: OCTOBER 2015
COST: ~£40,000
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
The proposals were to build a new £25 million football stadium (Iron Arena) and leisure complex for Scunthorpe United FC (Iron Arena), including:
- Iron Arena – a 12,000 seater capacity stadium
- A multi-use indoor arena,
- Outdoor football pitches,
- Indoor and outdoor green bowling
- Car parking facilities.
- Access roads
SITE INVESTIGATION:
The purpose of the investigation was to obtain an indication of the ground conditions, at the positions of the exploratory holes, to assess the general pattern of strata across the site, to establish the load bearing characteristics of the strata and to assess appropriate foundations and pavements. A contamination assessment was required in order to determine necessary precautions and/or remedial measures required for the proposed development and to ascertain the need for any further sampling and analysis. In addition, Ground gas monitoring and assessment was required to determine necessary precautions and/or remedial measures. The site investigation included:
| · 19 No. Cable percussive boreholes | · Geotechnical laboratory testing |
| · 20 No. Trial pits | · Contamination analysis (soil and water) |
| · 6 No. In-situ CBR tests | · Ground gas and groundwater monitoring |
| · 6 No. In-situ Dynamic Cone Penetration tests | · An interpretative report |
| · 15 No. Soakaway tests |
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
The ground investigation found made ground, overlying interbedded bands of clay, silt, peat and peaty sand, overlying clay, overlying sand, overlying calcareous mudstone bedrock from depths of between 14.20m and 15.20m. Due to the low and variable load bearing capability, the highly compressive nature of the drift deposits and a relatively high water table; the most suitable foundation was for a pile design and a preliminary 16.50m long pile foundation calculation was provided.
Soluble sulphate, pH value and pyritic ground testing determined that acidic and pyritic ground with potentially mobile groundwater was present on site. Therefore with regards to the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Special Digest 1, a high Design Sulphate Class (DS) and Aggressive Chemical Environment for Concrete (ACEC) was required for the concrete.
In addition to the above, all the results and interpretation of the in-situ CBR tests, dynamic cone penetration tests, soakaway tests, contamination analysis and the ground gas monitoring were provided for the Client.
OUTCOME:
Overall the Client and Engineer were very pleased with how the ground investigation progressed and the Client was provided with all the geological and environmental information required for the development.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances Scunthorpe FC decided to redevelop Glanford Park and the £25million Iron Arena will now not be built.
