Polypipe delivers an
innovative solution
for £8m Darlington
development
Lewis Robinson - WMS Adoptable Systems Specialist
Polypipe, the UK’s leading manufacturer
of sustainable drainage and water
management systems, has supplied a
drainage and attenuation solution for the
£8 million Haughton Road residential
development in Darlington. The project
saw Polypipe deliver a tailored, value
engineered system to meet the specific
requirements of the local water
company, Northumbrian Water, working
in conjuction with the main contractor
Tolent Living and subcontractor Hewitson
Limited.
The Haughton Road development project
is the largest housing development in
the area in recent history, and is being
delivered by the Railway Housing
Association in collaboration with
contractor Tolent Living, groundworks
subcontractor Hewitson Limited and
designers Coast Consulting Engineers.
The development will see 73 new rental
homes built for local residents, which
will incorporate the site’s historic engine
shed, built in 1844. The Listed status
building will be converted into mews-
style homes, guaranteeing the future
preservation and continued use of a
historic building closely linked to the
town’s industrial past.
a traditional concrete
system. Engaging
in discussions with
the full project
team, Polypipe
demonstrated
that its ability to
provide Ridgistorm-
XL pipework in
bespoke pipelengths
and stiffness
classifications made
it one of the most
adaptable large
diameter piping
systems in the UK,
and in this instance
the ideal system to
meet the project’s
needs.
The original specification for the drainage
and attenuation on the development
included a concrete system, however
due to their strong existing relationship
with Polypipe, Hewitson Limited asked
the manufacturer to design an alternative
option. Polypipe’s
proposed system
used Ridgistorm-
XL engineered
thermoplastic large
diameter pipes, with
just under 12 metres
of pipe supplied in a
diameter of 900mm
and a stiffness class of
SN2, and 171 metres
supplied in a diameter of 1,200mm to a
stiffness class of SN2.8. The Ridgistorm-
XL solution was laid under the road out of
the residential site and will store surface
water run-off, before controlling its
release back into Northumbrian Water’s
system at a measured rate.
Polypipe worked closely with
Northumbrian Water to meet their
specific requirements for the site and
demonstrated the capabilities that a
Ridgistorm-XL large diameter plastic pipe
solution could deliver, in comparison to The pipes were delivered with spigot
and socket push-fit jointing, ensuring
efficient installation on site. Polypipe’s
Ridgistorm-XL is robust, reliable and
long lasting, as well as being up to 94%
lighter than concrete systems, making it
58 Landscape & Urban Design
easier and quicker to handle and install,
further reducing installation time and
cost.
In order to approve the system,
Northumbrian Water required rocker and
stub connectors to be incorporated, to
join manholes to the main pipelengths.
Polypipe adapted to this request
by providing additional lengths of
Ridgistorm-XL pipe, cut to 1.25 metres.
Polypipe then worked closely with the
project team to reposition the manholes
within the system design as needed, with