TJ Morris t/a Home Bargains – Forgate Street, Chester
Commercial
Project type
2023
Project completion date
3m
Projected value
12
Project duration (months)
In the heart of Chester’s Foregate Street, Krol Corlett team took on the role of ‘Design and Build Principal Contractor’ for a new Home Bargains store, a unique project full of challenges and opportunities.
The Foregate Street’s store is designated within a conservation area, coming with plenty of intricacies for the team to adhere on specific planning conditions, especially regarding material selection. The historical significance of the site also amplified interest in its archaeology.
Successfully navigating all of these factors demanded meticulous planning. It’s a great example of Krol Corlett’s ability to meet stringent planning and conservation requirements.
The new store, framed in steel and clad in facing brick, featured a Kingspan LP roofing system and symphonic drainage. Piled foundations and a suspended slab were strategically designed to avoid disturbing archaeological layers.
Handling six simultaneous Party Wall Agreements (PWAs) was no small feat. Each PWA had unique requirements, overseen by appointed PW Surveyors, adding complexity. We were also supported by the Employer’s Agent, technical advisors, and Novated Consultants.
Deconstructing existing buildings posed delays, triggering extra surveys and negotiations. Weekly catch-up meetings streamlined the process, ensuring PWAs aligned with the new store’s design needs without compromising neighbouring structures.
Notably, amendments to below-ground drainage had to be made, considering archaeology constraints, and adapting to existing drainage discharge. Other logistical challenges included SPEN’s interest in vibration monitoring, which was efficiently managed with and predefined alert triggers.
Expecting archaeological treasures, we set a disturbance limit, and innovated with CFA piling and a reinforced slab.
An archaeology consultant was bought in to oversee the substructure work, minimising disruption and preserving findings.
Management included daily briefings, an adaptable workforce, thorough record-keeping and weekly meetings.
A collaborative approach was praised by TJM, the Employer’s Agent, and CWaC Lead Archaeologists.
To compliment Chester’s historical architecture, the new store prioritised facing brickwork, which constitutes more than 75% of the elevation.
Facing challenges of limited brick options, it was important for the Krol Corlett team to collaborate transparently with CWaC Planning and Conservation Officers, Novated Architect and Technical Advisors. Despite lead time constraints and scarce stock, a suitable brick was selected through open and honest discussions.
This collaborative approach extended to special bricks and slates, earning praise from CWaC’s Planning Officer for our refreshing cultural behaviours.
We worked closely with Novated Design Consultants in bi-weekly Design Team Meetings (DTMs) to ensure a smooth design progression, and were able to address conflicts between signage and roller shutter installations, introducing an alternative design adopted in other Home Bargains stores.
This project is a testament to our ability to juggle various stakeholders.
Our partnership with TJ Morris is still going strong, spreading to exciting nationwide projects as their go-to Principal Contractor.
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