A crucial sewer diversion just a stone’s throw from a key new station for HS2 has been completed after a leading consultancy’s advice helped to minimise the impact on nearby businesses.
Fisher German was able to facilitate the diversion of 500m of a Severn Trent sewer pipeline at Saltley in central Birmingham, required due to the HS2 line needing to pass over it from the new station at Curzon Street which is currently under construction.
The sewer – up to around 2700mm in diameter– was in a technically challenging location between the River Rea and a specialist warehouse which required additional care to be taken in managing the impact of the work on nearby stakeholders.
Fisher German advised Severn Trent on the best way to complete the diversion with minimum disruption to nearby businesses, and worked with Severn Trent, the landowner, and the warehouse tenant to secure the land rights and access enabling the work to take place.
Cameron Coley-Smith, Senior Associate at Fisher German, said:
“This was a potentially complex diversion for a number of reasons.
“As the site was between the River Rea and an active warehouse, it was crucially important that the diversion was completed with the minimum impact on surrounding land uses.
“There were a lot of busy industrial units nearby which needed to have access maintained throughout the works.
“Our strong relationship with the landowner, their tenant, and technical design teams meant that we were able to give Severn Trent strategic advice on how best to manage the interaction of the works with the various stakeholders and secure the required access rights efficiently.
“Whilst this was one of many diversions that we are providing support to Severn Trent for, it has been a key project within Severn Trent’s wider programme and it’s fantastic that it has been successfully completed.
“We look forward to continuing to support the delivery of both clean and wastewater diversions along the route.”
Chris Sandland, project manager on behalf of Severn Trent Water, said:
“The Fisher German team have been a real asset to the Severn Trent project team on what has been a challenging work package.
“Their expertise and experience in dealing with complex matters involving various stakeholders has resulted in some really positive outcomes.”
