Helston based groundworks and civil engineering contractor, MJL Ltd has begun installing a drainage system for a new housing development in Devon.

The development will include 265 new homes initially with outline planning for 86 more properties.

FP McCann's precast concrete box culverts have also been selected as part of the drainage network.

Taylor Wimpey is using the culverts as a major element of the drainage network for the Plumb Park homes in Exmouth.

The system comprises five runs of box culvert sections all interconnected by pipes to form the large on-line network.

In total, 81 individual precast concrete box culvert units weighing a combined 890 tonnes have been supplied from FP McCann's Byley manufacturing depot with the design team in Weston Underwood working closely with the drainage consulting engineers and MJL to ensure correct detailing of the bespoke culvert project. Each unit has been cast with a one in four benching and a 225mm diameter integral dry weather flow channel to maintain water velocities.


The total storage capacity of the below ground system is around 500 cubic metres. Each of the culvert run end units has a cast on end wall; access points and pipe openings for inlet/outlet flows, together with link pipes for cross flows between chambers have been built into the system.

Marvin Lee, Site Manager for MJL, said: "To install such a large storm attenuation tank in any other material than precast concrete, would be both costly and impractical. Precast concrete is a durable, long-life option that requires little to no maintenance in this type of drainage management scheme. The FP McCann teams at both Weston Underwood and Byley have worked closely with MJL site personnel to ensure the accurate detailing on the special precast units for this bespoke drainage project, enabling us to quickly install the system in a safe and efficient manner."

FP McCann's Box Culverts Manager, Alex Kirkham added: "By employing the most advanced in-house design and manufacturing technologies, this specialist precast concrete box culvert scheme once again highlights our unequalled capabilities in the UK."

(CM)