Prince of Wales Drive

Using gasholders as a form of temporary works

Walsh’s clever value engineering of the initial design removed the need for complex and expensive temporary works, providing significant cost and time savings.

The site previously housed four gas holders. Three of these remained and formed a large constraint to the basement. Walsh worked with the architect and client to redesign the basement so the gasholder walls acted as the temporary works.

Whilst designing the blocks, the tallest of which is 30 storeys, we found the most cost-effective solutions. Given that the build period was phased over eight years, Walsh worked with the client to build flexibility into the later phases of the scheme such that they can adapt to changing market conditions.

The East and West boundaries are formed by railway viaducts, leading us to provide assistance with the Network Rail technical approvals. Our scope included requisition of a sewer to discharge surface water run-off to the Thames, significant highway improvements to the adjoining roads, full drainage design including provision for SUDS, as well as advising on traffic manoeuvrability through the site.